Turn coat, party switching Republican candidates have been spouting religious dogma in order to gain the sympathy of white voters in Alabama for years. Now comes Julian McPhillips who asks his daughter to say grace at the dinner table in a television advertisement and he and his family are criticized for this most natural of polite requests. It is insulting and outrageous!
While growing up my father always asked that our food be blessed and it often fell to me or one of my brothers to say the blessing. In fact often this was done by my brother, Larry, who has mental retardation.
I remember that over the years our blessing became shortened to the quickly muttered words, "Dear God, Thank you for these and many other blessing. Amen!" You see there were four hungry kids to feed and when it came time to say grace, we were eager to get it over with and gobble down the delights.
It seems Alabama voters are equally eager to gobble up their opponents using any means necessary. So mud is slung not just at the candidates, but at their loving children. Something is very wrong with this kind of political posturing, very wrong, indeed. Such slander strikes a blow at the hearts, minds and souls of those we love and is an attempt to intimidate the candidates to get them to withdraw and give up their desire to seek political office and do public service, that their loved ones be not unduly hurt.
What we should be focusing on is the issues, and which of the candidates is most qualified to represent the people. In this case I certainly think Julian McPhillips is the most qualified candidate, not just because of his legal experience, but because he knows how to relate to people and work with people to achieve their desired dreams.
Anyone can run for office and express a love of God, family and country, but it takes a person who is use to working with people every day, who knows how to represent others and solve their problems, to do the best job of being a US Senator. That is something Julian McPhillips certainly knows how to do, for not only has he represented many needy people in court, but he has done much to help his community.
I know McPhillips primarily through his efforts in establishing the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum Association. In that endeavor he went to great pains to learn what other members of the community wanted and he worked to achieve their goals. I am sure that as a US Senator McPhillips will use his profound ability to communicate effectively with others to best represent Alabama and America. In fact if McPhillips is elected we can all say grace and thank God for giving us "These and many other blessings," his representation will surely bring.
Sincerely,
Terry Lynch
Date: 3 June, 2002
Do you have a beef? Send your comments, opinions, letters or other remarks to Byteland. In doing so, you agree that all submissions may be reprinted, edited and/or published without compensation or restriction whatsoever. Warning: If you send hate mail or other trash we may publish it and you agree to release Byteland.org, its agents and representative, from all liability, whatsoever, and to be totally responsible for your own statements and/or actions, including but not limited to slanderous or libelous remarks! You also agree to release Byteland.org, its agents and representatives, from any claims of slander, libel or other damages whatsoever, in regard to reprint, publication or editorial comments or usage with respect to any material you submit for publication.