Sour politics …

THE PASSION and the detail of Gary Dorrien's "Slime-master" make for informative and exciting reading (Nov. 6-19). As Dorrien says, we can find the roots of our sour political discourse in "the cultural power of American liberalism [that] is suffocating and immense" and "the belligerent tone of movement conservatives [that] is often directly connected to memories of feeling persecuted at college."

Until our politicians can politely express their opponents' views so clearly that those opponents can say, "Yes, by God! That's what I am saying! Thank you for understanding even if you disagree!" we will have a sick body politic. Thanks for printing an article that moves us toward healing, and moves us with vigor.

James E. Metcalf
St. John Lutheran Church,
Jenison, Mich.

COPYRIGHT 2002 The Christian Century Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning