Practice what you preach

Dear editor:

I really hit two jugular veins of Cherry and Hoffman with my letter responding to Cherry in a recent issue. I will attempt to respond briefly to both of their missiles in the Aug. 5 issue.

First, neither one answered my questions posed to Cherry in my July 29 response.

I asked if the various progress we have made in recent years are all attributes of “socialism,” which Cherry had called them in toto. We have made tremendous progress in fulfilling our Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights attached to our Constitution. And to answer Cherry specifically, I believe in all of the guarantees. But, as I grew up in the ’40s and ’50s, many of those amendments were not fulfilled. Now we have females with more rights, people of color with more rights, LBGT folk with legal rights they never had before. This is not “socialism.” It is a democracy.

Now to Hoffman’s usual use of the Bible to argue any point he wants to make. (Don’t misunderstand me, dear readers, I have been hearing the Word since babyhood and reading it regularly and accept it as the inspired Word of God. But remember, those who decided its contents over centuries of debate were male and eventually discarded all books by females Ruth and Esther, and discarded other books because they personally chose another theological point of view). I should remind both Cherry and Hoffman that when the Bible condemns “murder,” that includes both genders and all ages. Yet, in our great country, we have states taking the lives of male and female criminals on a routine basis. The Bible does not specifically categorize the murdering of babies. In fact, Abraham was about to murder his own son until God said “No need.” I should also remind Hoffman that the New Testament warns those who call folk “Fool” are in danger of hell fire itself. This is to say nothing of that oft-quoted line, “Judge not that you be not judged by the same standard later on (a paraphrase).” It is “by one’s fruits they will be known.” I am a great believer in fruits of the spirit, not words. As my mama taught me from childhood (my mama, a good Irish Baptist, my papa a shouting Cherokee Methodist), “Practice what you preach.” I hope both men have a good week and see the many positives abounding. John W. “Doc” Crawford Hot Springs