Would Jesus accost?
Re “A call to tone down the shame tactics,” June 26
Given today’s incivility, Christians may ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?” if confronted with appointees in the Trump administration. Certainly Jesus wouldn’t ask White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave a restaurant because of President Trump’s policies and her defense of them, right?
Not so fast. As a minister I know that Jesus said this to the Pharisees, who were sticklers for the letter rather than the spirit of the law: “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil?” And remember, Jesus yelled at a fig tree for not having figs on it when figs were out of season.
So, it’s not difficult to imagine Jesus confronting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen at a Washington restaurant. Therefore, perhaps the right question isn’t “What would Jesus do?” but “Whom would Jesus yell at?” Bill Freeman Canoga Park
It is said that Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth sat down to dinner with the most reviled in Galilee: Matthew, a tax collector and collaborator with Rome, and other publicans and “sinners.”
He did this against the counsel of his disciples, who argued that engaging with such pariahs would be seen as endorsing them and their ways. Yeshua countered: Whom better could he choose to hear his message of love?
As the story goes, after Yeshua left that evening, Matthew had an epiphany. His experience with the rabbi opened his eyes and changed his heart.
He abandoned his service to Rome, becoming one of Yeshua’s most ardent apostles, spreading the rabbi’s message to the ends of the known world — all because Yeshua reached out to those whose behaviors and philosophies were anathema to his own. Roxanne Vettese
Oxnard
Accosting Trump administration officials as an expression of outrage is one thing, but doing this as a tactic to defeat the administration is something else entirely.
With respect to Rep. Maxine Waters’ (D-Los Angeles) call for people to “harass” Trump staffers, there is no strategic benefit to this course of action.
Let’s stick with the facts: The majority of eligible Americans typically do not vote. This kind of viciousness does not invite them into the political process; rather, it repels them. If we truly care about inviting people to vote for a more just and egalitarian country, we must be the adults in the room.
I honestly believe the words of First Lady Michelle Obama when she said, “When they go low, we go high.” Our actions determine whether or not this quote has any meaning or is just a cliche. Jack Rockwood
Simi Valley
Taking the high road has allowed the Democrats to turn the government over to a minority party with a self-serving agenda and has put a liar in the White House.
If taking children away, letting Russia influence our elections, attacking the press, reversing Democratic policies and regulations and daily demonizing liberals are not enough for party leaders like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to push back strongly, then they need to get out of Waters’ way. Alan Segal
San Diego