Many who know me know I’m a person of faith. However, that does not mean that mine is the only belief that should be represented. I do believe people of faith – like any citizens – should have a seat at the table and get involved in any capacity they wish, from volunteering to running for office.
That was the beginning of the idea of Forging Pueblo: Several years ago, a few of us were looking for a way to better engage citizens of faith within our community. We wanted to talk about ways to engage our communities of faith to build on positive change in Pueblo. That’s it.
In her most recent newsletter, my opponent Daneya Esgar is resorting to fear tactics. When you don’t have a message, you use fear, which is exactly what she tries to create in the following message: “In Pueblo we have a group who has already been working to systematically change our community into what they believe is a ‘Christian worldview’. Forging Pueblo is here, and they want to continue to seek more drastic changes in our community. Oh, and by the way, did you know my opponent is a founding member of the group? We have to vote as if our lives, and the future of Pueblo, our state, and our country depends on it.”
Cue the dramatic music: Scared yet?
What drastic changes have befallen Pueblo because people of faith have been involved in voting for candidates or even sought elected office? People of faith supporting the soup kitchen? Volunteering to feed the hungry? Providing help to those in need?
Religious freedom is enshrined as part of our First Amendment. Freedom of religion protects our ability to believe, speak, and act in accordance with our understanding of truth, both in private and in public. The First Amendment prohibits Congress from establishing a state religion or interfering with people’s religious practices.
The rhetoric Daneya is using is harmful, not helpful. In fact, it is meant to exclude an entire class of citizens. How can a candidate say they want to represent all Puebloans while simultaneously telling thousands of them that they should be feared?
I’m in this race to represent every voter in Pueblo county, not just those who might share my views.
On July 24, I attended the Protecting our Houses of Worship event at the Pueblo City-County Library. It was an important discussion about how divisive rhetoric can lead to violence against people of faith.
Daneya did not attend. If she had, she might have learned some things: First, that language used to exclude and create fear can create violence; second, that communities of faith represent thousands of people in Pueblo County.
I am reminded of a famous speech from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was his prayer for our service members on D-Day – a prayer broadcast nationwide on the radio as soldiers of many different beliefs and nationalities entered into battle.
To this day, there is something about this prayer that gets to me. It’s our history as a nation that has been a beacon of freedom to the world, a history many have forgotten or have never been taught. It begins with this:
“Almighty God, Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.”
All these years later, that prayer sets aside differences for unity and inspires a belief that we can work together for a greater good for our community, our nation and the world. That is what I will do as your county commissioner.
