NO DOUBT like many others, I was struck by the mindless hate expressed by Jim Hightower in his guest column of June 29. His slamming Christian causes with words like “Elmer Gantryism,” “showboating,” “the pious,” “fiasco,” and “goober” was astounding, to say the least. I was amazed that he would attack politicians who exercise their right to express their faith, while turning blind ears and eyes to politicians such as the president and vice-president who usurp the pulpit to advance political agendas and to attack moral values.

He thinks that prayer should be only “quiet, contemplative” and not “garish public displays.” But he has no word for Muslims and others who kneel to pray publicly several times a day, even when their practice sometimes blocks traffic and public access in some places. Nor does he reference “calls to prayer” which are routinely issued by public advertising and bells, chimes and chants through public address systems. And he seems ignorant of assemblies for public prayer and fasting in the Bible and as called and practiced on occasions throughout American history, including 9/11.

No, it is not these things that irk Hightower! He is provoked that a conservative governor should call people together to pray for God’s intervention in areas where only God can provide solutions.

We all know that big government cannot answer the droughts or the wildfires or storms — but God can! Because he is so provoked, Hightower resorts to irresponsible deriding and labeling of people and groups such as “the American Family Association,” which he calls “a Mississippi-based extremist outfit infamous for bashing gays and Muslims.” Horrors!

What about liberal attack-dogs like Hightower, who ignorantly slander Gov. Rick Perry of Texas as “embarrassingly inept at governing” when he knows that Perry has done such an outstanding job as governor that Texas reportedly has more than half of all of the new jobs created in the United States in recent years — an achievement that Washington should emulate, not seek to destroy.

But the issue is not politics. The issue is prayer and whether we, the people, will humbly turn to God because we face challenges that we can’t handle, when our moral values are being trampled upon, and when political leaders turn a deaf ear to our cries and proceed down the road to national destruction.

Will any church around here be participating locally in the Aug. 6 “Prayerfest” (or “this goober’s show” or “Prayer-Palooza” as Hightower calls it)? I’d like to know, because I’d like to attend — on my knees.