Below is a guest blog from my friend Richard Dawahare. Richard sent this to me as an email and with his permission I'm publishing it here.
Friends:
I have determined to differ from my Democratic/secular brothers and sisters. I now believe--TRULY BELIEVE--that our country, our government’s need now more than ever to get GOD/GOD'S VALUES into the conduction of our public affairs.
PLEASE NOTE: this would be a drastic 180 degree change from the
conduct now prevalent in our highest elected officials! Especially the
conduct of those who so ardently drape themselves in the cloak of
Christianity!!
My view of the GODLY values not now present that should be are:
1) LOVE--for truth, for each other--neighbor AND so called enemies.
This kind of love need not be emotional, indeed often it will NOT be a
warm, fuzzy love. This kind of love is simply a wish of good will to
others and the intent to further the interests of the other as well as yourself, i.e. seek WIN/WIN SOLUTIONS.
2) TRUTH--seeing, admitting, dealing with reality, with an eye to
staying on the LOVE track above (getting win/win solutions)
3) PEACE--Just what it says...seeking peace and rejecting thoroughly the notion that peace can be had through war and weaponry. True peace can only be had with ONE AND TWO, above AND...
4) JUSTICE--Acting with real justice here and abroad consistent with
Truth, Love and Peace.
"Prayer in schools" "The 10 Commandments" "Under God" in the
pledge---these are all RED HERRINGS! While technically they don't fit
in with the constitutional separation of church and state I for one do
not feel comfortable fighting them.
In fact, I always thought prayer was GOOD, and I BELIEVE in God.
Now I know that just like "JUSTICE SUNDAY" God can and is hi-jacked so that proper references to God filled with Good Will and Love are instead twisted into the narrow, exclusionary, hateful themes which we on the left rightfully and constitutionally reject. But the REAL battle is in the policies, laws and warped leadership by those herding the flock and fighting against prayer and God plays into their hands.
If we and what we believe are God's real values--or for those of us who are non-believers--UNIVERSAL MORAL VALUES--are to prevail we must be "shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
Respectfully, Richard F. Dawahare
