To the Editor:
Cumberland Times-News
—
I am writing in reply to Dellmer Mouse’s letter
where he expresses his belief that the election
result is the final piece of the puzzle, signaling
the return of Jesus Christ and the fall of
all sinners. Mr. Mouse’s letter isn’t backed up
by any scientific fact or realistic historical
record, only his own personal interpretation of
a few lines of scripture. The lines quoted have
been interpreted, re-interpreted and twisted
over the years by a variety of people, warning
of an upcoming apocalypse.
Recently we have seen predictions of the
world’s end from religious leaders, one claiming
to have deciphered a code within the Bible
that told of the rapture. His prediction failed
not once, twice, not three times but more than
five.
Does Mr. Mouse not realize that war, murder,
sickness, natural disasters and all associated
violence have been part of history since
the formation of this planet? The disasters we
face today often pale in comparison to prehistoric
changes that took place on planet Earth
some causing mass extinctions and bottle
necking human evolution. To then suggest
that President Obama’s re-election is a further
sign of impending doom is laughable.
He then cites the current state of Israel as a
sign of the end times. Israel has struggled as a
nation for many, many years. The geographic
location of Israel would lead anyone to believe
that they will struggle in the future as well,
unless an entire shift of thought in the Middle
East garnishes a less violent approach to
problem solving.
Instead of assuming that the world is ending
and certain people will be, “raptured” up into
the heavens a better approach is to focus on
what we can do to create a better world. Social
justice, living more in harmony with our natural
environment, investing in science and
technology, and acting out of tolerance
towards those whom are different than we are
— appear to me like a better approach than
simply throwing in the towel and waiting for
some imaginary ticket to the stars.
The world isn’t ending Mr. Mouse. Most of
the problems that you cited could easily be
solved by practicing compassion toward others,
treating the natural environment with
care and respect and realizing that no real
solution to any problem comes at the barrel of
a gun.
Jeremy Gosnell
Oakland
