LETTERS: CURE WORSE THAN ILLNESS

To the editor:

The Rev. Wissman's recent letter to the editor accurately portrays racism as an evil that should be denounced. However, his suggestion about how to get rid of hate groups is much more dangerous than those groups themselves. To give the government the power to abolish and disenfranchise groups that have views that offend us not only would render the First Amendment null and void, but it would grant an already overbearing federal government power that would border of fascism. I don't trust the government to pick and choose which groups and ideologies aren't politically correct and, therefore, a danger to me and other Americans.

Racism, like most evils in modern society, is ultimately the manifestation of the fallen state of many. The only real cure for racism is a change of heart that comes from the redeemer of all men, not from giving dictatorial powers to a government. If Wissman, instead of preaching against hate groups, would point his listeners to the only real cure for racism, he may see more success for his efforts.

JOHN HELDERMAN

Whitewater