Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

I’ve been stuck in the lovely world of Kansas politics, where massive conservative supermajorities still can’t come to an agreement on exactly how quickly to cut taxes for the rich and raise them on the poor and middle class. But I was startled out of my bubble this morning when I found this article about new developments on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — also known as SNAP and Food Stamps — that were agreed to yesterday in the US Senate.

Senator David Vitter (R-LA), who is well-known as a Christian voice (and who was embroiled in a prostitution scandal a few years back), presented an amendment that would prohibit anyone who has been convicted of murder or rape from getting food stamps. Ever. As in, for life, they are banned. The amendment was quickly and unanimously agreed to by the committee.

There are immediate issues here that are clear to me in a pragmatic sense, like: are hungry ex-convicts really better than well-fed ex-convicts from a public safety standpoint? And: it is difficult enough for people who have a felony conviction on their record — even if they committed that felony as a teenager and have since been reformed — to survive in our society without an extra hurdle being set in their way.

But beyond that, what does it say about our culture that we are unable to consider redemption? One of the things at the very heart of my understanding of my faith is that it promises a new chance for everyone, no matter what their past looks like. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we are promised that “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (NRSV)

But for Senator Vitter and other “compassionate conservatives,” this seems to apply only selectively. I hope that the faith community will speak up against this hypocrisy and demand that this amendment be struck down

Kate Davis
National Committeewoman
Kansas Young Democrats

For more:

http://www.offthechartsblog.org/senator-vitter-offersand-senate-democrats-accept-stunning-amendment-with-racially-tinged-impacts/

http://www.salon.com/2007/07/10/vitter_7/

Last month, something big happened in the world of prom. At Georgia’s Wilcox County High School, four seniors pushed for an integrated prom. Since 1971, proms and homecomings have been segregated. After the prom, published reports, showed widespread satisfaction. It took these students a social-media effort to rectify this injustice.

We may attribute the success of Wilcox County’s integrated prom simply to the fact that the students are young and spirited, untainted by the notion of “can’t”.  We may even attribute the success to inevitability –that eventually all high schools were bound to have an integrated prom.

However, I would argue that the students at Wilcox County High School neither displayed juvenile naïveté nor did they simply succumb to inevitability.  These students had a vision, sold the vision to their friends and parents, worked towards it even in the face of adversity and accomplished it to a cheering community. This is the spirit that we should take control of our own destinies and make tangible change.  This is the true American spirit.

As young Democrats of faith, we are all too keen to the injustices that still plague our country.  It is easy to become discouraged by the political process and some of the struggles we face to achieve justice for ourselves and for others.  However, let the Wilcox County High School students show us what we can accmplish.  If we see injustice and have a vision for a different future, it is still possible to create tangible change.

Christina Mills
Member of the YDA Faith & Values Leadership Committee

Humanitarianism is the foundation of America.  We do not exist without that love for one another, that understanding of each other’s burdens.  President Obama has said it before, “We are all in this together.”  Today he takes our commitment to another level in his closing remarks to Oklahoma “Your country will travel it with you, fueled by our faith in the Almighty and our faith in one another.”

Paul Lovelis
President Pima County Young Democrats
Arizona

But my mother has accomplished some amazing things as well.  Many of my colleagues and community members often, say “your mother must be very proud of you.”  To which I respond, I think she should be very proud of herself.  After all, who I am and where I am is because of her hard dedication, and strong will with an arrogantly stubborn child.   It is because of her that I am so involved and compassionate towards my community.  It is her willingness to argue with me through all hours of the night, that I am able to passionately advocate for the ideals that matter to me.  I owe her everything and so does the community I serve.

I think about that a lot when I hear of others mistakes, I remember the ones my mom made, and yet I love her.  So shouldn’t I love others who are pointed out for their mistakes as well, after all haven’t they achieved something in their time?  Take the Presidents for example, every one of them including President Obama have had their rough mistakes.  Most often, they are just too busy to oversee everything their people do.  Too often we focus in on those mistakes, and of course it is hard to find the good in a stranger, when the bad is pointed out so easily.

I recently heard an individual talk about American household debt and how well the people have done in getting that down.  But I wonder, is it possible that we have the President to thank for that.  The Financial Times Article on Market Insights pointed out that Americans have actually lowered their debt while Europeans have risen their debt. One reviewer used this to ask why can’t the government follow along, but I can’t help but think the government is serving us in an effort to make us sustainable, thereby sustaining the market as a whole.  Isn’t that what they should do? 

This is the first time in decades that America’s household debt has been lower than Europe’s.  President Obama may not be a close friend or relative, but like our mothers he is capable of both mistakes and triumphs.  Also like our mothers, we often forget to look at ourselves in reflection to determine their greatest triumphs.  I stand by President Obama and my mother, because I’m well off and I have them to thank for it.

Paul Lovelis
President Pima County Young Democrats
Arizona

Economic policy is a great area in which we can perceive the impact of policy choices as a reflection of our values. Recently, Pope Francis reminded us of the importance of work to individuals and communities. Work not only provides the economic means for the enjoyment of life, but it is also crucial to reinforcing the dignity of individuals. Just wages, workplace safety, and support and pathways back to work for the unemployed are required, especially in a society as prosperous as ours.

When our economic policies do not address the income gap they fail to understand the values of strategic investments. Without support for middle and lower class workers which enable them to fully participate in the economy, we have failed.  Robert F. Kennedy once said that the nation’s gross national product can quantify everything except the things that make America great. Our economic policy must clearly demonstrate that we value shared prosperity over the success of a few, and we must support candidates that hold this belief.

Seth Embry
YDA Faith & Values Leadership Committee

I grew up the youngest of six kids in the college town of Newark, Delaware (go Blue Hens!), where I was the only Latter-day Saint in my high school class. Senior year, our world lit teacher focused the discussion on the problem of evil: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I was impressed by the commitment to values my classmates–Baptist, Buddhist, Methodist, atheist, Hindu, agnostic, Catholic–brought to our discussions. My own high school days started at 6 a.m. for Seminary (scripture classes), and I found many areas of overlap between my LDS values and those of my school friends — an initial taste of the power of coming together in common purpose.

Brigham Young University (where I went in search of dates and an undergraduate degree) came as a shock, as I found myself for the first time truly immersed in conservative politics. I learned a new language for talking about my political values–finding shared interest in being good stewards for the Earth, supporting parents in earning a living wage, empowering people to get a quality education. These conversations have continued through marriage, graduation, a move to Florida for grad school and the birth of our first child. Several years of talking about Mormonism with my fellow Democrats and the Democratic Party with my fellow Mormons ending up being great preparation for the 2012 election. I got involved in organizing Mormons for Obama, which grew into a grassroots campaign of more than 2,000 members, many of whom used to be members of the Republican Party. I started working alongside the great folks in the LDS Democrats caucus of the Utah Democratic Party. Mormon Democrats exist!

During and after the campaign, many, many people expressed an interest in having a long-term organization to identify, support and mobilize Mormon Democrats. Even though there are least 400,000 of us in the U.S., in the past it’s been far too easy for individual Mormon Dems to believe things such as:

1) They’re the only Democrat at church;
2) They’re the only Mormon (or person of any faith) in the Democratic Party.

To combat these perceptions, and to better organize politically, in early April, I helped launch LDS Democrats of America. Our membership includes conservative, moderate, progressive Democrats, Mormons, friends of other faiths and friends without religious affiliation. But we’re all committed to confronting and solving the challenges facing our country. I find YDA’s Faith & Values Initiative to be in line with what we’re doing with LDS, and I’m excited about the conversations that are happening here: speaking out for values, building on common ground, and solving problems together.

Rob Taber

Faith and Values Leadership Committee Memeber

What often frustrates progressives like myself most when debating more conservative-leaning faithful is not their conviction, but the inconsistency and double-standards. Conservative arguments continually seem self-serving rather than in the spirit of Jesus’s love for all, especially the marginalized.

So, I wasn’t surprised this week to see a flood of disdain and chants of “sinner” aimed at Washington Wizards basketball player Jason Collins’ after revealing he’s gay. This hate saddens me, but this conversation is for another time. What did surprise me, however, was finding the most succinct argument against these hateful messages — not from a theologian — but Washington Post sports columnist Mike Wise. In his April 30 column, he tactfully reminds the anti-homosexuality Christians of their selfish inconsistency by hating Collins for how he was born, while ignoring the 10 Commandments so many professional athletes break.

Where is the condemnation, Wise asks, when players steal, rape or murder. Why do players who father multiple children, abuse women or act as repeat adulterers not receive the same vigorous controversy and uproar? How about worshipping false idols or bearing false witness? Apparently being gay is such a terrible sin that it’s not listed as a commandment, nor does Jesus mention it once. As Stephen Colbert said sarcastically this week on his show, Jesus must have been so furious with homosexual love since he never mentions it.

Regardless of who did what sin, that misses the point completely. Being lesbian, gay, straight, transgendered or queer, isn’t a sin. Nor should we be talking about sins like a basketball scoreboard. The bigger picture is to remember to love one another and oppose all forms of discrimination — especially those preached under false religious tenants.

I choose to celebrate this courage of Mr. Collins. And I pray for more understanding from haters.

Joseph Gidjunis

Co-Director, YDA Faith and Values

Immigration policy is one of great debate for America.  A country founded by immigrants, and later built by more immigrants.  Some today believe we should let everyone in, others believe Freedom can only spread so far.  Economically there are arguments for both sides, and of course as a Democracy we hope to land in the middle for progress’ sake.  As a Christian I am taught to maintain an open door policy with all whom wish to sit at the table.  That moral value of compassion for one another is emphasized in my traditions both as a Christian, but also an American.

Compassion is such a strong emotion, yet we see so little of it in today’s society.  It is hard for us to admit, but too many see compassion as a nuisance to their daily lives.  When it is easier to just go on ignoring, why would anyone go out of their way to serve? Of course, even those of us who volunteer sometimes walk around the beggar.  I have been blessed with many opportunities to show compassion, to open my table, my home and more importantly my heart.  Truth is, there are opportunities every day for all of us, we just have to look for them.

I recall in college returning from a trip and sitting outside the bus depot looking around at 4 in the morning.  There was a little Mexican woman standing in the cold, with arms and body shaking, it was clear that she was freezing.  Something inside me encouraged me to talk to her, but as I sparked a joke, she began ranting in Spanish a cry of great fear and sadness.  After gathering a few words (as she was talking so fast, and holding back tears), I could tell she did not know where she was or why.  I called a friend and after some translation, we realized that she was arrested for being here illegally, though all of her paperwork was in order.  After several weeks inside an immigration camp, she was dropped off at the bus station at 1 in the morning.  No explanation that she was found to be here legally, or instructions of how to move forward. A kick out the door, and “here you are maam”, is all she got. With the station closed, and no one to be there for several hours, I decided to buy her breakfast. 

I took her to my home and let her rest on the couch while we tried to get a hold of her family.  After reaching them in New York and discovering that she had a job waiting for her, she was able to get some money from her family through western union.  We got her a bus ticket and she came back to my house for a couple of hours while we waited.  Finally, driving her to the Greyhound station, she looked at me when saying goodbye and called me her guardian angel.  As I paused, I could feel goose bumps up and down my body.  For in her eyes I could see God’s light shining down on both of us.  She hugged me goodbye with a grip most loved ones do not endure.  Two strangers bound together by compassion; an empowering emotion. 

She called me many times after she arrived to New York, first to let me know she was ok, then later to tell me of her life and how grateful she was of me.  She told me of her children in Mexico, of her family in New York.  The calls grew distant, and I have not heard from her for many years, but that’s as it should be.  It was a simple moment for me, but for her a saving grace for which she will never forget. 

As I look back in need of encouragement at times, I remember that face as she hugged a complete stranger with the tightest hold an individual could grasp. That moment turned out to be my saving grace as well.

Compassion cannot be captured in a couple of sentences, but that memory lives on in my heart.  When I question God’s purpose for me, I remember that day.  I remember that he made me not shy, but sociable.  I remember that I am compassionate not because he punishes me, but because he loves me and all of his children.  When I think of Immigration Policies America should adopt, I remember that we are a land of the free, not because we deny strangers, but rather we embrace them; with love and compassion.  So as we move forward on Immigration Reform, let us remember how we got here.  Thanksgiving did not start out as a day of feasting, but of compassion, and mutual understanding.  It is our given right as Free People, to allow that freedom to spread, not only into other countries, but within ourselves.  We must first be willing to spread it here on our own land, before we can truly hand it to others.

Lastly, to the woman who is with her family and friends in New York, I pray that you may forever enjoy our liberty and freedom.  I pray that we may all remember that this country was found not on elitist ideals, but compassion, love, and understanding.

We were all moved by this question.  As you looked around the room you saw people posting this quote on Facebook and Twitter. But it was not until break that it came to a full realization that Inter-Faith communication is absolutely needed, and easily acheived.  As we all got up to grab water, coffee, and mingle; the panelists kept talking, even more incitefully than before.   It occurred to me that the panelists truly were interested in continuing the conversation, so much that they passed up bolting out, getting coffee, or even talking with the audience.  I wasnt privied to the conversation, but I could tell that it was enlightenening.  From across the room, you could see one bending over across the table to hear every word of the other.  In reflecting upon that moment, it strikes me as odd that this doesnt happen often enough.  But as we continue forward as YDA Faith and Values, as Americans, as peaceful members of faith, and as human beings; let us remember that the first step to peace and tranquility is not reading a book about each other, but rahter sitting down at the table to talk.  May the communication continue on peacefully forever and ever, amen.