Tag: politics Page 1 of 2

Dear Congressman – January 21, 2025

On January 22, 2025

So I kind of felt like I wanted to share what I’ve written to my U.S. congressional representative, but I didn’t feel like my substack newsletter was the place to do it so I am going to throw it up here on my old blog for now. I might reorganize this site soon. If I ever get a response from said congressman, I’ll let you all know.

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Jan 21, 2025

Dear Representative Huizenga,

On President Trump’s first day in office he moved to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords. He also took actions to reverse policies of the previous administration on racial equity, gender discrimination, climate change, and ethics requirements, among others. One of his actions will raise prescription prices for seniors on medicare and medicaid, many of whom live on fixed incomes. He also moved to strip federal workers of employment protections and issued a directive to institutionalize spreading misinformation under the guise of protecting free speech. I have grave concerns over these actions.

Do you support President Trump’s actions?
What actions do you plan to take to fight racism?
How will you ensure that the rights of women and LGBTQ people are protected?
How will you act to make sure all Americans have access to affordable health care, including but not limited to reasonably priced prescription drugs and proper planning for future health care emergencies?
What is your plan to address the climate crisis and protect our natural environment?
How will you ensure our federal work force is not subject to the whims of politics? National stability is clearly better served by a stable work force loyal to the country and not one filled with sycophants loyal to a particular person.
What do you plan to do to ensure truth and transparency in government?

Also, Elon Musk’s role in the DOGE must be immediately terminated. His Nazi salutes on inauguration day along with his known history of supporting Neo-Nazis are reprehensible. He has no place in our government. Please speak out against this evil. His presence in the White House (unelected, I might add) is an embarrassment and danger to our nation.

President Trump’s pardon of the January 6 insurrectionists is also very disappointing. It’s certainly an insult to the police officers that were killed that day. Please speak out against this injustice.

Finally, I am disturbed by the President’s seeming obsession with taking revenge against his perceived enemies. While one might hope it is more bark than bite, I note that he took concrete actions of revenge on his first day by revoking the security clearances of former officials who disagreed with him in the past. Those are the actions of a fascist authoritarian government. We cannot let our nation go down that road. Congress is the body responsible for keeping that from happening. What is your plan?

Sincerely,
Ken Arthur

Dear Congressman – January 8 2025

By Ken

On January 22, 2025

In Current Events

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January 8, 2025

Dear Representative Huizenga,

In your email newsletter of December 24, 2024, you expressed concern over our nation’s debt and pointed to the proposed “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) as playing a potentially helpful role in tackling this issue. As a resident of the Michigan district you represent, I want to say that I very much agree that fiscal responsibility is important. However, I am skeptical about the role of DOGE and especially the role of the billionaire appointed to lead it, Elon Musk. This man does not care about the best interests of our nation.

While it might make a nice sound bite to say we need to run the government more like a business, a government exists to serve and protect the people while a business exists to make a profit for the shareholders. When Musk and his ilk try to run government as a business, who do you think they will understand to be the shareholders? It won’t be the people. It will be billionaires like themselves and the corporations they own.

Musk has already talked about the sacrifices and hardship the American people will have to suffer as a result of the cuts he thinks should be made. Is Mr. Musk, the richest man in the world, willing to suffer too? Because all I hear is talk of more tax cuts for the wealthy. That doesn’t sound like suffering to me. Musk himself has called for abolishing the CFPB, which protects consumers. In other words, he wants deregulation so he can get richer by taking advantage of consumers without worrying about accountability. Musk’s morals and ethics are also a concern, including his public support of neo-Nazi groups, apparent failure to follow security reporting rules at SpaceX, and the blatant censorship of critics on his X platform which has turned it into nothing but a propaganda tool. This is all just the tip of the ice berg.

Please do not be fooled by Musk and his fellow billionaires. They don’t care about governmental fiscal responsibility. They want to make sure the system works to their advantage so they can line their pockets.

As my Congressional representative, I hope you will remember that government is supposed to be for the benefit of the people as a whole and not just the rich. I dream of a government that cannot only govern responsibly but with compassion for everyone. Services such as the USPS, medicare, and social security, to name just a few, should be strengthened and not facing cuts. Strong health care and educational systems available to all should be priorities for our nation. They are absolutely critical to our future strength as a country. It’s a disgrace that we are the only industrialized nation that doesn’t have universal health care. Fiscally responsibly governance would not be cutting vital services. Nor would it be extending tax cuts for the obscenely wealthy. Fiscally responsible governance would be finally having billionaires like Musk paying their fair share.

Thank you,

Rev. Kenneth Arthur

Making America Great Again

By Ken

On October 8, 2018

In Current Events, Spiritual

Have you ever wanted to be important? We want to feel needed. We want to feel like we are making a difference in the world. As kids we might dream of being the best at our favorite sport, sinking the winning shot in the championship game. Maybe we dreamed of being admired like a doctor or lawyer or maybe we dreamed of being president, someone with a lot of power. Maybe we achieved some of our dreams of importance and maybe those dreams still linger with us. As adults we still want to matter and make a difference in our lives.

But when we think of importance, when we dream of greatness, we also have to ask ourselves what exactly that means. How do we measure greatness? Is the wealthiest person great? Or is power and influence the critical factor? And who benefits from our desired greatness? Do these dreams come from pure selfishness or do we want to help others? Greatness and its motivations seem to be a hot topic in our country. Some people say they want to “Make America Great Again” but then act out of racism, sexism, homophobia, and a disregard for the poor and disadvantaged. Does being great mean making everyone else miserable? Just what does it mean to be great, to be important?

In the ninth chapter of the gospel of Mark, Jesus’ disciples were debating this very question, arguing amongst themselves about who was the most important of their group. And Jesus tells them how to be great in his eyes: become a servant for others. Greatness has nothing to do with wealth or power. The greatest are those who put the welfare of others first. Cultivating peace and justice; being kind, considerate, and compassionate; acting in the interest of others and the common good… these are the things by which we should measure greatness.

This is the way we are called to live if we choose to follow God’s path and live by God’s wisdom. True greatness is measured by love. We can say God is great because God is love. God loves each one of us without condition. If we want to be great, Jesus tells us, then share that love with those around you. Be a servant and welcome the children and the vulnerable. Love. By welcoming the vulnerable we welcome God. When we love others, we love God.

What if we used love as a measure of greatness everywhere? What if “Make America Great Again” meant: let’s see how loving we can make our country? What a great place that would be! Imagine people outdoing themselves to help others. Imagine people competing to see who can create the most efficient and impactful programs. Not to put money in the hands of the rich but to feed people and provide health care, to end racism, to help victims of abuse instead of blame them… and on and on. What if the greatness of our country and our government was measured by love? Not military power or wealth, but how much it helped people – all people, but especially the vulnerable and oppressed. That is the place I want to live in.

Let’s all have a great (loving) day!

Note: This reflection was originally published in my church newsletter. The church website is www.phoenixchurch.org.

New book — Bruised Skies

By Ken

On September 8, 2018

In Books & Movies, Current Events, Poem

I wanted a way to share a few of my poems in a more traditional way so I decided to undertake this small experiment in self-publishing, coming up with this chapbook length book featuring 17 of my poems (12 of which have been previously posted on this blog). If you’re interested, you can buy it from Amazon now. Other booksellers should also have the ability to order it – if not immediately then in the near future.

Bruised Skies: Poems in Response to A World Gone Mad

The 17 poems in this short collection express dismay and anxiety over the state of life in this second decade of the 21^stcentury, from the rise of fascism to the way we treat the earth and each other as we go about our everyday routines. Yet, at the same time, they call us to resistance and change while offering a glimpse of hope for the resurrection of compassion and connection.

Open letter to my congressional representative

By Ken

On July 18, 2018

In Current Events

To the Honorable Fred Upton,

As a voter in your district, I want to thank you for your post on Facebook stating your confidence in our U.S. intelligence agencies and your support of the independent Mueller investigation. However, this statement does not go far enough. We need to hear your complete and thorough condemnation of Donald Trump’s presidency, which has been a disaster for our country beyond anyone’s imagination. His constant and brazen lying, narcissism, misogyny, and racism should be enough to disqualify him from continuing in office.

However, we must also not forget his failure to live up to his vows to uphold our constitution. His frequent attacks undermining our free press are attacks on the first amendment. Further, he and his family’s use of the their government positions to promote their business interests are at the very least unethical and are mostly likely a violation of the Emoluments Clause of the constitution. Lastly, Trump’s former policy of separating asylum-seeking families, and now his inability to reunite those families as ordered by our courts, amounts to a crime against humanity as well as a violation of their right to due process as guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment. The dismantling of environmental regulations meant to protect our natural resources and financial regulations meant to protect the people from greed-fueled corruption also do our country a great disservice.

Since the beginning of his presidency, I have been greatly shamed by Trump’s undue criticisms of long time U.S. allies while kowtowing to violent dictators such as Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, Kim Jong-un of North Korea, and Vladimir Putin of Russia. All of this has been done while undermining U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, CIA and Justice Department by constantly casting aspersions upon their honesty and integrity. Finally, his actions of this past weekend and especially his statements following meeting with Putin on Monday amount to a betrayal of our nation.

Something must be done and we, the people whom you represent, should not have to remind you that it is your job as a member of congress to be a check and balance on the executive branch of government. The President is immoral, grossly incompetent, and a threat to our nation. Please do what is right for our country. I ask you and congress to take appropriate action immediately.

Please also know that I will be sharing this letter. I also pledge to vote forevermore against anyone who supports the treasonous actions of Trump. We must now whole heartedly and vehemently affirm our democracy as standing for the rights and welfare of the people of this great nation.

Sincerely,
Rev. Kenneth Arthur
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Thoughts on incivility, restaurant service and homophobic bakers

By Ken

On June 26, 2018

In Current Events, GLBT, Spiritual

The issue of civility in no way compares to human rights violations. I also have no interest in hearing complaints about civility from Trump supporters as such complaints are completely hypocritical. On the other hand, there are good reasons to try to remain civil and respectful. Rude behavior can also demean one’s humanity. Perhaps the question is what constitutes incivility versus truth-telling, because truth-telling is dearly needed right now and to the oppressor it is going to sound like rude behavior. I despise everything Sarah Sanders and Trump stand for but I still believe that they are children of God worthy of love and respect. Of course, I also believe I have a responsibility to challenge their dishonesty, their constitutional violations and their crimes against humanity. But, incivility also widens the divide. In reading anecdotal articles about those who have made inroads and helped transform people who were white supremacists, it seems to happen through showing compassion and love, not getting in their face about the evil of their ways. I might also note that Jesus challenged religious authorities over their corruption but was also known to go to their houses for dinner. Is it possible to challenge immoral behavior and still remain respectful of their humanity (i.e. be civil)? If we not, then we put ourselves in danger of becoming them – incivility is a major tool of Trump and his followers. Kicking Sanders out of a restaurant could be construed as some dramatic truth-telling rather than incivility but what if, instead, the manager had pulled a chair up to Sander’s table and started engaging in a little verbal truth-telling, face-to-face? Maybe there were better ways to handle it (and maybe not).

Regarding the baker who refused to bake a cake for a gay wedding, I’m not convinced the situation is really different. Both were refusing service based on their personal sense of morals. The only difference I see is that I agree with one of them and not the other. I’m also probably in the minority of gay people because I’m also not totally convinced that he should be forced to bake that cake (although I understand the arguments for that and don’t oppose them). Frankly, if a baker doesn’t want to make me a cake, I’d rather know that up front. I don’t want to eat a cake made for me by someone who despises my very being. What if, instead of suing the homophobic baker to force him to bake cakes in the future, folks engaged in protests and boycotts instead? I think we always have options on how to react to injustice. It’s not always easy to figure out the best way.

Ghazal for America, 2018

By Ken

On March 19, 2018

In Current Events, Poem

Ghazal for America, 2018

Tell another tale: build a wall high and thick, brick by brick.
Kill the sick, grab the chick. That’ll make us great again.

Parched of reason, we’re Jonesing for more Kool-Aid.
Guzzle it down, quick now. We’ll never be sated again.

Men with power suffer blood drain from the brain, get too
keen on their peen, can’t they just stay home and masturbate again?

Editors drop fly attracting dung bombs defining reality in six words
or less. Fire all the headline writers and tell it straight again.

Send Sherman to march on Congress, leave no regulation unturned,
un-spurned, burn it all down faster than dems can create again.

Elected hoods robbin’ from the poor muse: sure would be nice
to tax ‘em and leave ‘em, to the rich we can donate again.

Politicos drain from swamp, leave billionaire snakes,
racist rats and nationalist alligators to alienate again.

Jesus must have said love your guns and your money as yourself.
How else would the Christians fall for the bait again?

Sticks and stones might break our bones but AR-15’s are harmless –
just ignore the dead children – can we ever close the flood gate again?

Not my fault says the bitter twitter assault. So bad, so sad
our prez eloquently opines. Will the abhorrent torrent ever abate again?

Go grand with your claim, never accept the blame: surely it must be
the black guy or that nasty woman. See how easy it is to hate again?

From seeds of integrity we harvest trees of fake news,
putting truth beyond our ken – and so we obfuscate again.

More Prayer, Not Less

By Ken

On November 7, 2017

In Current Events, Spiritual

One of the lessons Christians take from the teaching of the resurrection of Jesus the Christ is that senseless violence is no match for the love of God. Although the world may reject love way in favor or greed, violence, and a thirst for power, we put our trust in the promise that love, forgiveness, and peace will win out in the end. This does not negate our grief or our anger over tragedies of violence that make no sense. It doesn’t lessen our call to act to make such atrocities less likely. Indeed, it offers hope and renews the call to act, to live out of the love of God that is rejected by the world and build the kin-dom with faithful action, compassion, and resolve.

In the face of tragic heart-breaking violence I understand the frustration behind the sentiment that people don’t need our thoughts and prayers, especially when the prayers come from the mouths of politicians who refuse to otherwise act to reduce the violence in our culture. But I’m a little confused when people of faith say we don’t need prayers. We actually need more prayer, not less. Of course, although I think prayer is indeed necessary, prayer alone is not sufficient. We also must act.

I think those who speak against prayer have a basic misunderstanding of what prayer is and is not. It is true we don’t need empty prayers. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:5-8 that we should not pray empty prayers meant only to put on a show for others. Unfortunately, these are the prayers we get from politicians who want to look like they care but who refuse to act when it is in their power to do so. However, sincere prayer, understood properly, is needed more than ever from people of faith. Prayer is not a magical murmuring that calls upon God to solve all of our problems for us. Such prayer is also useless because it actually discourages us from acting. Prayer is not a magical solution and it never absolves us of the responsibility to care for the world. Prayer is meant to help us act and not avoid acting. Prayer is meant to express our compassion, to open our hearts to God’s call to love and justice, giving us the courage and strength to act. We are the instruments of the Divine. We are God’s voice and hands in this world. We are the means through which God acts in this world. We need more prayer, not less, that God may work through us to end the madness of our culture’s violence. Let us pray for healing, for forgiveness, for wisdom and for courage and when we’re done praying let us take action.

All Hail the Pandersquat

By Ken

On July 24, 2017

In Current Events, Poem

I wrote this one for a poetry workshop. The assignment was to write a non-sensical poem, but it makes all too much sense in light of our current political situation.

All Hail the Pandersquat

Along the grundle vodamen slither,
sprickety sprocks shroud 'neath the gobblespot
and hippity hocks flee the pandersquat
passing ghastly as the hoopsnot wither.
Rising snuffle thumps have drawn him hither
to hoop, holler and blither garblesnot.
His bangles and boogles dangle goldrot,
drop the yorsier folk in a dither.

But one spartled sprocklet towers and truths:
“Mister pandersquat,” she upstarts, “your aur
snuffles the vermest. Scour that squawker.”
“What gespittle and guspah,” he retooths.
With crowdly hurrah the vodaman corps
sprangle the spree sprocklet off to slaughter.

©2017 Kenneth W. Arthur

Alternative Facts: Escher Meets Kafka

By Ken

On January 29, 2017

In Current Events, Poem

One of my poems was posted on The New Verse News. Along with last week’s current events, the Escher lithograph “Ascending and Descending” partially inspired the poem (not the image they posted with the poem).