I am writing in response to the article “Religious, racial hate mail infiltrates ASUO,” (ODE, April 9). Being a Christian myself, I am appalled at what was said in the hate mail to the ASUO.
I resent being associated with the writer of that letter because I certainly do not feel the same way at all. The very fact that the writer claims to be a Christian and then takes the liberty to speak for all the other Christian students on campus, me included, on such a subject as this, offends me greatly.
What this person is saying is not the way true Christians believe. We as Christians are called to love everyone regardless of race, religion or sexual preference because God loves everyone the same. He does not play favorites. We are all his children, and it is not our place to judge anyone.
In John 13:34, Jesus commands us to “love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another.” According to this verse, we, as Christians, followers of Christ, are called to follow his example and love everyone. Jesus himself, God’s own son, associated with and loved the very people that all of the more “righteous” people scorned (Matthew 9:9-13).
In fact, Jesus also commands us not to judge others. It is not our job; it is God’s. Matthew 7:1-2 says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Just because someone has different beliefs or is from a different origin does not mean that they are in any way inferior to anyone else. The writer of the letter has not only managed to give a very detailed account of his or her hatred for anyone who happens to be different from him or her, but the writer has also managed to drag the precious name of Jesus Christ through the mud. Any person who discriminates or persecutes any other person in the name of Christianity has just done the exact opposite of what Jesus teaches.
These people also give a false impression of what it really means to be a true follower of Christ, and I think it is extremely sad.
Ashlee Garcia is a freshman anthropology major.