Public Theology: Condemning violence is not a partisan issue

People of faith are leading by example, praying for unity and an end to the violent rhetoric that erupting around the health care vote.

We need Reps. who stood with crowds espousing violent rhetoric to stand up to threats before someone gets hurt.

Sign the petition: pray for peace and condemn violence today.

Dear Supporter,

Wow, nearly 9,000 people have already signed our petition praying for peace and condemning the violence erupting in the wake of the health care debate.

We are making progress. Prominent leaders from both parties have stepped forward to say violence is never the answer. [1] But we have more work to do.

The threats and violence are expanding. Now members of both parties have been targeted. To make matters worse, a new poll shows almost half of Americans think the tactics used to pass the health care bill are to blame for the violence! [2]

This is unacceptable. No matter what you think about the health care debate, threats and violence are not the answer to our political problems.

Sign the petition: Join us in praying for peace and demanding accountability for violent words and deeds.

As people of faith, we feel compelled to say: enough is enough.

We can't let this trend continue. Our faiths call us to work for peace, and in this country we settle our political disputes at the ballot box, not with violence and threats. It's time for our leaders to step up and enforce zero tolerance for violent words and deeds.

Specifically, we are calling on Reps. Michele Bachmann and Steve King to join our call. These Reps. gave speeches at a hostile rally the day before the House vote -- the same rally where Members of Congress were spit upon and called racist and anti-gay slurs, and protesters waved signs threatening gun violence. [3]

Sign the petition: threats and violence should not be political tools.

Bachmann and King took a good first step by saying they don't condone violence. However, their message is undercut by their other actions, such as saying they want voters to be "armed and dangerous," [4] and to "beat the other side to a pulp," [5] and slapping a photograph of Speaker Pelosi. [6]

In this increasingly volatile climate, we simply can't afford one unstable person taking them literally.

Bachmann and King should join the faith community and leaders of both parties in rejecting all forms of violent rhetoric - before somebody gets hurt.

Sign the petition: Join the faith community in condemning violence, before it gets worse.

The faith community is at its best when it demonstrates that love and hope are greater than fear and hate.

Hope you can join us in speaking out.

Thanks for all you do,

Beth, Katie, Dan, Kristin and Jennifer

The Faithful America Team

Sources:

[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/25/republicans-condemn-viole_n_513211.html

[2] http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-03-29-health-poll_N.htm

[3] http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/20/code-red-gun