The Blind Response
I didn't buy it when Rick Perry pretended to shoot a coyote during the last gubernatorial campaign and I'm having a hard time believing that Rick Perry pretending to care about the nation's problems by hosting a national day of prayer is actually going to convince any of the 4.3 million Texans who live in poverty that he does. As for fasting, Rick Perry starving himself for a day isn't going to trick those in this state who go hungry for weeks on end into thinking they are full.
Wrapping up both of these ideas into a fancy website littered with platitudes isn't going to fool God, either.
We're all friends here so I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Praying is easy. A person can feign concern, close their eyes and raise their hands upward toward the heavens all without having to fix their hair.
In other words, praying is perfect for Perry.
What's not easy, and what requires a little more hair gel than quoting passages from Joel, is actual work.
Work is being homeless.
Work is walking to a bus stop every day in the 100-degree heat.
Work is teaching yourself what public schools failed to teach you.
Work is losing a job.
Work is looking for a job.
Work is waiting for food stamps.
Work is having pain but not having the resources to make it go away.
Rick Perry's right on one thing: Texas can do better. But to be better, we're going to have to work at it. Work is not closing your eyes and praying for those you don't want to see.
It is opening your eyes and helping those you can.
Labels:
Gubnah Good Hair,
Rick Perry,
The Response
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Here's an apt quotation from Joel:
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.
The sinners are much more fun.
You know that only the good die young.
—Billy Joel
Nice post. Rick Perry certainly won't fool the poor, much less God. But sadly, he does seem to fool the knee-jerk "conservative Christians" in Texas that keep electing him. If only more churches would speak out in defense of the poor, the homeless, the uninsured, and the marginalized (the things Christ actually cared about!!), Perry would have a much harder time with his charade.
A bunch of pasty white fat Baptists are coming to Houston to fast?
Yeah, good luck with that. This isn't the country's fattest city for nothing.
I think I'll set up a chicken-fried-steak-on-a-stick stand across the street from Reliant. I can at least taunt them if they don't buy one.
Keep at it, Rachel, you're a great writer.
I understand that the Republican Caucus had a Bible study meeting at lunch yesterday at the Roaring Fork! What Would Jesus Do - Apparently, order the surf and turf!Gosh I hope they didn't get any of those fancy sauces on the part where it talks about humility and "the least of our brothers..." Nobody likes a messy Bible!
If it were me, and it is...I feel like we ought to round up a group and read germane passages to the true believers as they walk in. Sermon on the Mount is always a good choice - the Beatitudes wouldn't be bad either. ...And when they recoil in horror because we love the same God they do, we'll simply ask them to forgive us - because they have to.
As a Christian and Democrat it does bother me when politicians wear their faith like a badge but don't back it up with actions. Perla
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17)
What Perry (and others) don't seem to realize is that being a true Christian would be taking care of the poor, the sick, the marginalized. Instead he subscribes to his white, upper middle class version: we're healthy and wealthy because God loves us more, so who cares about anyone else? Ugh.
Amen! =) Nice post!
Thank you all for your comments.
@Al, I always enjoy a Billy Joel quote.
all very true! i'm a fellow texan and glad i found your blog! :)
Well said..you are needed... thank you