Debra Hodroff

Cal Thomas, you always amaze me with your judgments of us heathens.

In your column on April 30 (Politics, religion surround candidates), you reveal that once again religion and politics are at the forefront of this year’s presidential race. You state that evangelicals don’t seem as concerned as they once were about a candidate’s personal faith, otherwise more might support the openly Christian candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz.

My question: Should we vote for a candidate just on their religious affiliation? I’ve seen many men who are the pillars of their communities, religious elders, wise and yet I have seen these same men be the most ungodly of humans. I have seen them hide behind religion, like a shield of a warrior in battle. I have personally been cut down by these men of God, who’s sole, not soul, purpose was for power and control, not the good of mankind.

You quote scripture and reason why religion should play a part in all that we do and maybe it does, but maybe not in the way God would want. You stated that “the percentage of Americans who are religiously unaffiliated describing themselves as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular” has jumped more than 6 points, from 16.1 percent to 22.8 percent.” You say they are the young and getting younger. Why might that be? You might say it’s the moral decay of our nation and the “liberal” encroachment on today’s children. I would say it might be that the youth of today might notice the hypocrisy in the leadership of today.

Just look at the headlines a few days ago with Dennis Hastert, a self proclaimed born again Christian. He was a teacher and coach, he arrived in politics and was the longest running Speaker of the House. He became rich, in politics, as do nearly all of them. He was a religious man. I think he was one who hid behind the shield of faith.

I wish you would look at the history of politicians and how many of them are corrupt, who have gone against God, who have been charged and gone to jail for crimes against society. Even Jeb Bush, whom I like, told us under his brothers watch he kept us safe. The audience cheered. I was confused; why did they cheer? Did they forget 9/11? Is that keeping with the word of God? Or do we just pick and choose what is OK to defile and what if not?

It is all too sad that it has become a “us against them” proposition. Our politicians are spending more time as telemarketers, on the phone raising money to get reelected then on the job we voted them in for. This great nation boasted slavery as a “God given right” and they believed that was just.

I would like to have you explain to me the disconnect with politicians, all across the board, when you say that “By following the instructions and examples of Jesus of Nazareth to love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison, care for widows, and orphans and love your neighbor as yourself, the result might be what they are seeking in politics, but can never find.” If you look at what we support, as a nation, it is not the sick, the hungry, the poor, the widow; it is the powerful, the bankers, the monopolized big oil, and the pharmaceutical companies. Anyone with money and power; that is what our country supports.

In the corporate world what is the most important thing? The bottom line. Over the years we keep cutting all those programs that would help these categories. Just one more little thing I am personally interested in with the “Christian” Nation you would like. Do I have to convert from Judaism to Christianity? I thought we came here to get away from all that persecution. Well I guess it goes that if we do not learn our lessons from the past we are damned to repeat them.

Debra Hodroff lives in Estero.