Friday, December 22, 2006

Taking the high road...

The only thing I knew about Representative Keith Ellison was that he the first Muslim ever elected to Congress.  That was yesterday.

Now, I've read a CNN article and I believe that he is a man of integrity. 

Here's the background, Representative Goode is all up in arms about Representative Ellison wanting to use a Qu'ran when being sworn into Congress.  Further, Goode has been making all kinds of remarks about how we don't need more Muslims in this country and equating electing Ellison to supporting illegal immagration.

Representative Ellison has refused to call Goode a bigot.  He has even gone as far as to say he looks forward to meeting Goode and he hopes Goode would take the time to learn about the Muslim religion.  Ellison wants to find some common ground.

What a stand up guy.  He's right.  We need to find common ground.

And, what does Goode have to say?

"I wish more people would take a stand and stand up for the principles on which this country was founded."

Excuse me?  Our country was founded on the principles that we would have the freedom of religion.  Representative Goode, you are not standing up for the principles on which our country stands.  You are standing upon the hollow ground of those who are scared -- scared of people of a different religion, scared of those of a different race, scared of those of a different sexual orientation.

America, my America, is a melting pot of races, backgrounds and religions.  America has the best of all countries because we strive for togetherness and tolerance.

I so hope, Representative Goode, that in the spirit of giving, especially in this season of Advent, that you can see your way clear to meeting with Representative Ellison.  As Sam Hutson once said, "A Nation divided against itself cannot stand."  We need to unite our country as we never have before.  We are fighting a Civil War without firing a shot and we certainly cannot have Representatives slinging arrows before they even meet.

I give credit to Representative Ellison for not lowering himself to the name calling that no one would blame him if he did.  I beg Representative Goode to take a step back and do the same.

MerryChristmas  & God Bless!
 



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Posted By Julie to Top of My Head at 12/22/2006 02:40:00 PM

Friday, December 01, 2006

Boycotts and Christianity

Many Christian groups call for boycotts when a company or TV network does something they don't like -- like offering equal employment for gays and lesbians -- but I wonder, should we?

And, by we, I mean all of us who identify ourselves as Christians. Should we support boycotts? Don't they put people out of work?

What would Jesus do? Would He support a boycott of a TV show? Or would He support a boycott of Ford by the American Family Association? Or would He decide that hurting the hardworking men and women -- I'm sure some are Christians -- with a boycott is the way to go?

Just wondering.

God Bless and Merry Christmas