Columnist just hiding prejudices

He does not speak for us. By “he,” I mean Steve Massey, one of the contributors to your “Faith and Values” column. Massey’s most recent column was on the members of the Westboro Baptist Church who made a recent visit to Spokane .

Massey makes a point of telling his readers that they “condemn homosexuals, hate Muslims, most Jews, and just about anybody else who is not just like them.” In short, they do pretty much what Massey himself does, but they are just not as subtle about it.

The Westboro folks, to their credit, are not subtle. They are right upfront when they express their religious opinions. You know where they stand, so you can make an “informed decision” on how to react to them.

Massey, however, is much more subtle about his personal prejudices. If you carefully read what he is saying, he has his own personal set of prejudices. He has his own hateful condemning spirit for people who are not just like him.

Here is a thought for Mr. Massey to follow: Let’s treat all people with dignity and grace. Let’s leave condemnation to the only one who judges hearts – God Himself.

Kelly Brown

Spokane

In 1969, I publicly disclosed top secret information in violation of security regulations. Later, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover ordered his Special Agent-in-Charge of the Portland, Oregon, office to investigate me for inclusion on the old Security Index, a list of individuals subject to detention during a national emergency. I was not prosecuted for my “crime,” probably because the information I disclosed concerned the illegal, criminal bombing of Laos.

The recent WikiLeaks posts about crimes against Iraqis (S-R, Oct. 23, Page One) should be applauded by peace-and-justice-loving people worldwide. Hopefully, those posts will help curb U.S. warmongering that has flourished since the massive war crimes committed by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam (see Bernd Greiner’s “War Without Fronts: The USA in Vietnam”).

Richard Harger

Spokane Valley