| Letters
to the editor from this week's Chronicle Redneck Review! No. 356 - 2/20/22 This indeed is an interesting time of the year! To recognize it, we stray away for a time from discussing the unpleasant things happening to our country! So repeated here, word for word, is an article written by myself in February, 1983, under the title LET FREEDOM RING! " Recently, 2/14, was Valentine's Day, a day painted in red, for expressing love with cards and candy and things. And about a week from now comes Ash Wednesday, which kicks off the season of Lent, known by most Christians as the 40 day season ending with the greatest act of love of all time, the death on a cross of Jesus Christ, the son of God and brother to all, who died in pain for all of us. "Just what is this love one hears about most all the time? Is it mainly that warm feeling that comes to all of us at least now and then? Is it the driving force that heroes have which spur them on to unusual deeds? Or need one look to 'soap opera' time where love is said to make the world go round? "Yes, very broad are the things which pass for love! In a flash its clear that much of the 'love' of today must be grouped under the heading of self-love or selfishness. Examples are every where, and the tell-tale characteristics are easy to see. This brand of love measures every thing in terms of what's good for me. One 'falls in love' with people and things so long as they are pleasing to me! Such love shrinks and dies when the going gets tough however, and demands are made on me. This is the 'love me' kind of love. All goes well and I love you so long as you love me! Be nice to me! Make no demands on me! Be good to me! Take care of me! Do all of this and I'll love thee" "But there is another kind of love. Brand two is the 'love you' kind of love. The Ash Wednesday and Good Friday kind of love. This brand of love puts others first, puts country first, puts God first, puts all ahead of me! That kind of love springs forth from self denial and unselfishness. It's the 'givers' kind of love, the mortar that holds family, community, and country together when times are tough and the chips are down. Such love is the only real kind of love. "We need to face the facts, folks. It's the 'love me' kind of love in all of us that leads to all of our problems. What else but the 'love me' kind of love tolerates the economic and social evils all around us, the huge deficits that threaten to strangle our children and grandchildren financially, the breakup of family, the homeless orphans, the millions of aborted souls who are denied the gift of life itself? "It's the "love me" kind of love that is represented by this quotation recently sent me by Lucille Wimer. (Long deceased.): 'In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists, and I did not speak up because I was not a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak up because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak up because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I did not speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak for me.' "We all need to 'speak up.' We all need to put convenience aside, say no to comfort and 'love me' kind of love. We all need to rededicate ourselves to God, to country, and to others. Simply replacing 'love me' kind of love with 'love you' kind of love is the magic remedy needed to solve most of our problems. A tough job. But then it's still a few weeks until Good Friday!" Jake Wren |
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