Dear Kansas House Members,
The immediate feelings I had after reading House Bill 2453 were
sadness and outrage. Sadness that some Kansas leaders promote discord and
distrust; outrage that religious freedom was used as a smokescreen to conceal
their own prejudices. As a Kansas resident, I consider these actions to be a
threat to our peaceful and civilized way of life.
The notion that religious freedom can be better protected
through acts of blatant discrimination is preposterous. I am a Christ-follower,
and the guiding principles for my life are found in Christ’s teachings. Love is
the basis for everything He taught. Hate and discrimination are anti-theses
to the lessons He communicated.
It makes me feel sad that 72 elected officials who represent
the people of Kansas voted for this bill. I have to believe that these
representatives have either never understood or have forgotten history. Most,
if not all, of the terrible things that have happened in history can be traced
to either greed or deeply held prejudices.
Our nation celebrates the Civil Rights Movement, but how
soon some forget that people, people just like you and me who had feelings,
hopes, dreams, and families, were kidnapped, transported to our land, and
conscripted as slaves. Then, when the atrocities of slavery ended, legal
discrimination began. Consequences of that terrible period of discrimination
are still felt in all areas of our society.
As representatives of the people, what rationale or
justification do you have for proposing and voting for a law that discriminates
against citizens of the state of Kansas? Do arrogance and feelings of
superiority serve as barriers to caring about and understanding others? Do you not
have the ability to gather facts and think critically about issues? Do you not
realize that the law for which you voted endorses oppression? Do you not
recognize that oppression is unjust?
Hitler loathed Jews, transvestites, Jehovah’s Witnesses, gays,
and lesbians. Mass graves hold the bones of the German citizens he hated.
Mussolini hated races other than his own. Under his
dictatorship, life in Italy was a miserable existence for those of the races he
targeted.
Hirohito despised other nations and detested the U.S. The
Japanese soldiers’ abhorrence of, and disrespect for, others was so intense that,
in addition to killing enemy combatants, they beheaded their corpses.
Stalin envied the rich and disliked the educated. His goal
was to negate the influence of these people in Russian society. He spied on his
own people and forbade the practice of any religion. The price for displeasing
his regime was death.
Khamenei detests the “infidels.” His discriminatory brand of
religion calls for all of them (us) to die.
We are a nation with an ideal of “liberty and justice for all.”
What you did in passing this bill was to chip away at our foundation of freedom
and justice.
I believe that Kansas House members who voted for House Bill
2453 owe the people of their districts apologies and promises to be more
judicious when mapping the future of our state.
Unfortunately, humility is scarce in the world of politics
and apologies will not likely be forthcoming. I can only pray for more sensible
decisions in the future.
I have a voice. I have a vote. I will use both during the
next election.
Sincerely,
A Kansas Resident
District 0026
