Your Opinion: Misconception about charity

Dear Editor:

I would just like to correct a common misconception that came up in the Nov. 22 letter to the editor from Mr. Ortbals of Linn.

Regardless of how you feel about all of the programs that Ortbals mentioned, or the fact that Republicans tend to want to cut them, Ortbals seems to believe that government programs are charitable in nature. That seems to be the root of his problem with Republicans claiming to be Christians.

By definition, charity involves voluntarily using your own resources to help others who may be less fortunate. Obtaining other peoples resources, (taxes), essentially by force, and then giving them away to those less fortunate, whether deserving or not, is not charity.

I am neither Democrat nor Republican but I am a Christian. I give voluntarily to many charities.

If I was not forced to give so much to the government I would certainly give more to charities. Just trying to clear up that common misconception.

Movie title
Grade: grade here
Cast: cast here
Director: director here
Rating: rating here
Running time: minutes
Showtimes and Ticket Info