Dear Mom,
Lots of political posturing going on all over the country. Here in Arizona - state of sorrow, state of crackpot extremism, state that hates education - everyone's jostling to see who can come across as toughest on illegal immigration and 'protecting the border'. A major theme of the Senate campaign is 'taking on the Federal Government', 'fighting the Federal Government' and 'willing to do what the Feds won't do', with all in turn forgetting that the US Senate is a branch of the very same Federal Government. I've come to understand your final disillusionment with the whole process. But I refuse to give in completely. I'm still actively engaged, and hoping for better.
A recent boiling point has a Muslim group building a Community Center two blocks from Ground Zero. Needless to say, there is a lot of heat. I said on Facebook that I felt this was a good opportunity to establish that we meant it when we said we weren't at war with mainstream Islam. This created quite a stir among my friends, who come from a wide range of political persuasions. Then Anne - who sends love and thinks I should write you more often - brought up the following point, which I also added to the Facebook debate: If two blocks away from Ground Zero is insensitive, would three blocks be less so? Four? Twenty-four? Outside New York City? Where do we draw the line? And what of the mosque that is within the Pentagon? Is that insensitive?
We almost went on a mini-vacation to Santa Fe but couldn't quite schedule it. So we're settling for a day trip to Tubac, an art colony nearish the border (the one everyone is yelling about). Will let you know how it goes - it sounds like something you would have enjoyed.
Till next time, love,
b
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