Part One: What We Say. . .
and how it could be heard / POLITICS
If there’s one good thing about staying on Elon ‘Heil Hitler’ Musk’s ‘X’ site, it’s learning why people who voted for Trump hear and see things so differently. I was stunned to see a thread disavowing Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s gentle and calm words that were meant to open hearts.
The full transcript of the speech is below:
Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives. The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants; who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They…may not be citizens or have the proper documentation. But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurudwaras and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. And that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. Good of all people in this nation and the world. Amen.
Trump responded on his Truth Social website:
In the surreal world that we live in, some responded with death threats to her words. However, the viral sermon was understood by most Americans who lauded the Bishop for her bravery.
Reverend Budde is the first woman to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, a position she has held since 2011.
“I’m a mom. I’m a grandmother. I really care about the people in our communities,” Rev. Budde said. “We’re far more alike with each other than we realize. And if we just take the time to know one another and know each other’s stories, we tend to soften.”
When I came upon a tweet that exuded hatred regarding Rev. Budde’s speech on ‘X’, I was confused. Still, I felt compelled to understand and had an exchange with a person who had commented. The original post had been deleted.
One could say that Trump is judgmental in his words towards the marginalized communities mentioned in Budde’s speech.
“I believe we can disagree respectfully and put our ideas out there and continue to stand for the convictions we’ve been given without resorting to violence of speech.”
Fact is, Budde did criticize Trump in the past.
The Associated Press reports that most notably, she said she was “outraged” in 2020 after Trump staged an appearance in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, which is near the White House. He held up a Bible (upside down) after the area had been cleared of peaceful protesters.
“The Episcopal Church is not a large church, but we do have a what I would call a very generous view of God and a view of human beings,” she told the AP. “And I wanted to make sure that people knew that also is a way to interpret the world through the lens of faith.”
She thought phrasing her words to the President as a plea for mercy “was a very gentle way to do it because I was acknowledging his authority and his power.”
“I guess I had that wrong,” she said.
I think of Sarasota School Board meetings where an older woman uses her speaking time to pray but uses the scripture as a weapon against people who stand up for others. Is that how the right saw Budde’s sermon or is that comparing apples to oranges?
The answer could be in the following:
Republican Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, posted on X : “The person giving this sermon should be added to the deportation list.”
Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas, a prominent Trump supporter, was at the service and posted on X that Budde “insulted rather than encouraged our great president” and “there was palpable disgust in the audience with her words.”
(I had to take a peek at Jefress’ net worth, which is estimated at $15 - 20 million.)
Rev. Budde said Wednesday that she will continue to pray for President Donald Trump, hours after he lashed out at her over a sermon. “I don’t consider him an enemy,” she said.
“I believe we can disagree respectfully and put our ideas out there and continue to stand for the convictions we’ve been given without resorting to violence of speech.”
Trump demanded that she apologize, but will she?
Reverend Budde told Time Magazine: “I am not going to apologize for asking for mercy for others.”
Dear Bubbie is in ‘writing machine’ mode. There’s an event upcoming in Sarasota that benefits homeless students. We look forward to sharing that with you, as there’s a twist to it. You are the judge on that one.
We still have a blog revolving around the last Sarasota school board meeting, that takes us into the next, which takes place on February 18.
In Part II, we’re going to look at more of “What We Say” - focusing on cancer, grief and consolation. If you think you have any contributions, please write to: DearBubbie@gmail.com. We are also requesting artwork from students that we can post that expresses what one is feeling through these tumultuous times.