Here is the letter I have written about the fast to my people. I'm putting it in a diary to call more attention to the fast, because I respect the people doing it. I'm also hoping to encourage people to find a way to talk about politics with their Republican loved ones. There comes a time when we can't walk away from the fight. I don't mean that we fight with our families. I mean we find a way to show them our beliefs in a way they can start to understand. Lots of Republicans are good people. They just have this idea that you follow all the rules and then you land in a solidly middle class situation and if you aren't financially stable it's because you are lacking in moral fiber. They are just mistaken.
Some of them will respond if we start talking from the heart.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/...
A coalition of social justice and religious and political groups are fasting to call attention to the budget cuts being put forth in Washington. The fasters believe that our national budget shouldn't be balanced on the backs of struggling working class people. They believe it is a moral issue when we are discussing defunding programs that feed women and children and which won't make a dent in the budget deficit and at the same time we are increasing defense spending. I agree with them.
The balanced budget amendment that was introduced into the Senate by the Republicans today is so extreme that Ronald Reagan's fiscal policy would have been unconstitutional under it's terms. It has been endorsed by every single Senate Republican.
It is my opinion that it is time for American citizens to begin using their voices in support of a more equitable economy. We have had over 30 years of trickle down economics and the results are deeply biased towards the wealthy elite. We don't have a budget crisis on our hands. We have a crisis of morality. I believe it's immoral to cut taxes on the richest few and corporations who continue to demand worker productivity increases and let workers at the lowest rungs of our economy starve and die of treatable medical conditions. The situation isn't going to change unless people like us start standing up for working class America. I'm full of respect for the people fasting.
Here is another article on the fast and why people are doing it. http://bittman.blogs.nytimes.com/...
I guess I'm not going to join in on the fast, and I don't think I would gather much notice anyway. But the least I can do is make sure the people I care about know how I feel about this issue.
thanks for reading,
Renee
I included the following part to some of the people I know who do not vote Dem.
Hi,
I hope you are doing well. I'm sending this to you because I admire the spiritual path you are walking, and I think the only way our country is going to get through the culture wars we are struggling through is if we learn to talk to each other about scary and divisive topics. I respect you for being in the military, I know it can be a thankless job, and I call my representatives whenever I see a chance to add my voice to those asking that our military families be taken care of with healthcare access. I'm saying that to make it clear that I'm not against the military. I just want us as a country to remember that there are struggling people out there and not let them down. If I have offended you with this email I'm really sorry. It isn't my intention at all.
warmly,
Renee