LETTER: LABELS KEEP US FROM THE REAL ISSUES

To the editor:

Ahhh! A new stereotype is born.

I kinda like this one: The Religious Right. Sort of catchy, isnt it? I guess I wont mind being categorized by this phrase.

But Bruce, you dont want to be youre not one of those fundamental conservative Christians.

Oh, yes I am. Theyve got me dead to rights.

Say it aint so.

It is so. I cant deny it.

You mean youre one of Falwells Moral Majority.

No.

Oh, youre a member of Robertsons Christian Coalition.

No.

Well, then youre a Limbaugh ditto head.

No.

I dont get it. How can you be a fundamentalist conservative Christian religious righter if you arent one of them.

Thats easy: Hollywood, the news media, the Democratic Party, the president, his cabinet, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Act Up, etc., all said I am.

Well, I guess if all of these people agree ... ah, maybe you are one. But didnt you question their opinions.

Yeah, I did, I thought, hey, Im not one of them. I dont want to be. I am not.

OK, I see youre not. I knew you werent.

Oh, but then I thought, Ill prove it. So I went to the dictionary. Fundamentalist: One who believes in the literal interpretation and the infallibility of the Bible.

Conservative: One who seeks to preserve the existing truths of Gods word from opposing political changes of a radical nature.

Christian: A professed follower of Christ.

So you see, I fit every one.

Yeah, but so do I!Say it aint so.

I wish it werent.

Dont let it bother you, there will be another stereotype in a few months, just in time to be used to carry the blame for the ills of our country.

I sure hope so.

Anything to keep the citizens blinded to the real truth of what is causing our nation to stumble.

BRUCE COLLIER

Cape Girardeau