By Staff
To the Editor:
This letter is a little difficult for me to write because I know that a lot of people in this city have graduated from Escambia County High School and are devoted to supporting the Blue Devils. But, I don't understand how a city with as many churches as we have and as many denominations of the fundamentalist persuasion can support and cheer for the devil. Go to a game at the school some time and listen to the cheers, "Go Devils".
I have searched holy scripture for any reference to the devil that is positive in nature. There are 61 references to the devil. Some say that he has caused the person to be dumb. One girl was "grievously vexed with a devil." In another place we are told that there is "everlasting fire prepared for the devil." He is referred to as a murderer, a liar, your adversary the devil among other charges. We are told to "resist the devil" and to "stand against the wiles of the devil". How can we call our young athletes, our young people, devils?
Why not call our teams Blue Jays or Purple Martians or any other name but devils. Some religious writer, I believe it was C. S. Lewis, once said that he thought that if the devil had one wish it would be that people would believe that the devil did not really exist. Then he could wander about telling his lies, deceiving people and "seeking whom he may devour".
Let's change the name of our high school athletic teams. Maybe the students could vote for some name. Maybe a prize could be given to the person who suggested the name chosen. We should not be calling our young people liars, deceivers, murderers etc. for that is what the devil is.
Very truly yours,
Charles W. Laue