Of course Dean received negative reactions from fellow candidatessuch as John Edwards of North Carolina in addition to the Rev. AlSharpton. Yet I think the true motive behind the statement was thatin order for the Democratic Party to defeat George W. Bush in 2004,it needs to include all voters of all races who fall into low-incomebrackets.

Dean’s comment has stirred up controversy in the Democraticpresidential race, and that is the type of message that they need tosend in order for the average, busy, tax-paying voter to start payingcloser attention to this next election.

As for students and their semi-involvement in voting, get outthere and register to vote. It’s your life that will be directlyaffected by next year’s election.

– Douglas Torressocial science junior

Reiner erroneous when it comes to Church,evangelism

This is a reply to Barrett Reiner’s column (“Evangelism a selfishendeavor,” Nov. 4). As a Christian, I find it extremely offensive anda misguided opinion on the benefits of evangelism.

Reiner needs to realize the benefits of missionary work as ablessing. It gives hope and faith to those who don’t have anythingelse. It gives individuals a second chance at starting a new life. Inthird-world countries, it helps provide medical care, housing andother needs. Evangelism is not a “white man’s burden.” Evangelismshows no skin color, gender or ethnicity. There are blackmissionaries as well as white ones. Please do not associatemissionary work with “white imperialism.”

Missionaries do not force people to believe in Christianity. It isnot a Christian’s place to do that. God wouldn’t force His way onanyone, because He gave everyone free will. If Reiner had been to aBilly Graham mission, he would know that Dr. Graham gives everyone achance to either go about his or her own ways or accept Christ.

Christianity, for your information Mr. Reiner, is not a religion,but rather a relationship, a relationship with God. Religion is mantrying to work his way to God; Christianity is God reaching down tomankind.

Reiner states, “When suffering is all that you have ever known,doesn’t it seem likely that one might yearn to seek the origin of hisrelief?” If Reiner ever went out with a missionary, he would find outthe answer to this question. All witnesses or evangelists do thiswhen they share Christ with others. All human suffering began whenAdam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. Since then,through Adam’s bloodline, mankind has inherited a sinful nature,which makes people bound for Hell if they don’t repent and turn toChrist.

Being a history major, I totally understand the nature of TheCrusades. The Crusades were considered by its participants to be a”holy war.” In terms of Christianity and the Bible, The Crusaders aremistaken because the real Holy War – which was between sin andrighteousness – was fought and won at the Cross at Calvarysome 2,000 years ago. So basically, English kings and popes went tothe Holy Land for nothing but their own selfish desires driven bysin, not by God.

When “evangelists” tried to kill, torture and maim nativeAmericans, Africans, etc., they totally misunderstood the purpose ofevangelism, which is to reach souls through Christ. Instead, drivenby their own desires, they felt the need to impose their culture andways upon innocent natives. Would Christ do this to innocent people?Would God do this to innocents? Would the Apostle Paul present theGospel message this way? Mr. Reiner should think for himself byputting two and two together and realize that real Christians wouldnot act this way to spread God’s word.

Does Reiner really think missionaries act only in their interestrather than the interests of others? Missionaries are always taughtto think of others first. Perhaps Mr. Reiner should spend time with amissionary and find out for himself what it is to be a part ofevangelism.

– Shannon Hammellhistory senior

Columnist misrepresents Christians, evangelicanmissionaries

With regard to Barrett Reiner’s column (“Evangelism a selfishendeavor,” Nov. 4), I have a few corrections to make in his argument.When Reiner implied mass evangelistic missions are never launched inEurope, but only in poverty-stricken nations, that is completelyfalse. If Reiner had done his research, he would have learned therehas been recent massive growth in the Church in the United Kingdom,Sweden and Norway, as well as many other countries. And how did thisgrowth begin? Through evangelism. Yes, it is true missionaries do goto underdeveloped nations, but they do not force their ideology onthe people – it is not like people are refused food or vaccines ifthey do not convert to Christianity.

Reiner also said evangelists were unrelenting in attempting toincrease global numbers of Christians, implying that by bringing morepeople to Christ, Christians personally benefit. It is important forpeople to understand Christians do not believe in earning their wayinto heaven, and if people claim they are Christians and believe theyare saved through good works, then they are not Biblical Christians.The Bible clearly states multiple times that we are not saved byworks, but only through God’s grace and Jesus Christ dying on thecross. If a Christian leads no one to Christ – or if they lead athousand people to Christ – it makes no difference, except in thelives of the people who become Christians.

If I knew you want to buy a Chevy Tahoe and you went to a dealerwho offered one for $30,000, but I knew a man just down the roadgiving away Chevy Tahoes for free – he would pay for everything -wouldn’t you want me to tell you about him? I’d be a pretty crappyfriend if I didn’t. That’s how it is for Christians. They know abouta really awesome, exciting, life-changing experience, and they wantto let others in on the secret. Christians have a passion to sharethe Gospel with others because they don’t want people to sufferthrough eternity separated from God. They have a love for people andhope to protect them from eternity in a God-less place.

– Joanna Emmonspolitical science junior

Faculty member discouraged by staff absencefrom firestorm coverage

Although I myself am a faculty member, I found it disturbing thatyour coverage on the fires and their impact on San Diego Stateconcentrated only on faculty and students. There are many dedicated,hardworking staff members who help run this university.

Among these are some who lost their homes – I know of two who workin the library – yet you chose to completely ignore this group. Thisis not the first time I have noticed The Daily Aztec seems to thinkthe university consists only of faculty and students; in a tragicsituation such as this, it is important to recognize another groupwhose members have also lost their homes.

– Chuck DintroneSan Diego State UniversityLove Library faculty

Project director, alumnus, reminisces fondtimes at SDSU

I’d like to thank Matt Skinner and The Daily Aztec for thegenerally positive review of the Billabong Odyssey movie, a projectthat has consumed my life for the last two years. Somehow I alsoended up in the film, and was ultimately pressed into duty as thenarrator to help drive the story along its path.

I fondly recall reading this very paper when I attended San DiegoState on a five-year plan from ’78 to ’83 before earning a degree inbusiness administration. I actually founded the SDSU surf team withsome friends that first year. That last year was an epic onepersonally, as its El Ni