Dear God,
I understand that it is unpopular to invoke you in public, let alone in a political conversation. I also understand that you and I have had some run-ins in the past. Sometimes I've felt your presence, sometimes I haven't. In fact, funny as it may seem, I actually grew up thinking you were an elderly white-guy with a beard and lived in the clouds. As you know, years later this led me to reject you all together. But whatever, wherever, and if-ever you existed, I feel that now is the time for me to talk to you. Given the state of the planet and the popularity of "open letters", I thought that I should put forth a grievance (just in case you read the dailykos). Before I dive into things though, let me thank you. Although times are tough around the world, there's a lot to be excited about. Summer is on the horizon, the Democratic primary is almost officially over, and a certain world leader (that you so humorously created to look like a monkey) is on his way out of power.
There is something that has been bothering me that directly relates to you; creepy religious leaders. What is this all about? First Wright, then Clinton's spooky guy, and now Hagee! Seriously, if this is your way of bringing me to you; you gotta' go back the drawing board, because I'm getting weirded out. The first time is unfortunate, the second time is a coincidence, but the third time is a pattern.
Much has been said about Wright and Hagee. Some have called them crazy, while many others have defended them. The theme that I have pulled out, however, is that it is not just Senate leaders that have poor judgment in picking religious institutions. On the contrary, it's just the nature of religious institutions that their leaders do and say things that can be construed as bizarre, unnecessary, or even downright scary. My question then becomes, why Lord, if so many religious leaders look so scary on TV, is religiousness so shocking to the general public? Aren't we used to this sort of thing by now? Don't we see it every week in our places of worship?
As you probably know, my Grandfather survived a German concentration camp, a Japanese invasion, and then a US bombing. Through all of this, he somehow managed to keep his faith in Judaism. And because of that, I recognize your incredible power. If nothing else, there is an immense amount of social capital built around you, and that leads to mind-boggling things. Unfortunately, faith and politics have had a tough history, and here in the US, people are not curious about difference. Conversely, they're hungry for fear, and they too often look to be critical of others, even when others are spewing the same verses. They care not why people feel the way they do; rather they just assume that people feel differently than they. Again, I must ask you; why is this the case? Why can something like you be loved by so many people, and yet cause so much hideous dissension?
I would like you to help me call on the good people of this country to look deep into their hearts. Ask them to accept again. Ask them to believe again. Ask them to think and love and learn from each other again. Lord, I beg of you, ask them to turn off their TVs and turn on their souls again. We need some clarity here, and if everyone is connected to insanity, then who is left to be sane?
I don't care about Hagee or Wright or "The Fellowship." But I do care about people who care about them. And we are now guaranteed to have a president who's religious leader is wildly unpopular. So let me just ask one more question Almighty One; is this just the state of all things political in the 21st century or, by chance, is the way organized religion has always been?
No matter what the answer is to that question, don't you think that it's time to ignore what peoples pastors' say and do? No matter how horrible it is and how crazy it may sound, whether it's Hagee or Wright, can't we just take people for what they say, think, and do, and not what their religious institution's say? For your sake God, I'm seeing a pattern here, and they all seem pretty wacky to me right now...
Much Love,
epic
PS: I will understand if this diary gets some angry responses, but can you make it so one lonely soul recs it?