FROM: Terry Lynch@aol.com; POB 241035; Montgomery, AL 36124-1035 
Phone: (334) 272-4217 voice  (334) 277-3582 fax via arrangement

DATE:  July 23, 1998 

TO:  Letter to the Editor      

SUBJECT:  Is Scholar A Dirty Word?

Someone who is a liberal can tell you a lot better what a liberal 
is then someone who has their head stuck in the sand of a 2,000 
year old book of scripture.  Ask any ostrich what the elephant 
herd was running from and he won't know because he stuck his head 
into the sand trying to escape the stamped.  It was the little 
mouse of progress that got all the elephants all riled up.  
Progress happens to be one definition of liberal that elephants 
can't understand no matter how big they boast their brains to be.

Personally I'll take a jackass any day of the week to get me down 
the treacherous trails of life and through the rugged canyons of 
deception.  Elephants though sure footed beasts of burden prefer 
to trek over known terrain, following ancient trails laid and 
marked by their ancestors.  A mule on the other hand will go just 
about anywhere you point its nose.

Yes, I know the difference between a jackass, a mule, an ostrich 
and an elephant; Republicans are big, fat, lumbering elephants; 
ostriches are Republicans with their heads buried in the sand; 
Democrats are stubborn, longeared mules and the promiscuous ones 
are the jackasses because mules are sterile.  Strictly speaking, 
I'm none of the above.  It would be wrong to label me something that 
I'm not and one thing wrong with labels like liberal and 
conservative is that individuals may have beliefs and opinions 
common to both or neither.

Too often we use libels in a hateful way to hurt people; 
politicans use them to arouse fear, win support, raise money and 
steal votes.  In the Bible Belt the Republican Party has been 
infiltrated by right wing fundamentalist, with conservative 
elephants and ostriches.  Many among these newly converted 
Republicans hold Old Testament values with respect to separation 
of the races, male dominance over females and hatred or 
intolerance toward people who have different religious beliefs or 
life styles.  I'm guilty of labeling and name calling myself.  
But I do it not to hurt people, rather to enlighten everyone.

Just as a man who carries a weapon to enforce the law or defend 
his country is not a criminal, so one who uses a pen to point out 
truth and educate is not a criminal, but a crusader for truth, a 
philosopher, a teacher.  In the olden days we called such people 
prophets, wise men, even a savior or Messiah.  You knew who they 
were because light shined around them and they spoke with wisdom 
and truth for their age.  No I'm not a liberal and I'm certainly 
not a Messiah.  But you would not be incorrect in calling me a 
teacher or a scholar even if you think those are dirty words.

Sincerely, Terry Lynch 
Montgomery, AL