Pubdate: Mon, 10 January 2000 Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS) Copyright: 2000 The Clarion-Ledger Address: P.O. Box 40 Jackson, MS 39205-0400 Fax: (601) 961-7211 Feedback: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/ Author: Lou Brase, Jackson WHAT WOULD JESUS THINK ABOUT TODAY? In response to Mike Lee's Jan. 4 letter ("Ivins shows liberal fallacy; Jesus neither liberal nor conservative"): It doesn't matter how we label Jesus, but how he labels us. If Jesus returned, what would he say about us and how would his preaching and teaching be received in 21st century Mississippi? What, for instance, would Jesus have to say about our history of stubborn resistance to integration and our continuing hatred and contempt for members of the black race? What would Jesus say to those who fiercely resist any and all attempts to save lives by regulating or prohibiting ownership of guns? What would he say to those who protect political corruption by blocking campaign finance reform? What would he say to those who condemned and endlessly pursued a publically repentant President Clinton for his involvement with Monica Lewinsky while condoning by their silence similar acts by Republican leaders like Henry Hyde? What would Jesus say to those who demand tax reductions for the wealthy and oppose increases in minimum wages? What would Jesus say about those who loudly advocate "getting tough on crime" and "zero tolerance for drug users" without even the pretense of trying to rehabilitate them? I think that if Jesus returned to Earth he would denounce modern-day conservatives with much the same language he used to denounce the conservatives of his own day (the Scribes and Pharisees), and they would dismiss him as just another "bleeding heart liberal." - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart