Open Letter to The Democrats

Speaking of fear & America the beatiful-

Have ya'll seen this?

Quite an insightful documentary put together by the BBC.

http://www.archive.org/details/ThePowerOfNightmares

From the introduction to Part 1:

"Both [the Islamists and Neoconservatives] were idealists who were born out of the failure of the liberal dream to build a better world. And both had a very similar explanation for what caused that failure. These two groups have changed the world, but not in the way that either intended. Together, they created today a nightmare vision of a secret, organized evil that threatens the world. A fantasy that politicians then found restored their power and authority in a disillusioned age. And those with the darkest fears became the most powerful. " The Power of Nightmares, Baby It's Cold Outside.

Scripture tells us to welcome the alien. Jesus indicated that all people are our neighbors. We must stand up against the Know Nothing heirs who would pit those born here against those not born here who have come here. Most immigrants are valuable additions to our society, hard working, decent people. We need to tear down walls between people, not build them.

I agree that the people want peace. But the Democrats refuse to listen. House Democrats ran on a "six for '06" platform, of which the first plank was for a military buildup, including a doubling of the Special Forces, the shock troops of imperialism. Right after the election, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid called for a $75 billion increase in the bloated military budget.

Both the Democratic and Republican Parties are parties of the military-industrial complex. They are against the interests of the people. Christians should stop voting for them.

Thanks "wearewideawake" and Stephen. "wearewideawake", I like Tom Paine, as well as Tom Jefferson and Ben Franklin.

Stephen I think the key words for success in the future are 'take action" and "populist" I write a lot of letters to my state and federal Reps, I send a lot of letters to editors, and let my point of view be known. I live in a conservative rural isolated community that is"purple" generally electing Republicans and conservative Dems. The one thing the conservative Dems have in common though with a lot of the newly elected Dems is that they are "populists". They focus on issues important to people. I have found that even very conservative people when asked about preserving Social Security, taking care of the earth, working on poverty,taking care of veterans, clean elctions, humane immigration and border issues,all progressive issues, will support these issues in a 'progressive" or "populist" way.(I subscribe to a newletter called "The Progressive Populist", it has a rural theme. "Progressive Populist just about sums up my politics, Ha Ha) I think we as Christians have to tie our faith into those "populist" issues,demonstrate that spirituality is about a lot more than Gay bashing and judging pregnant women and may be we will really influence things. I am big on unity. Right wing fundamentalists are 25 to 35% of the poulation depending on who you talk to.That means about 70% of us are more progresive Christians, Jews, Muslims, Humanists, etc and we have got to find our voices.

I may be getting into some time on my hands and will be asking you what I can do and making some inquiries about speaking, organizing, etc.

Thanks for sharing this open letter. I think the Democrats would be well served to heed your call. What do you think we as Progressive Christians should be doing to implement the policies that you have articulated?

Good post Joe and as another average American may I add that what is missing in action in government is COMMON SENSE!

After that day we call 9/11 common sense flew out the window when FEAR was used to control we the people and the media.

The most revolutionary minded of all the founding fathers was the radical writer, Tom Paine. With flaming hopes, a vision of a new world and compelled by the spirit and determination of its people to resist British occupation, Paine devoted himself to the American cause. He began with a forty page pamphlet, "Common Sense" which emboldened the settlers to become compatriots and rise up in rebellion. His words formed a nation where democracy is still being defined.

"Soon after I had published the pamphlet "Common Sense" [on Feb. 14, 1776] in America, I saw the exceeding probability that a revolution in the system of government would be followed by a revolution in the system of religion... The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."-Tom Paine

"America is beautiful, but she has an ugly side
Looking for a leader with the Great Spirit on his[her] side."-Neil Young

Everything is connected and the law of karma is what ever we send out will return to us.

USA and Israel are best friends, and the rise of fundamentalism in all faiths, the increasing anti-Semitism and fear of Islam throughout the world are WAKE UP calls for those of good will to break their silence and DO SOMETHING.

Six decades ago six million innocent Jews were cold bloodedly murdered because good people did nothing. What will it take to WAKE UP good people to DO SOMETHING now about the innocents caught in the crossfire of violence in the land we claim is Holy?

What will it take for USA leadership to WAKE UP and be an honest broker for justice and peace; to support Israel's dream of security and Palestinian's hope for justice?

"We have it in our power to begin the world again" [Tom Paine] and with a newly elected Congress America's dream and commitment to justice, human rights and freedom is within our grasp, if we the people rise up and demand they do the right thing.

"The greatest menace to freedom is an inert people."-Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis

The "fierce urgency of now" [Rev. MLK, Jr] should compel we the people of the United States to rise up and demand the 110th Congress hold President Bush to the promise he made in his Second Inaugural Address:

"In the long run, there is no justice without FREEDOM. There can be no human rights without LIBERTY. All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know the United States will not ignore your oppression or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for liberty, we stand with you."

The "war on terror" must be fought at the root and all roads lead to Jerusalem.

Common sense understands democracy cannot be achieved through the barrel of a gun. Justice and equal human rights for all people is the only way to security and peace. May we all do something and demand the 110th Congress and this Administration to uphold the promise of President Bush's Second Inaugural Address.

Now is the time to bring into reality Tom Paine's vision of what America was originally based upon.

"You must give birth to your images: They are the future waiting to be born."-Rilke

Only in solidarity do we have it in our power to begin the world again.

Eileen Fleming,
Celtic Christian of The Beatitudes, agitator church and state, activist, poet, author creative literature and historical fiction, reporter and editor of http://www.wearewideawake.org/

Eileen Fleming commenting on a diatrib with an article on this blog "America the Beautiful" defends terror supporter. She writes that her friend "Kamal Younis" the brother of Jawad Younis laughed at claims of his brother's link to terrorism. Evidence of Jawad’s support to terrorists can be found on:
http://lejardinsecretdugeneralbenali.blogspot.com/

It is in Arabic, and while some of us know the language, here is a trnslation. You can have any expert translator of your choice do this for you. In a letter to Nasrallah the ring leader of Hizbullah terror organization Jawad Younis and other delegates write “To his excellency Mr. Nasrallah Secretary General of Hizbullah the Victorious by the will of Allah …We grip our hands with you, and all the Jihadists for the cause of Allah…as you lunge with your souls for the battle of the [Islamic] Umma (nation), to fight the demonic forces of the America and Zionisism, the sons of the great Satan.”

Signed as #4 of this delegation Jawad Younis, brother of Kamal Younis.

Eileen, you are in bed with terrorists. Deheisheh camp is a bomb and terror infested ghetto. They amuse you because they know that you fight their cause. Get off your diatribe.

Also, you inflate facts, there were 800 attendants not 2000. This was reported by every paper that covered the event. Mr. Shoebat even asked everyone in the crowd, including yourself, that he would pay the difference of any profits gained, and that if losses were encountered, that he would pay anyone who would accuse the event as profitable. You never raised your hand. Also, your quote “The audience roared with laughter and exuberant applause as they also did as Walid preached, "Islam is a revolutionary faith out to destroy all governments…Muslim nations have a command from Allah to rule the world…Islam is a constitutional form of government…when you have a senator take the oath of office on the Koran he is pledging to uphold Sharia law and not the Constitution."

If you cared to listen carefully, Walid was simply giving a quote by Abu Al-Ala Al-Mawdudi founder of Pakistan’s Fundamentalist Movement. Yet you attributed the quote to Walid.

This is NOT journalism.