03.15.05
Posted in faith, politics at 12:01 pm by
I just thought I’d share a personal email I wrote to my senator this morning.
Dear Senator Stabenow,
Greetings from Grand Rapids! I should briefly take the time to introduce
myself. My name is Brandon and I’m currently a student studying
Communication at Michigan State University. I wanted to take the time to
write a more personal letter to you about some of my concerns. I’ve
written to you before, but those communications have largely been in the
form of large social action form letters–I even sent one off about the
proposed budget just this morning. I realize that you’ve probably read
some of these form letters, but, frankly, they’re form letters, they were
pretty easy to send.
My desire to see social justice done, though, supersedes my desire to not
have to spend the time required to draft a letter to my Senator. I am
deeply and gravely concerned with the proposed budget for the next fiscal
year.
The current President talks about moral values, and frankly, that sickens
me as he’s recently proposed a budget that cuts benefits to the poor, pours
even more money into the military, and offers tax cuts to the wealthiest of
Americans–of these facts you are indubitably aware. Honestly, Ms.
Stabenow, as a Christian I am deeply dismayed at the President’s
manipulation of the tenets of my faith in order to win re-election. Now
these questionable morals are being used to foist a neo-conservative agenda
onto the American people.
Ms. Stabenow, I am not alone. Many other deeply devout people have a
concern for the poor. Democrats have a responsibility to their
constituents to re-embrace and re-communicate their values in the context
of faith to people of faith. Many individuals, like myself, yearn for you
to reach out to us. We deeply desire that our faithful convictions–more
progressive in nature–receive resonation on the national level.
Re-communicating things of faith, though, Ms. Stabenow, does not mean a
watering down of who you are. More progressive Christians do not desire
that all politicians ‘convert to Christianity,’ ‘Christianize’ their
rhetoric, or espouse some proper degree of religiosity in order to quell
their constituency. We simply want you to be honest about who you are and
where you come from. We simply want you to talk about progressive values
in a context that expresses their congruence with issues of faith–whether
that faith is Christian or not.
People everywhere, regardless of their religious heritage, have grave
concerns over this proposed budget. It is woefully incongruent with the
historic tenets of Christianity or most other world religions. Please
speak out on my behalf, and on the behalf of countless other faithful
Americans.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Brandon
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Posted in faith, politics at 12:01 pm by
I just thought I’d share a personal email I wrote to my senator this morning.
Dear Senator Stabenow,
Greetings from Grand Rapids! I should briefly take the time to introduce
myself. My name is Brandon and I’m currently a student studying
Communication at Michigan State University. I wanted to take the time to
write a more personal letter to you about some of my concerns. I’ve
written to you before, but those communications have largely been in the
form of large social action form letters–I even sent one off about the
proposed budget just this morning. I realize that you’ve probably read
some of these form letters, but, frankly, they’re form letters, they were
pretty easy to send.
My desire to see social justice done, though, supersedes my desire to not
have to spend the time required to draft a letter to my Senator. I am
deeply and gravely concerned with the proposed budget for the next fiscal
year.
The current President talks about moral values, and frankly, that sickens
me as he’s recently proposed a budget that cuts benefits to the poor, pours
even more money into the military, and offers tax cuts to the wealthiest of
Americans–of these facts you are indubitably aware. Honestly, Ms.
Stabenow, as a Christian I am deeply dismayed at the President’s
manipulation of the tenets of my faith in order to win re-election. Now
these questionable morals are being used to foist a neo-conservative agenda
onto the American people.
Ms. Stabenow, I am not alone. Many other deeply devout people have a
concern for the poor. Democrats have a responsibility to their
constituents to re-embrace and re-communicate their values in the context
of faith to people of faith. Many individuals, like myself, yearn for you
to reach out to us. We deeply desire that our faithful convictions–more
progressive in nature–receive resonation on the national level.
Re-communicating things of faith, though, Ms. Stabenow, does not mean a
watering down of who you are. More progressive Christians do not desire
that all politicians ‘convert to Christianity,’ ‘Christianize’ their
rhetoric, or espouse some proper degree of religiosity in order to quell
their constituency. We simply want you to be honest about who you are and
where you come from. We simply want you to talk about progressive values
in a context that expresses their congruence with issues of faith–whether
that faith is Christian or not.
People everywhere, regardless of their religious heritage, have grave
concerns over this proposed budget. It is woefully incongruent with the
historic tenets of Christianity or most other world religions. Please
speak out on my behalf, and on the behalf of countless other faithful
Americans.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Brandon
Permalink
Trackback URL »
http://www.badchristian.com/2005/03/15/dear_ms_stabenow/trackback/
Ol Cranky said,
March 15, 2005 at 9:02 pm
Bravo!
greg said,
March 15, 2005 at 10:07 pm
Excellent. I’m stealing it to send to our two idiot Senators. Both will roll over like a two-dollar whore for Bush’s agenda.
Brandon said,
March 15, 2005 at 10:13 pm
And anyone may certainly feel free to steal and send tidbits to their senators / representatives…bearing in mind that I sent it to a Democratic senator, and thus it’s more geared toward a democratic audience.
E said,
April 15, 2005 at 12:21 pm
This is my first visit to your site, and so far I’ve found it interesting reading.
I do not agree, though, that we should rely only on the government to perform acts that we, as Christians, are COMMANDED to perform. The Bible is very clear on our responsibilities to each other, to the poor, the distitute. Too often we Christians (myself very much included) drop our offering in the basket at church or look at our paychecks and feel that we are doing enough to help the poor. We’re not. It’s not about money, it’s about love and respect and showing the world what Jesus’ love is all about through our actions. People don’t feel that love when they open a government check each month - the feel it when someone takes a few extra minutes to help them and show that they actually give a damn.