Dear Editor, In a time when the youth of our nation are sorely in need of role models to look up to and follow, as these will be our presidents, ministers, governors, mayors, congressmen and senators of the future, we have an exiting president pardoning persons who it hardly seems should have been taken note of, much less receive a pardon. And then there is Jesse Jackson! Reverend, well-known civil rights leader and adulterer with an out of wedlock child. Whose Rainbow Coalition has now changed the color of the Rainbow, God’s symbol of his covenant with man, to one solid color where his mistress is concerned, to a bright shade of green. What we hear is way beyond the fact, whimpy apology from him and only after he learned his sin would be going public in a weekly magazine. Oh poor Jesse, look at how much good he has done. Don’t pick on Jesse Jackson! What an example he has set, as a now more money, adulteress minister and civil rights leader for the youth of this nation. Perhaps he needs a refresher course in Matthew 19, where the greatest minister of all time speaks to a rich young man on what he must do to gain eternal life. The next, “It’ll never happen,” television commercial, should be of a minister saying to a party wishing to donate $1,000,000 to his church or group. “No thanks, you have already collected more than enough for this mission!” Should I live to see the day! Hey, Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Baker did loads of good for many people before falling into the I’ve got too much, have gone too big and boy don’t I deserve more of something corrupting downfalls. Are President Clinton’s ongoing scandals a result of being consoled by the, also having an affair, Rev. Jesse Jackson? How can you preach it, if you can’t reach it? While Jesse’s love child is being spoiled and pampered in a life of luxury, how many young children of all colors went without a warm winter coat? Were wearing shoes two sizes too small or worn out? Fishes and loaves. When Jesse’s boys’ mother is highly educated and quite able to provide quite a bit for their child herself. Don’t pick on Jesse Jackson? It is because “he is” the Rev. Jesse Jackson “role model for today’s youth” he should be more than ashamed for failing more than one of the requirements given by Jesus Christ to the rich young man as what he must do to gain eternal life. All else pales the comments. Oh but look at how much good he has done. Pardon me for not seeing a whole lot of difference in Jesse using his Rainbow Coalition funds to cover his big mistake.

Lillian Ridlen LaPlace