Why the fear mongering?

To the editor:

Lynda Waddington's March 1 column, 'Pastors and the Iowa caucuses” was heavy on insinuation and light on any practical value other than smearing pastors and Republicans.

To call them a 'shadowy part” of the caucuses landscape implies they are trying to hide something unseemly. Perhaps it is simply being tired of being called 'religious extremists” as she does later in her column, again with no real justification other than that she disagrees with their political and religious views.

Here is the reality: Pastors have been an important part of the political landscape since the foundation of our nation. Separation of church and state in no way suggested they should not be.

And here is the even more important reality: Pastors and churches have been at the forefront throughout our history bringing health care (heard of Mercy and St. Luke's?), freedom (heard of the abolition of slavery?), and civil rights (heard of Dr. Martin Luther King?). Yes, a few pastors and churches have done despicable things, but they are by far the exception. Spend any time with most of these pastors and you will find they are pretty well educated and can think for themselves and may even disagree with some of the things said at these closed-door events.

So, please refrain from such senseless and baseless attacks on groups simply because you disagree with their political bent.

James Wartian

Cedar Rapids