STEVE SMITH -- What’s Up?

I have met B.W. Cook just once, but I seized the moment to tell him

that I believe he does his best work when he is outside “the crowd”

looking in. Last Saturday, Bruce uncorked one and made a prophet out of

me.

In his outstanding column, Bruce described a discussion he had with

his daughter, who had just finished attending a church service in Costa

Mesa that greatly troubled her. It seems as though people of faiths other

than that of this particular church were condemned to hell.

The column struck a chord because something similar happened to me

last year. At that time, I was in the position of Bruce’s daughter,

having just had a discussion with a friend about our respective

“religiosity,” if you will. It was clear to me then that we had different

views on who was going to heaven and who was not.

I grew up in the ‘60s, which I count from about 1963 to about 1973.

Those times have become an easy target for revisionists all over the

country, blaming the decade for just about everything that is wrong with

America today.

But I remember the intent of the activists in the ‘60s and one of the

best things that came out of the decade was tolerance, which, it should

be noted, is far different from the acceptance that some would force upon

us these days. Back then, we tried to foster the notion that we were all

equal; that regardless of the color of your skin, the size of your wallet

or in which direction you prayed, there was a place for you.

That attitude broke many color and gender barriers and in the same way

that it has become really uncool to drive drunk, it also became uncool to

hate or discriminate.

And while I am not proud of some of the moral standards that were

dropped during those years, hating and discriminating is still uncool.

Intolerance is not tolerated.

Most of my attitudes about politics and life have changed since then.

I am living proof of Winston Churchill’s classic line, “If you’re 19 and

not a socialist, you have no heart. If you’re 35 and still a socialist,

you have no brain.”

I’d like to think that I finally have a brain, having realized many

years ago that matters of adult morality and personal responsibility are

largely self-determined, but I still cling to this old-fashioned notion

of tolerance; I still dream Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream.

But religious convictions run deep, and just as it is tragic that

those in Cook’s Costa Mesa church do not fully understand the concept of

tolerance, so it is that according to my beliefs, if you condemn me to

hell because I do not believe as you do, you have sinned.

In the home in which I grew up, discrimination of any kind was second

only to physical violence on the societal taboo list and in some cases,

it was No. 1. To discriminate would bring great shame upon our family.

I am sorry that at the age of 14, Cook’s daughter had to encounter the

small minds of that church. It is not likely that she will soon forget

that episode, and I only hope it does not trigger the onset of adult

cynicism. She’s still too young for that.

I’m sorry, too, that this happened in Costa Mesa, which is about as

diverse a community as one will find in Orange County. It’s one of the

flavors I most appreciate about this town.

And to those of you who believe that theses ideas that we can all get

along, that we can all be equal in God’s eyes, are not achievable or

laughable, please keep your views to yourself. Kids, most of all, do not

need to know your sorry outlook on life.

***

Last Saturday, a small group of dedicated parents at Victoria

Elementary School arrived on campus as early as 6 a.m. to unload a

shipment of plants for the semiannual plant sale. The money raised goes

to fund a science camp and help provide the fees for those kids whose

parents can’t afford the camp.

I am very sorry to say that a despicable person -- a thief who may not

be a Costa Mesa resident -- stole the last batch of plants, worth about

$300.

Somewhere, someone’s garden looks great. Somewhere else, some kid who

is not responsible for his family’s lack of money may not be able to

attend the camp next week.

Whoever you are, you should be ashamed of yourself.

***

Finally, to Chris, the world-class bartender at Mi Casa:

Sorry about the omission. You’re the last guy in town I want to upset.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer. Readers

can leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at (949) 642-6086.