Dear Christian Friends,
I want to start by saying thank you. Thank you for believing in the goodness of humanity. Thank you for believing in its future. Thank you for loving the next generation and for standing up for what you believe in. Thank you for having hope. Mine is nowhere to be found. I've realized, as I sit with thunderous waves of grief and despair roiling from my chest, that calling you a hypocrite, that using harsh words, is not making this situation better. And after reading this article, I realized that I do love you and I truly want to respect you. But, yes, I would also be lying if I denied the strong conviction I feel to change (not your mind) but your worldview. I want you to see what exists beyond rural America. And, being the selfish person I undoubtedly am, I want you to share in the great burden for our country's future that sits on my heart. The first lesson I learned about alcohol is that when you get the terrible spins- you just have to ride them out. The same applies to deep soul pain. As I sit here, feeling disconnected, utterly alone, and as if I have no hope- please allow me to attempt at understanding that this is how you might feel if a pro-choice candidate had won. Please allow me to apologize for using harsh words- I am sorry for contributing to the hate. I am sorry for striking out at you in my despair. But please, please allow me to show you my point of view. First, know that I am not pro-abortion. I don't think anyone is. But I also know that I will never have to be. I was privilege to an excellent education. I have incredible support groups from Alaska to Kansas. I have parents that could take a child and me in without question. I have health insurance (actually, my parents have health insurance) that will cover a $1000+ IUD. I was raised to see sex as a sacred gift reserved for the context of love. But I know that not everyone has access to the same fiscal and emotional resources that I do. Know that we agree on the sacredness of life. Know that we both believe in healthy, flourishing families. Know that we both love babies (okay, I'm a little scared of them) and celebrate pregnancy and really wish our culture would stop selling and degrading sex. I think it is important and okay for me to say that these are some of the reasons I voted for Hillary. I voted for her because I do not think Donald Trump embodies these values. I do not think Donald Trump values the black grandmothers I met in Detroit. I don't think he values the Yup'ik and Tlingit men I worked with in Alaska. I do not think he values my LGBTQ friends. Living, breathing people whose lives matter. And I know that Donald Trump does not value the wild animals and wild spaces that I feel most at home among. And so, good Christian friends, whether we want to be or not, we are in a predicament. We are facing a presidency that does not value life in the same way we do. And while yesterday I accused, today I apologize, and tomorrow I hope we can all act. I hope that we can act with love and decency and kindness. I hope we can act against the bully of an administration that is striking fear into our fellow country men and women who are Muslim, hispanic, black, native, LGTBQ, lovers of all people, lovers of the earth. And while the time for blame has passed (and I'm sorry that it existed but I hope you understand that I do not always know how to deal with sorrow) the time for hope is here and now. It is among us. Love, Lizzie
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Elizabeth SchragAdventurer. Biblical and Theological Studies major. Borderline Vegan. Rebel with a cause. Archives
March 2017
Categories |