(Community Matters) I’m sure not unlike in most families, there’s diversity of political opinion and philosophy in mine. This morning, I sent the below email to a group of relatives sharing and forwarding opinion pieces from far right bloggers.
I recommend we all read Leonard Pitts’ editorial. The most important point being the real threat of physical danger if we keep fanning the flames of anger on the right.
To those of us who think we support Rush Limbaugh, did we hear Rush correctly yesterday? Does he really think we should segregate busing for black and white kids. Do we not imagine the next step is segregating brown kids, mixed race kids, “real Christians” from papists and jews & muslims . . . .
Limbaugh’s cited event: If you watched the video of the fight on the bus, it’s not at all obvious that the fight was about race. The police reviewed the situation & the video and they determined it was not. Not that it even matters – white kids, black kids, brown kids . . . all kids . . . have been fighting for ages. They’ll continue to do so, even more so with the today’s role models.
Most of you know, I am involved with the administration. Last week, I sat through hours of briefings from senior White House and DNC staff. I’ve met and spoken directly with the president and the first lady, and I’ve sat in meetings and conference calls with them several times. I promise you, they aren’t socialists, they aren’t even raging liberals.
The president is by far a pragmatist who wants to further the safety net of healthcare, improve our system of education and correct the unfairness of regulations and tax structures which were especially thrown out of balance during the last eight years. Frankly, the policies will cost me and Steven more than help us. That’s okay. It’s in our long term economic & societal interests that we refocus resources on strengthening the middle class and expanding opportunities for others to join the middle class – not to mention that these goals simply reflect our moral interests and we’d support them regardless of self interests.
I’m increasingly fearful that our lack of civility is going to get people killed. By all means, let’s continue to express our opinions, debate the merits of proposed legislation and protest when we must. BUT, let’s call down the pundits and leaders – whether from the right or left – who incite violence, call for segregation or otherwise model behavior we were taught long time ago wasn’t right.
Please never doubt, I love all my family – immediate, extended and adopted.
Much love,
Eugene
Community Matters 