Dear Friends,
Canvassers for Democratic candidates Laura Kelly and Sharice Davids came to our house one night earlier this week while my wife was giving our girls their bath. They were a married couple who live nearby. The woman wore Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s face on a pin on the lapel of her coat.
Because of my work, I know that campaigns have vast amounts of data about voters. This allows them to allocate resources where they are most needed. At this point in most races, that means encouraging voters who share your values to actually show up and vote. So, when I answered the door, I said, “The polls must be really good for your candidates if you’re talking to people like me.”
The man laughed and replied, “Actually, our data shows you are an open-minded voter who might be persuadable.”
I smirked, thinking about the Prairie Village City Council meeting the night before where a room full of citizens and elected officials jeered at me and called me a hateful bigot.
“I like to think so,” I said.
We enjoyed a pleasant conversation for a few minutes. I explained what I do for a living, and that because of our family’s commitment to life, family, and religious freedom their candidates were not an option for us. They thanked me for giving them time, and we agreed that peace and respectful disagreement would be a nice change of pace from our current political climate.
I didn’t tell them about the meeting in Prairie Village, but I was grateful for the reminder that some are still capable of respectful, neighborly disagreement. We need more of it. It starts with opening the door.
As they were thanking me, the canvassers compared our interaction to their last home. An older gentleman heard who they were, uttered something cruel, and slammed the door. Perhaps you’ve been tempted to pretend you aren’t at home in situations like this?
If we aren’t willing to have these conversations at the door, to show up to city council meetings, to make phone calls and send emails to our elected officials, we will continue to see our communities deteriorate. Those who don’t share our opinions and values are active and engaged. They show up. They answer the door.
Recently, Laura Kelly vowed to use the power of the governor’s office to roll-back the Adoption Protection Act. That’s just one of a thousand examples of a way her leadership would affect Christians in Kansas.
What are you going to do about it?
Sincerely,
Eric Teetsel
President and Executive Director
p.s. Can you think of 5 friends who ought to get my emails? Will you forward this email to them and tell them to sign-up?
Paid for by Kansas Family Voice of Kansas