In A Rainbow, There’s Room To Stretch Narrow Minds Letter Of The Week: From June 30

In a June 26 article, “State politicians woo Christian conservatives,” teenager Eric Nathan says he was “persecuted” in high school by being forced into observing “Indian drummers, and Buddhists,” and thinks “this is crazy.”

Eric, I feel sorry for anyone who is as narrow-minded as you seem to be at such a young age. Have you ever wondered about other kinds of people? They are much like you. They laugh, cry, love and, like you, they hate.

Jesus spoke against hatred. He went among all kinds of folks in many lands. We are told that he both taught them and learned from them. Are you so much greater than he? Have you nothing to learn?

Exposure to the culture of every country on this earth is a must in these times. When you get to know someone, it’s not “them” anymore, it’s “us.” Without us, without global cooperation, we will not survive as a species. Human hate and greed have ordained this. To achieve this world understanding and joining, we have to put aside ancient hatreds. When we learn tolerance, we learn to work together, whether we agree on all the little details of our personal lives or not.

The world is a rainbow filled with all the colors we see. Christianity represents one facet of a multicolored gem.

Your school tried showing you some other facets. You’re too young for religious bigotry. God made us all different. Try to love what God made, please. Abigayle Murray Spokane

xxxx