LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: ANOTHER VOTE: AN ANSWER TO A PRAYER

Dear Editor:

The narrow passage of riverboat gambling November 2 was a tough loss for a lot of people. The ensuing Citizens Against Riverboat Gambling meeting produced a statement that cited community unity as a major concern, but the bottom line was the lack of finances to compete with the Boyd Group in a third election. (County records revealed they spent $374,939.48 on the first two, and there seemed to be plenty more where that came from!)

I spent many hours in prayer for the following two weeks seeking a personal answer to how a city, and indeed most of a nation, could be deceived by the promise of easy money. The answer I received was absolutely clear. It is my responsibility to be a witness of Jesus in every issue and at all times, not JUST to be a good citizen and blend in quietly with Citizens Against Riverboat Gambling. Understanding my failure during the first two campaigns, I vowed to God that if a third election were to become a reality I would be a witness to Jesus.

Wow! Look what's happening April 5. Statewide! And, Bill Boyd himself, assuming that the April 5 election is sure to go his way, has already asked for a third city vote in June. Hollywood can't set it up any better than this.

My prayer is being answered. But what does Jesus have to do with this issue?

1. Jesus says people cannot serve God and money. He says it's one or the other, not both at the same time. Jesus teaches us by example to serve God. However, the whole message of riverboat gambling has been money. Two million dollars or so in increased tax revenues. Thousands for education. Hundreds of jobs. Tens of new businesses. Oh, incidentally, thirty or forty million cool ones for the vendor. I've yet to hear a word about how riverboat gambling will enable the people of the community to better serve God. The hard, cold reality is this: we live in a nation, and a community, where the majority of registered voters who are not too apathetic to vote have sold out to the promise of easy money, not to serving God.

Jesus' instruction is to seek the Kingdom of God (God's control in our lives) FIRST, and then all the things money can buy will be added. He didn't say it would happen quickly or painlessly, but he did say we would have the food and clothing we need if we put God first. I prefer to gamble on the words of Jesus rather than those of gaming vendors. As an aside, The Kiplinger Washington Letter of January 14, 1994 and a study by Robert Goodman (see the article in the Sunday, March 20, 1994 issue of the Southeast Missourian) indicate gambling is not the savior proponents tout it to be. A few get richer and the vast majority of businesses, as well as gamblers, lose. Already in Minnesota people spend more money on gambling than on clothing and shoes! The only long-term assurance of economic prosperity for a person or a nation is to put God first and serve Him by serving, not fleecing, other people.

2. Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God with all we are, and the second greatest commandment is like it, to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus goes on to teach us through the story of the Good Samaritan, to be neighbors to people in need by inconveniencing ourselves and even giving financially to help a person in need. Jesus also gave us the "golden rule", teaching us to do to others what we would have them do to us. This is the exact opposite of the philosophy of riverboat gambling. The gambling business is one of taking millions for itself and giving back tokens to create a charitable image. Does anybody out there really believe any gambling vendor wants to come to Cape because of Jesus' teaching to be loving neighbors, doing to others what they want done to them?

Other teachings of Jesus apply, like causing others to sin and being responsible managers of our material goods. In short, I believe gambling violates every principle Jesus lived and taught. Therefore, I don't want riverboat gambling in Cape. I am genuinely thankful for another opportunity to act officially April 5 on this answered prayer.

AUDIE LONG

Cape Girardeau