Suppose you have a neighbor whose house is a neglected wreck on barren ground containing intentional chemical spills.

He is loud and cruel, praising his deities while laughing at others’ misfortune. He also hates your neighbor across the street, speaking falsely about him to your other neighbors to incite them against him and speaking openly of wanting the neighbor dead and wanting his property.

Suppose this man’s sons vandalize the neighborhood while his daughter sides with them when their victims cry out against them.

What would you teach your children about this man?

Would you say, “Let’s visit, put an arm around him and call him ‘brother’?’’ Would you encourage them to value his ways and to regard as bigots those who do otherwise?

Or, would you say: “He is a man without understanding who has ruined all God has given him. He disregards the lives of others and rejoices in their suffering. He does evil and spreads evil through his children. Never be like him”?

If you would warn your children to avoid being like this man instead of respecting and imitating his ways, then why not do accordingly regarding nations, peoples, cultures, religions and philosophies?

Why do you instead embrace diversity as it now manifests itself — by putting an arm around peoples who have failed to manage their own nations and who openly hate and destroy others?

Why do you instead try to learn, teach, support and embrace their evil ways as if they were good?

Brendan Surrusco State College