Another Sojourners Retort

Saw this letter to the editor from one Greg Turner. There may not be too much hope in his tone, but he puts the finger on the humanistic optimism that seems to characterize the rising Religious Left.

Anyone who thinks the middle east conflicts can be solved by talk doesn't understand the nature of the conflicting ideologies of fundamentalist Islam and orthodox Judeo-Christianity.

I will add in my opinion that moderate / compromized persons of both stripes can get along just peachy, since they have learned the "higher virtues" of tolerance/apathy. I'm not naive enough to think that fundamentalists of either stripe can solve their problems on paper. I wish it could be, but I'm not that naive.

Anyway, here is Greg's letter:

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Greg Turner writes from Denver, Colorado:

Jim Rice toes the usual Sojourners line with his idealistic dream of praying for more understanding leadership in the Middle East war. Jim - do you not understand that the fundamentalist Shiite Muslims seek to destroy Christian culture? We can pray until Armageddon and these people are NOT going to change. Benjamin Netanyahu noted that Shiite fundamentalists do not want money nor territory, but the total destruction of the West. Israel is indeed surrounded by many who seek to destroy them, and are thus justified in doing whatever necessary to keep the enemies at bay.

I believe in the Sojourners view on many social issues regarding poverty, immigration, etc. But this endless turn-the-other-cheek stance regarding the proper response to military and terrorist threats is completely self-defeating. Read your Old Testament, Mr. Rice. There is much there to illustrate the proper way to deal with unrepentant enemies.

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