posted November 3, 2009
What can Senator Alexander be thinking as he leads a Republican boycott of work on the climate change legislation pending in Congress? He was elected to represent all Tennesseans in Congress, and he cannot do it when he refuses to enter the room.
As a father, ordained clergy and a resident of this beautiful piece of the planet, I am deeply concerned about the toll that climate change is taking, and will continue to take, on our communities. Senator Alexander’s actions are the equivalent of abandoning the future of Tennessee, our children and the children of the world to what is an increasingly dangerous situation. His actions are endangering our own children and, even more immediately, the children of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
In coming years, we can expect to see decreased agricultural productivity, a decline in the health of our forests and further shrinking of glaciers. (The Great Smoky mountain national park is already under attack from pine beetles and pollution). Drought, famine and rising sea levels threaten populations of poor nations that lack resources to mitigate these consequences. Sadly, it is those who have contributed the least to the problem of climate change that bear the brunt of its consequences.
I encourage people of faith and all concerned about the well-being of our communities to contact Senator Alexander to urge him to get back to the work he was elected to do and support the strongest possible version of climate and energy legislation. It is his job.
Rev. Douglas B. Hunt
Executive Director
Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light
* * *
Dear Senator Alexander,
I am writing to let you know how I, and millions of others, feel about the lack of loyalty and support for
our President and our government exhibited by members of the
Republican party. In the quest for peace and community, we all should be seeking amity, friendliness, and ability to work together for the good of the country.
It seems that the far right and conservatives everywhere are operating out of pure spite rather than for the advancement of our country's important causes.
The American people voted, and they chose President Obama by an impressive margin. As our chief executive, he is entitled to
respect and support. Democrats, wrongfully, often supported the efforts of George W. Bush,to his discredit, theirs and ours,
and it wrongfully allowed the former president to ruin our reputation across the continents and around the world. The least Republicans can do now is to try to work with President Obama to give him the boost he needs to put into affect his correct and
much-needed agenda. Much that he has done so far is working.
America is not an island of itself, structured to succeed without
the cooperation of the rest of the world, and it will take all of us
doing our very best to get America and the world into a more
peaceful and caring sphere. Please change your hardened attitude and fit in with the new ideas for our country as set forth by a man of intelligence, ability, and patriotism, President Barack Obama.
Many Republicans are millionaires, like you and Senator Corker, but there are other millions struggling for their daily bread and a roof over there heads. Our government needs your support and those of all who are willing to come to the aid of their
nation. Thank you for your efforts, and I hope you can find it in
your heart to support insurance reform, correction of global
warming, and aid in solutions to peace in the Middle East and the
World.
Mildred Perry Miller
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