Shabbat Shalom!

I Fear for Our Country

With the Republicans continuing to embrace evangelicals, I fear for our country. Two hundred thirty-four years ago, a group of men got together and made a Declaration that all men are created equal. They wrote a Constitution that sought to protect the rights of the individual in matters of religious beliefs and made the radical decision at that time not to select a national religion. They understand the bullying power of the majority and sought to place protections in place for the minority.

Liberals, gays, Muslims, the poor, and now Haitians are being demonized. Pat Robertson says the earthquake in Haiti was a result of Haitians making a pact with the 'devil'. Well, the Haitians did, sort of. The made a pact with European 'devils' to buy their freedom.

Nonny Mouse at Crooks and Liars articulates my fears about our country in the post The Real Face of the Devil:

Now, the rest of it I can laugh about, it’s too ludicrous to take too seriously. But we’ve seen what happens when those with the ear of the gullible and the fanatic preach intolerance. And those who pray for death as a fitting punishment for those of any religion but the ‘true faith’ cannot stand back and claim their hands are clean and their conscience clear. They cannot preach bigotry and fanaticism and buy their way out with ‘humanitarian aid’ for the suffering – aid shackled to condemnation is not ‘humanitarian.’ They cannot be excused for being ‘delusional’ or ‘uncompromising’ or ‘pious’ or ‘misunderstood.’ Religion is not an excuse to give up one’s humanity, any more than National Socialism was. Those who preach death and intolerance in the name of God – anybody’s God – are no better than those who egged on the suicide terrorists who slammed planes full of innocent people into buildings.

Compassion Lacking

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Haiti Earthquake Reactions
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Haiti Relief

The pictures coming in from Haiti speak of the tragedy unfolding there. The New York Times has a list of organizations to help.


AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE
45 West 36th Street
New York, NY 10018
(212) 792-2900

AMERICAN RED CROSS
Text “HAITI” to “90999″ to make a $10 donation.
2025 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(800) REDCROSS (733-2767)

AMERICARES
88 Hamilton Avenue
Stamford, Conn. 06902
(800) 486-4357

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
(800) 736-3467
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

MERCY CORPS
Dept. W
P.O. Box 2669
Portland, Ore., 97208-2669
(888) 256-1900

OXFAM AMERICA
226 Causeway St., 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02114-2206
(800) 77-OXFAM (776-9326)

THE SALVATION ARMY
615 Slaters Lane
P.O. Box 269
Alexandria, VA 22313

Please help.

More organizations:

The Jewish Federation(formerly the UJC)

American Jewish Committee

B'Nai B'rith

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

Shabbat Shalom!

Simpler Times in American History

Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly and others keep looking for that simpler time. John Oliver of The Daily Show did some research:

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