Mr. Yatarola:
You repeatedly stated in your Viewpoint article ("Obama and the end of time," Mar. 18), that you have always wanted to write an article about Sen. Barack Obama, but that every issue you've ever wanted to write about has been popularized before you could publish your views. Perhaps this happened for a reason. Maybe you don't have anything original to say about Sen. Obama that is relevant and appropriate to publish.
But, you apparently couldn't bear the thought of not throwing your two cents in, and therefore took it upon yourself to compose a scathing, irrelevant editorial that borders on being ridiculous. Your condescending language that at one point becomes downright racist when you make a definite distinction between black voters and highly educated ones (as if there could never be a highly educated black voter) disgusts me, and I am sure I am not alone when I say this.
You essentially equate support of Obama to the following of a pagan cult, rejecting all of the senator's ideas as "hot air." A "shallow fad"? That's far too bold, Mr. Yatarola. One of the only points of yours that I agreed with was when you described yourself as being "conceited." Merely mentioning the names "Obama" and "Antichrist" in the same sentence is absolutely preposterous. Just because you may dread biotechnology (which has undeniably led to tremendous advances in healthcare that are saving lives) doesn't mean that it is a sign of the apocalypse; nor does this mean that it is relevant to this issue.
In fact, why are we discussing faith at all in relation to this campaign? Sen. Obama is clearly the most faith-oriented candidate left, as difficult as this may be for a conservative to swallow. There is a time to talk about faith, yes, but surely this is not it. Debating religion is not going to end the recession or fix the Middle East crisis. The fact that you honestly believe that Sen. Obama is knowingly and purposely garnering "religious fanaticism toward himself" is almost entertaining.
I have heard many conservative commentators complain about Obama's use of rhetoric as a means to make himself a more popular candidate, but never has anyone absurdly complained that he is trying to make himself a god (until you did yesterday, that is).
I'm sorry there is not a candidate in this election that is as conservative and orthodox as you desire. But again, maybe there is a reason for this.
Ed Keenan
freshman
Fisher Hall
Mar. 18
