An "Alternative State of the Union" address from FaithfulAmerica.org

[juslikagrzly]

This is an excellent essay. Scroll down to the 2/2/05 entry. Hope it's not a dupe, searched but didn't find it. There is a religious left out here!

Several prominent faith leaders from major faith communities have crafted an alternative State of the Union Message in response to the President's State of the Union Speech on Feb. 2. Here it is for your reading, reflection and comment.

Blessings,
Vince, FaithfulAmerica.org


RECLAIMING THE SOUL OF OUR COUNTRY

Our fellow Americans, we speak to you about the State of our Union. Freedom, democracy, and compassion are the soul of our country’s greatest political traditions. Today, these values are imperiled. We stand at a crossroads. If we continue down the road we have taken the past four years, we will destroy the basis of our union and the common good rooted in these values.

Freedom is now at risk, not only by tyranny abroad, but within our own borders. The Patriot Act undermines our hard-won civil liberties and rights to privacy, even as our government has failed to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and refused to acknowledge its mistakes in fighting terrorism. The loss of the Fairness Doctrine, increasing control of the media by corporate conglomerates, and the appointment of ideologically far-right judges are undermining the most basic building blocks of a free and fair society.

Freedom requires us to protect individual liberty. We affirm the worth of all persons and their right to follow conscience in making moral choices. No single religious voice can speak for every faith tradition, and our government must not take sides on religious differences. Our government must protect the civil liberties of all, guaranteed by law, and hold its citizens accountable for honoring these freedoms. It cannot abrogate them for religious or political purposes.

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THIS OPINION PIECE WAS JOINTLY WRITTEN AND/OR ENDORSED
BY A GROUP OF PROMINENT RELIGIOUS LEADERS, INCLUDING
Rabbi Balfour Brickner
Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock
Rev. Joan Brown Campbell
Sister Joan Chittister
Rev. Pat Clark
Rev. James Forbes
Rev. Debra Haffner
Rabbi Steven Jacobs
Dr. Frances Kissling
Dr. John Mohawk
Rev. Albert Pennybacker
Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry
Dr. Walter Wink