An appeal to Rep. Ashley Hinson for compassion
A Letter From Iowan Gordie Felger
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Dear Rep. Ashley Hinson,
Your Facebook post of June 16 is disturbing for several reasons. I’ll list a few.
Your post: “[Child’s name] watching the Army’s 250th birthday celebration over the weekend: ‘If Kamala won, this would have been a pride parade.’ Raising him right!”
First, this kind of hurtful message is beneath the dignity of your office. Do you believe this is appropriate coming from a member of Congress? Who among your constituents does this help?
Second, you represent ALL your constituents. Not just the ones who share your beliefs.
Third, this is how generational hate happens. Hate is not inborn. Fear is. Some fears, like a fear of lions, are healthy. Some fears, like the fear of people who are different from you, are unhealthy. It easily turns to hate for “the others.” Hate passed from parent to child creates an endless cycle of discrimination and cruelty over generations. How does this benefit society?
Would you be as proud of your child (or yourself) if he bullied someone or was charged with a hate crime? Would you say the charge was “politically motivated?” Would you see it as an attack on your beliefs?
Before you accuse me of being infected with the “woke mind virus,” I assure you I’m not. I just understand empathy and compassion for people who are not like me.
You’re an elected representative of almost 800,000 people of all genders, ages, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and identities. Please show those you represent some empathy and compassion.
Gordie Felger
Hiawatha, Iowa
This originally appeared on Felger’s Substack, wtfiowa.substack.com.
Letters From Iowans is a part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. We encourage you, our subscribers, to share your perspective in this column. To make your voice heard, use this form to send us your essay:
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Very well said!
Thanks Gordie. I am figuring out the best way to post Grassley's latest response to my calls/letters about Medicaid cuts. I expect all R's have the same theme--only the 'wrong' people, who don't deserve services will be cut and that Medicaid will be improved for the 'legitimate' responses. Thus, Grassley will argue no one will be hurt.
I am as critical of opponents to Hinson, whether candidates or the Party, for being nearly silent and with no plan laid out to educate and energize people.
I thought of putting in Grassley's letter to me in a substack but it is long.