Letters to the Editor: Social justice warriors need Christ, too
Social justice warriors need Christ, too
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”
I was reminded of these words from Jesus (Matthew 10:28) while reading Sr. Ryan’s editorial entitled “Are We at the Gates of Hell?” Sister compared the effects of climate change to what hell on earth would be like. It’s provocative to think about from a Christian/religious perspective, but what if our communities are becoming less afraid of hell or don't even believe in the existence of the devil?
A Gallup poll this past summer revealed that just 59% of Americans believe in hell and 58% in the devil, which are all time lows. As you could likely guess, belief in hell and the devil are lowest among the youngest generations.
You might be asking what does this have to do with a social justice issue like climate change? I would argue quite a bit. If our society increasingly believes that there aren’t any eternal consequences for engaging in evil behavior or neglecting our responsibilities as human members of God’s creation, why would there be any need to do something about impoverished farmers affected by droughts, wounded women who regret aborting their children, or broken families impacted by drug abuse? After all, many surmise that they will go to heaven regardless of what they do or just simply cease to exist after they die.
If we want to raise up a new generation of social justice warriors who do legitimate good for others and the world, we must first make them warriors for Christ’s grace and ruth. Only then will they see that these social justice issues aren’t just fleeting political battles, but battles that have eternal significance.
Joe Boggs
Monroe
Hoping to find a kidney donor
I am writing this letter to appeal to the generosity of the human spirit. I am in need of a kidney transplant. I have been on dialysis since 2016. I had a hypoxic event in July of 2016 and was rushed to Toledo Hospital, where they proceeded to drop my body temperature to 88 degrees to save my organs. I was in a coma for three days and in ICU for 13 days. They didn’t know if I would have brain damage. By the grace of God, I came out of it without any. They called me the “miracle man.”
Every organ came back, except for my kidneys. So, I started dialysis. I had a chance with three donors: One changed his mind; two others were ruled medically ineligible. The last one was just a few months ago. I am so humbled by the offer from those individuals. I love them dearly.
I am on the kidney list at Cleveland Clinic for a cadaver kidney, but no one knows when a match becomes available. I have been on that list for going on seven years now. There were two years when I paused to take care of my sick mother and father, and there were some medical setbacks that also paused my eligibility to be on the list. I am just trying to appeal to someone’s altruistic nature of maybe wanting to try and donate a kidney to me. I am O+ blood type. They say most compatible is O+, but other markers might allow other blood types. You will not be responsible for any medical bills as a donor.
If anyone would consider this selfless act, I would be forever in your debt. Please contact me at 734-847-9615 or jimetts7515@gamil.com or direct message me on Facebook.
James Etts
Toledo
We don't need felons running for office
In 1959, President Eisenhower signed into law the Landrum-Griffin Act as amended. Under the act it lists a number of felonies that bar union members, staff and union officials from holding any union position for 13 years from the date of their conviction or 13 years from the date they are released from prison.
As a former union representative, had I don what Supreme Court Justices Gorsuch, Thomas, Alito and Roberts have done and are still doing, I would have been convicted of taking kickbacks.
Sens. Mendez and Congressman Santos are charged with a number of felonies, and if convicted, they could be placed on probation or sent to prison. If they are sent to prison, once they are released, they can run for federal office. A few years ago, a congressman from New Jersey was convicted of tax fraud and spent one year in prison. When he was released, he ran for Congress again. He was defeated in the Republican Primary, but, nevertheless, he was allowed to run for office.
It is time that Congress passed a law identical to the 1959 Landrum-Grifin Act. The only language that needs to be changed is replacing “union members” or “union officials” with any “federal candidates.” This could be named the Federal Candidate Reporting and Disclosure Act.
Jerry McKart
Monroe
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Letters to the Editor: Social justice warriors need Christ, too
