By Claire L. Kelly, Stevensville
Well intentioned people respectfully exchange ideas, accept facts, and consider differing points of view. This is fundamental to a functioning democracy.
Knowledge is vital to intelligent discourse. When anyone denounces the ANTIFA activist organization as un-American, it is obvious the speaker does not know, or hopes listeners do not know, that the name ANTIFA is just a shortening of its full name: ANTI-Fascism. Being anti-fascism is being pro-American democracy. Being pro-fascism is un-Christian and un-American.
Anyone who denounces those who reject fascism must not know, or not want to acknowledge knowing, that the term NAZI is derived from Hitler’s NATIONAL German Party. The German pronunciation of ‘National’ is NAZIonal. Churchill shortened it to NAZI. Nazional fascism rejects democracy and Christ’s teachings.
I believe in representative democracy and our Constitution that declares all men are created equal. Christ chose to come to mankind in a dark skinned, non-Caucasian, Arabic body, and into a Jewish family. He instructed us to treat each other, especially children, with love, kindness and respect.
Fact: Iranians are Caucasians. Some white, self-identified Christians, conceitful of the fluke of their own births, will have difficulty explaining their beliefs and actions in this life at their judgment day.
I pray Christ’s teachings re decency, kindness, morality, and truth will triumph over bigotry, tribalism, and ignorance.