LETTERS: MINISTERS SEEK TO RAISE AWARENESS OF HATE VIOLENCE

To the editor:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."Oct. 7 has been designated by the Interfaith Alliance and Fellowship of Reconciliation as the day for communities across American to hold Stop the Hate vigils. And there can be no question that a day which brings awareness to that violence in this country needs to occur. Last year we were shocked by the brutal murders of James Byrd and Matthew Shepard. This past July 4 weekend saw Benjamin Smith murder people because of the color of their skin or their ethnicity. And, even more recently, children in a Jewish community center in Los Angeles became the targets of still another hater. It is time for people who hold social justice dear to work at eliminating such horrible acts.

Consider the following: In 1997, as reported by the FBI, there were 6,084 attacks reported on the basis of race, 1,586 attacks reported on the basis of religion, 1,401 attacks reported on the basis of sexual orientation, 1,132 attacks reported on the basis of nationality, 40 attacks reported on the basis of multiple bias and 12 attacks reported on the basis of disability.

The only way the tide can be turned, we believe, is through examining our own lives and changing any and all thoughts that are hostile toward those who look and act in ways that are not like the majority. Or, as Marge Piercy writes in her poem, "The Low Road," change "starts when you care to act. It starts when you do it again after they say no. It starts when you say `We' and know who you mean, and each day you mean one more."There are not plans, at least at this time, for a vigil to be held on Oct. 7 in Cape Girardeau to bring awareness to hate violence. However, we pray and hope that this letter will spotlight a terrible disease that is eating away at the character of this nation. It is time to stop the hate. We whose signatures appear below are committed to working toward its elimination.

If you would like more information, please feel free to call Phil Curran at 335-3422 or 335-1058.

PHILIP N. CURRAN

Senior Minister, First Christian Church

STEPHANIE P. CURRAN

Associate Minister, First Christian Church

DR. ANDREW L. PRATT

Campus Minister and Teacher, Baptist Student Center

ROBERT KLEIN

St. Mark Lutheran Church

KIM FERGUSON

Cornerstone Church

CLAYTON SMITH

Centenary United Methodist Church

DAVID ALLEN

St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

JIM CAUGHLAN

Pastor, Evangelical United Church of Christ

DR. FRED BURGARD

Faith Evangelical Free Church

ROGER CHRISTIANSEN

First Church of God