General Political Ranting

Sometimes I get the most interesting mail. Today I opened two pieces of mail that, while unconnected, are sort of related in theme and thus will be discussed in conjunction with each other here.

Letter #1: From Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee

Begins: "Dear Fellow Democrat"

Purpose: Encourages me to fill out a survey

Major Highlight: "I am asking you to take part in this survey for the DNC's Department of Research and Polling because you are an active and engaged member of our Party in your community. As a Democratic leader in your area, your insights about the critical issues facing our nation are important. By participating in this survey, you will give the DNC a greater understanding of the views of Democrats in your community."

Letter #2: From Toni Morrison, winner of the Nobel Prize in literature (and here's the weird part: I am currently reading one of her novels...woah, insert "Twilight Zone" music here)

Begins: "Please let me introduce myself. My name is Toni Morrison. Even before becoming the first African American to win the Nobel Prize for literature, I never played it safe in the books I wrote. I learned early on that if change is to occur, one must be willing to think and do the unthinkable."

Purpose: To get me to send money to the Southern Poverty Law Center and post my name on the Wall of Tolerance

Major Highlight: "Right now members of the radical Religious Right are endorsing a new brand of intolerance masquerading as morality. They are putting pressure on schools to abandon much-needed tolerance education programs, claiming they subvert children. . . . Certain extremists in the Religious Right think that [our] message sounds dangerous."

My Thoughts and General Discourse on These Letters

First, I must say (to those of you who don't know) that I am not a Democrat. Nor am I a Republican. I am an Independent, and I am only an Independent because they won't let me register to vote without choosing a party. I typically end up voting Republican, but I have a general dislike for much of what I see in both parties and really have no desire to affiliate myself with either one. So, I find it mildly humorous that Howard Dean thinks I'm a Democrat because I'm really not sure where he got that information. Not from me, at any rate.

Second, I was actually kind of excited that Toni Morrison wrote to me until I started reading her six-page letter. She's a talented writer, and I have a great respect for her work. And I think I would have generally been ok with her letter if she hadn't decided that the best way to get her point across was to bash the Religious Right. Because, come on. The majority of people in the nation still consider themselves Christian. I think (a) it's dumb to bash a large population group even if you think your audience is generally not part of it and (b) I am a little offended by what she said because I really don't think the Religious Right is trying to promote racism (as she infers). It is working against the idea that "sexual identity" is a valid basis for a minority group. And I'm not going to discuss that subject here.

Third, the question came to mind: Why is it that people always refer to the Religious Right but not the Religious Left? It's not like Republicans have the monopoly on Jesus. There are dedicated Christians who are also dedicated Democrats. And maybe they're opposed to some of the same things as the Religious Right but go about combatting them differently. Again, a subject up for large debate, and I'm not going to touch it further.

Fourth, I feel like her attack on the Religious Right is really an attack on the religious, period. I mean, why can't she say it's Republicans who are condemning her agency? Or the Klan? Or whoever? The general connotation toward Christians is quite negative, even if (assuming the best) that was not her intent. And I don't appreciate that.

Fifth, I just want to know how on earth I got on this mailing list! Is it because I subscribe to an "intelligent" magazine so I am presumed liberal or Democrat? Is it because I am not an overt Republican? I don't know. I kind of like it, though. It gives me things to think about. I get the take on the conservative side everywhere else in my life. I like seeing the other side every once in a while. Makes me feel like I actually have to think through the issues rather than dogmatically lumping all my judgments into a party vote.