Would he talk on his cell phone, too?

What would Jesus drive? Sure as heaven not a little four-cylinder putt-putt or electric car.

The National Council of Churches launched a campaign against SUVs recently, implying that Jesus would not drive an SUV but instead would choose a smaller, fuel-efficient vehicle.

Actually, if he drove (assuming he would not simply materialize or levitate wherever he wanted) around the Middle East I imagine it would be in an SUV, or perhaps a Hummer. Some of those desert roads can be rough. If he was taking 12 apostles and Mary Magdalene with him he might even use a minivan or a bus.

For big city driving, like in the United States, his vehicle would likely be a giant eight-cylinder limousine with a chauffeur so that he could conduct church business and conferences efficiently while traveling.

It is interesting that the choice of vehicle would be more important to the Council of Churches than issues like the torture and persecution of Christians by communists and Muslims around the world or the millions of abortions each year.

Leighton Loo
Mililani

Gabbards may end up helping gay rights

Although Mike and Carol Gabbard of the Alliance for Traditional Marriage are trying to distance themselves from the hate rhetoric of Rev. Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 18), the fact is that their language may be different, but the message is the same.

The Gabbards try to couch their anti-gay propaganda in language of "aloha" and even "tolerance." But they have pursued an agenda of contempt and denigration of people based on sexual orientation. They worked to deny equal protection for same-sex couples and actively opposed the passage of Chapter 19, which makes it illegal to harass or bully students based on sexual orientation, among other groups.

In the end, I compliment the Gabbards on taking a position against Phelps. Perhaps they are beginning to see the problems caused by discrimination and denigration of people based on sexual orientation. Maybe they are beginning to see that it is because of people like Phelps and his message of hate that we need to support things like education about gay issues and protection for our gay students.

Robin Nussbaum
Program coordinator
Gay Liberation Program
American Friends Service Committee

Bush shows weakness against N. Korea

George Bush named North Korea as part of his axis of evil last year, along with Iraq.

The problem is that North Korea is in Bush's face with its violations and Bush can't do anything about it. North Korea has an army, air force and nukes. Unlike a little country like Iraq, North Korea can fight back.

Iran is also getting into Bush's face with its nuclear power plant being built by the Russians. Is Bush going to attack Iran? No, it has a strong military and a strong ally: Russia.

Giving lip service to the world and not backing his words with deeds makes Bush a very weak leader.

Ronald L. Edmiston

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