Social Action Homework

A questionaire was passed out in church one recent Sunday. It asked four questions. The questions and my answers below.

To what extent do I believe that working for social justice is in keeping with the Christian faith?

I believe that working toward social justice is at the very core of Christianity. The Sermon on the Mount instructs us to be fair and loving to our friends and enemies, it teaches us that there are no lesser people in God’s kingdom. In John:8 Jesus questions the unjust law of stoning for adultery, forever blowing the cover of ‘just following the law’ or ‘just following orders’ for those that seek to do others harm or in acting without empathy.

In what ways have I been affected by the social actions of others?

So-called social conservatives have succeeded in expanding and extending the second class citizenship of GLBT people in America, despite the discomfort the vast majority feel at the injustice. The social conservatives have succeeding by overriding that discomfort with fear and hate. On the other hand I have benefited immeasurably by the long line of social activists that set out to right injustice, in small and big ways. Despite setbacks, I am encouraged. Beginning with the Declaration of Independence, movements to correct injustice always prevail over movements to preserve injustice.


In what ways have I participated in social action?

At first I thought my answer was ‘not much’ other than knowing Michael Slaymaker. I do not live and breathe activism. But on reflection, many opportunities have come my way over the years and I have not spent it all on the sidelines. I have marched or rallied in Washington, Tampa, Miami, and Orlando. I have written my Government Representatives on big and small issues. I have written letters to the editor on a number of social topics including immigration, the federal marriage amendment, gay adoption, taxes, religious and cultural tolerance, and education. Many of my letters have been published. I have campaigned for socially responsible candidates. I have signed petitions, I have collected petition signatures. I have given some of my money and some of my time to organizations out to make the world better. Additionally I live my life honestly and openly as a Christian gay man, striving to do right by others (but not always succeeding) . I figure they can’t hate me if they know me and that might make it harder for them to hate the rest of us.


What are some ways that I might participate in social action in the future?

I will continue to write. I will step up to be one of the small forces that drive big movements when the opportunity arises, be it writing a letter, writing a check, helping with the logistics of activism, or just being there when needed. I will continue to post my essays on social and political issues from time to time in my online blog, and try to increase the traffic that sees that content.

Advice for Governor Charlie

I squeaked one more published letter to the editor in in 2006. This one was published on Dec 29, 2006. The friday forum subject was "Priorities for Governor Elect Crist"

Dear Gov Charlie,

First, my advice for being a good governor is to be just like Jeb, only without devious plans, without laws to undo court decisions in a private family matter, and by not embracing reforms that are more about an ideology than solving problems.

As for priorities:

More energy, less carbon: We have abundant sunshine and wind to be harnessed. Consider the ‘nuclear option’. Sugar to ethanol perhaps?

Cuba: As governor of Florida you will have center stage in what comes next. Don’t help those who would screw it up to do so.

Insurance: Reform must make sense. Insurance companies won’t do business here if they think they can’t make money. People won’t live here if they can’t get insurance. Affordability is a factor of the weather, which we can’t immediately change.

Taxes. We have government coffers flush with cash and some folks paying twice the tax on their homes as their neighbors. This means taxes are too high and unfair. If our taxes are equitable and our elected officials have to make a few hard choices on where to spend, then we have it about right.

Education: Everything that leads to more kids graduating should be on the table, not just an ideological measuring stick we use to punish schools that come up short.

Immigration: People from Puerto Rico are not Immigrants. People from Cuba are not illegal. I know you know these things, but please do not listen to anyone who does not.