Reflections on Faith and Democracy This Last Week
Dear First U Albuquerque,
I want to write an email to all of you on some of what I have been reflecting on over the last week or so. As I heard someone say over the weekend “we are going from zero to Budapest faster than I think any of could have imagined.” This quote is referring to Hungary’s current ruling leader and how quickly democratic checks and balances were dismantled under his rule. Here is an NPR article from earlier this year that refers to this: Hungary’s Orban demonstrates how to dismantle democracy.
We are living in challenging times. Not to mention whatever we might be going on in our personal lives, our nation is losing its civil liberties day by day–the constitution being dismantled by backroom deals that benefit the culture of authoritarian rule, not for the people by the people. Stating that a member of a die-hard MAGA family is the accused shooter of Charlie Kirk now is reason for silencing a voice of free speech (and now major media outlets are white-washing things have been actually said, as people are becoming less likely to seek out original sources, whether benign or harmful with hate speech that has been uplifted as inclusive speech). Comedians have been the most recent target of silencing truth and discourse. US Senator Adam Schiff has this recent video published titled “First They Came for the Comedians…”
And sometimes summarizing another pastor’s words can’t do justice to what is being said, so I encourage you to listen yourselves to this partial sermon from Rev. Howard John Wesley on the topic of racism and hate that is 4 minutes: Video | Facebook.
Here is an NPR interview with Rev. Barber on September 17th talking about if we are going to have honest discussions, the truth must be honored and uplifted (7 minutes): U.S. can mourn Charlie Kirk and debate his views, reverend says : NPR .
And this Vanity Fair article by Ta-Neshi Coates article on sanitizing messages of hate, which doesn’t seem to have a pay-wall: Charlie Kirk, Redeemed by Ezra Klein, Gavin Newsom, and the Political Class | Vanity Fair.
Our faith is rooted in democratic principles, of interconnectedness with each other and our precious Earth. May we find ways to care for each other, to support each other, to grieve with each other in our days ahead—to engage in holy love for our Earth and all her inhabitants.
Robert Reich, former US Secretary of Labor under the Clinton Administration said today “The disappearance of America’s leadership class at a time like this means that the rest of us have to be leaders. We can no longer wait to be led by those with the power and authority to lead. You must lead, I must lead, all of us must lead. We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.”
Let us walk together on No Kings Day on October 18th in downtown Albuquerque, let us gather together on Sundays, and let us be in covenant in defending democracy, as we lead together in compassion and determination for a better and more loving tomorrow.
In faith,
Rev. Stacey
