Bess needs to read the Bible

To the editor:

Having read Howard Bess’ columns over the past few months I can come to only one conclusion: His column has no place in the Faith section.

Far be it for me to want to censor him or have him removed from the paper altogether, but his writings are that of someone who is a cross between a secular progressive and a Marxist ideologue and his columns are more appropriate for the editorial section. His rants show he has no understanding of economics and yet he says that only zero unemployment is acceptable, which was the position of the old Soviet Union. In reality, it is simply impossible. He mentions the horrors of black slavery.

Isn’t slavery just as horrible for other ethnic groups? Or is Mr. Bess just trying to agitate blacks as secular progressives are prone to do. When writing about Old Testament events, he uses the term BCE — Before Common Era — a secular term. Most people, especially religious figures, use the term BC — Before Christ. In an apparent anti-Semitic dig against Israel, Mr. Bess uses the term Palestine when discussing the time of Moses and Christ, totally ignoring the fact that there was no geographical entity named Palestine until 100 years after the death of Christ. And now Mr. Bess claims the argument for gay rights is over.

Well, they have pretty much the same rights as anyone else except when it comes to military service and marriage. What Bible is he reading? I would like to know how he reconciles with Leviticus 18:22 (King James Version): “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” When Mr. Bess says the argument is over, in a sense he is correct. The argument was over when the Bible was written. All Mr. Bess needs to do is read it.

Erik Heiker

Wasilla