"We Will Not Let Hate Win"

     I was raised as a Christian, a protestant, as a Wisconsin Synod Lutheran. St. Lucas Church in Milwaukee was built in the 1870s, and they added an elementary school shortly thereafter. I did my K-8 years at the school which included my confirmation in 1962. While I happily recall some fond memories of those years and the friends I made, I also recall other friends I made during those young summers and later in high school. Some of my friends happened to attend “IC”, Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church and school, just down the street about 1/4 mile. I quickly learned that my new summertime friends (and, perhaps a Catholic girl I might have dated . . .) were just like the rest of us. In short having Catholic friends made this Lutheran kid realize we were all the same, and religion began to be demystified.

     Some thirty years later, our daughter Caitie transferred from public school to a Catholic elementary school, and at some point Dolly and I sat in on a discussion group about Catholicism—sort of an adult CCD class, about what it means to be Catholic. I heard some dogma that was consistent with my Lutheran upbringing, and some dogma that was different. But I heard nothing that suggested that either of the religions I experienced knew everything. In fact, the two were far more similar than many would probably acknowledge, and both religions were consistent about our relationship with our fellow human beings.

     Recently I watched (as did many others) the Republican members of the U. S. Senate’s judiciary committee—without foundation—verbally assault a nominee for the Supreme Court. A sort of “Gang of Four” senators alleged that Judge Katanji Brown Jackson is or was or may be sympathetic to pedophilia or pedophiles. No proof, no reasoned or informed accusations. Just an insanely stupid attack.

     I’ve also observed how LGBTQ human beings are regularly dehumanized by some politicians, some clergy, and some parents. Last week some of those rabid politicians launched bizarre attacks on The Walt Disney Company, after that company asserted that the people at Disney “are dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country.” For some conservative politicians, that statement could not go unchallenged and leading the way was, of course, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Cruz suggested that the Walt Disney Company (may have) plans to create and broadcast animated gay pornography featuring two of its most beloved male cartoon characters: Mickey Mouse—a male mouse, and his pet dog Pluto—a male dog. Cruz was telling an audience that the Disney cartoon characters Mickey and Pluto would soon be “getting it on”. 

     When Cruz and other conservative politicians spout this type of drivel, others decide it must be ok to do the same. Consequently, these days it’s not uncommon to hear horrible and baseless accusations thrown around.

     How and why we have arrived at this point is worth considering, but instead of an analysis of how we got here, I thought I’d let you read what one woman had to say. Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow was attacked (by another Michigan politician—GOP State Senator Lana Theis—and decided to reply to her attack from the floor of the state senate. Here’s what Senator McMorrow had to say, in 5 minutes and 4 seconds.

“Thank you Mr. President.

I didn’t expect to wake up yesterday to the news that [Senator Theis] from the 22nd district had overnight accused me by name of grooming and sexualizing children in an email fundraising for herself. So I sat on it for awhile, wondering “why me.” And then I realized, because I am the biggest threat to your hollow, hateful scheme.  Because you can’t claim that you are targeting marginalized kids in the name of “parental rights” if another parent is standing up to say no. So then what? Then you dehumanize and marginalize ME. You say that I’m one of THEM. You say she’s a groomer, she supports pedophilia, she wants children to believe that they were responsible for slavery and to feel bad about themselves because they’re white. Here’s a little background about who I really am.

     Growing up my family was very active in our church. I sang in the choir. My mom taught CCD. One day, our priest called a meeting with my mom and told her that she was not living up to the church’s expectations, and that she was disappointing. My mom asked “why”.  Among other reasons she was told it was because she was divorced, and because the priest didn’t see her at mass every Sunday.

     So where was my mom on Sundays? She was at the soup kitchen; with me. My mom taught me at a very young age that Christianity and faith was about being part of a community, about recognizing our privilege and blessings and doing what we can to be of service to others—especially people who are marginalized, targeted, and who had less . . . often unfairly. I learned that SERVICE was far more important than performative nonsense like being seen in the same pew every Sunday or writing “Christian” in your Twitter bio and using that as a shield to target and marginalize already-marginalized people.

     I also stand on the shoulders of people like Father Ted Hesburgh, the longtime president of the University of Notre Dame who was active in the civil rights movement, who recognized his power and privilege as a white man, a faith leader, and the head of an influential and well-respected institution, and who saw Black people in this country being targeted and discriminated against and beaten, and reached out to lock arms with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when he was alive, when he was unpopular, and risky, and marching alongside them to say, “We’ve got you.” To offer protection, and service, and allyship, to try to right the wrongs and fix injustice in the world.

     So who am I? I am a straight, white, Christian, married, suburban mom who knows that the very notion that learning about slavery or redlining or systemic racism somehow means that children are being taught to feel bad or hate themselves because they are white, is absolute nonsense.

     No child alive today is responsible for slavery. No one in this room is responsible for slavery. But each and every single one of us bears responsibility for writing the next chapter of history. Each and every single one of us decides what happens next, and how WE respond to history and the world around us.

     We are not responsible for the past. We also cannot change the past. We can’t pretend that it didn’t happen, or deny people their very right to exist.

     I am a straight, white, Christian, married, suburban mom. I want my daughter to know that she is loved, supported, and seen for whoever she becomes. I want her to be curious, empathetic, and kind.

     People who are different are not the reason that our roads are in bad shape after decades of disinvestment, or that healthcare costs are too high, or that teachers are leaving the profession.

     I want every child in this state to feel seen, heard, and supported, not marginalized and targeted because they are not straight, white, and Christian.

     We cannot let hateful people tell you otherwise to scapegoat and deflect from the fact that they are not doing anything to fix the real issues that impact peoples lives.

     And I know that hate will only win if people like me stand by and let it happen.

     So I want to be very clear right now: Call me whatever you want. I hope you brought in a few dollars. I hope it made you sleep good last night. I know who I am. I know what faith and service means, and what it calls for in this moment. 

     We will not let hate win.”

     Although I have my doubts, perhaps Senator McMorrow’s public response to the verbal assault on her will help change the conversation. I have my doubts, but I hope this helps begin to make a change.