I write letters

[flewellyn]

Habitat for Humanity happens to be one of my favorite charities, right up there with Heifer International, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the United Jewish Philanthropies. I really respect what they do, and why they do it; to me, they represent the true meaning of Christian charity. So, when I heard that anti-abortion groups bullied Habitat for Humanity into refusing the donation of three plots of land from Planned Parenthood, well, I was more than a bit disappointed in them. So I wrote them a letter.

Regarding the Sarasota, FL donation of land from Planned Parenthood, and your organization's subsequent refusal of this donation due to pressure by anti-abortion groups:

I have been a longtime admirer and supporter of your cause, as I believe you do holy work. Your courage and dedication in upholding the true spirit of Christian charity is uplifting and ennobling to people of all faiths.

I am therefor very disappointed to discover that you have chosen to cave to the wishes of the domestic fundamentalist terrorists who call themselves the American Life League, Operation Rescue, and the like, and refuse a needed gift from Planned Parenthood.

There is no moral justification for refusing this donation, and doing so only emboldens these people who blaspheme God's name by attributing their evil intent to divine will. I urge you therefor to reconsider.

I don't often use the word "blasphemy". My belief, as a liberal Jew, is that there really is only one way to truly blaspheme: to attribute evil intent to God's will. Dressing up evil as "what God wants" is the only thing that truly makes me scream "NO! WRONG! BAD religion!"

Still, perhaps I was too harsh?

Comments

Bravo!

[cultofisis.livejournal.com]

I think that is beautifully written and very poignant. Not too hard at all!

[ad-kay.livejournal.com]

I thought it was very powerful and eloquent.

[lucretiasheart.livejournal.com]

You were not too harsh. And I agree with you about the "blaspheme" thing-- for the record.

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

Your letter is spot on.

[spooke.livejournal.com]

I don't think your wording is inappropriate at all. Thumbs up!

[naamah-darling.livejournal.com]

Well-said!

I should probably write them a letter, myself.

[keryddwen.livejournal.com]

Well said, and I whole-heartedly agree. And *thank you* for taking the time to actually write them a letter.

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

This may be odd wording, but I think it was just harsh enough.

[lucretiasheart.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to slide you a comment off of Pope Guilty's domain...

Dude-- if I could borrow from the vulgar argot-- they were SOOO way harsh with you! I thought you brought up very salient points and they (pope and kynn) were just intent on hurling insults. I made my point and said I agreed with Pope about the article he posted, but I did NOT agree with how he handled dissent. (He's generally pretty shitty to people who disagree with him as a rule, which shows a need for more maturity. But then, he's still in college.)

Also? Hope you're feeling better after your attack of the pukes! I get riled up easily myself when I feel like shit.

And because I'm not petty and mean, I offer you {{hugs}}.

[xbellaangelx.livejournal.com]

I totally....totally...agree. Beside the fact that I have nothing but distaste for a group that seeks to strip women of a right that (while I would never, ever without incredible reason, like insane birth defects, pursue myself, I nevertheless support) is their OWN, they have that whole "fanatical" thing, which just downright scares me. And I have to admit being more than a little let down by HfH; why do they care WHO donates the land for incredibly needy families, so long as it's not Charles Manson or the like?

But then, I'm a little iffy about men being in the abortion debate at all, a standpoint that's not at all popular with you lot. I respect that yes, men should have a say in the child. Absolutely. They are half of the child's making. But until the day comes when they can carry the child themselves instead of us, that decision, like it or not, is ours, and no one else's.

But I digress. Operation Rescue needs one thing, and they need it badly. To die in a fire of their own making. Let's face it. Women have been having abortion for millenia. We aren't going to stop just because your god (notice, I said YOUR, not OUR, thanks) says it's bad. Though I have yet to find that anywhere in the bible; if someone could point it out, I'd appreciate it.