Dear editor:
I would like to address some words and a phrase that have acquired a negative political connotation in recent years.
Among those are the words "socialist," "progressive," "feminist" and the phrase "distribution of wealth."
I should like to remind the GOP members of the far-right mindset who have helped turn that party into a virtual religious political group, in defiance of our secularly created government of our revolutionary forefathers, that the Jesus they follow -- the same one I have tried to follow since boyhood and often failed at -- was in a true sense a "socialist," a "progressive," a "feminist" and a promoter of the "distribution of wealth."
Space does not allow for a full dissertation on this subject, but a brief citation of data from the New Testament follows:
Giving to the poor, serving the poor, and constantly visiting and working with the poor and the so-called "sinners" (Matthew 21 and 23 and Luke 5).
Defying rules and traditions of the times, like collecting corn on the Sabbath for the hungry and healing on the Sabbath, and dealing with those of society "banned" like the Samaritan woman at the well at noon, healing women, blessing women (John 4 and John 5).
Speaking often against wealth, like calling out the Pharisees on not taking care of the needy and the lesson to the rich young ruler (Matthew 18 and Mark 7).
All these passages and many more give evidence that Jesus preached a social gospel, promoted women as a first in Eastern history, radically defied rules that made no sense, and encouraged distribution of wealth to the millions starving.
What a change in the GOP of my youth when a U.S. president, as a former nonpolitician, led this country through a victory in World War II, and later brought the Korean conflict to a close, warning all along of a military-industrial complex, a man who paid homage to God but kept religion, as such, out of the political process.
Later, in the '80s with a turn to "Southern Strategy," trickle-down economic methods, and turning to religious-right mind set to get folk elected, the GOP took a sharp turn in the road, too dramatic for my tastes.
Now look at it -- so divided within that 10-plus are trying to win the nomination as presidential candidate. Even the GOP director has suggested the party is committing political suicide. Surely, if the director's desire is really to make the GOP more inclusive and diverse, this is a strange way to go about it. Strange, indeed.
John W. "Doc" Crawford
Hot Springs
Editorial on 06/27/2015