Marianne Williamson's Plea To Sarah Palin: Words Have Power

Dear Sarah Palin,

I don't share your politics but I do share your country. I am writing to you now as a fellow American and also as a woman who, like you, puts my spiritual journey above all else.

When your book first came out, I knew I had to read it because I felt judgment in my heart that was not in keeping with my religious convictions. I was tempted to think about you in prejudiced stereotypes, and I know that this doesn't jive with "Love one another" or "Judge not lest ye be judged." So I bought your book.

And I liked it. I admire you as a self-made woman who has achieved a lot in your life, and I can see how some unfair criticisms that have been leveled against you could have hurt terribly. I am sorry for that. As a woman from Texas, I recognized your refusal to "sit down and shut up" as the attitude of a kick-ass woman from a kick-ass state. Although I am pro-choice, I felt your spiritual process regarding coming to acceptance and obedience in relation to giving birth to a Down Syndrome child was both inspiring and profound.

When I read your descriptions of liberals in the book -- not just critical, but simply false -- my jaw did drop a couple of times, like I almost thought you must be joking... you couldn't really think that. But I knew my job in reading the book was to beware my own judgments, so I simply read on and tried to ignore your jibes.

I have defended you since reading the book, particularly when others would make fun of your comments about looking to God's Will to guide you. But something is happening now that is so critical to this country, with such genuinely significant repercussions, that I implore you to hear me -- not just as a fellow American, but as a sister who I know prays to the same God that I do: Words have power. Please modify your words.

In my lifetime, we have lost a President, a Civil Rights leader and a Presidential candidate -- all to gun violence. Another President was shot and survived the ordeal, while his press secretary was paralyzed for life. These are not left-right issues; they are not political correctness issues; they are human issues concerning life and death. I am not suggesting you would pick up a gun and shoot anyone; I am suggesting that there are other people who would, however, and in your position as a leading political figure you are stoking fires -- regardless of your intention -- that are simply too dangerous to be safely stoked.

This is not the stuff of media bias. It is the stuff of history -- in the United States and elsewhere. From Hitler's Germany to the arousal of genocidal fervor in Rwanda, there are more than enough examples of how a group psychosis can emerge within a nation. I beg you to join with me -- even though I am not your political ally -- in praying for blessing and protection on all our politicians and their families, and looking deeply within our own hearts for where violence lurks so we can cast it out.

I am speaking from genuine concern for our country -- a concern no more or less meaningful or legal or freedom-loving than your own. I have a pretty tough edge myself, and I don't mince words when it comes to politics. But no one needs to be "re-loading" now, and our political opponents are not "enemy territory." In a free society, we do not have to agree; in fact, that's the point of freedom. "Shoot with accuracy; aim high and remember it takes blood, sweat and tears to win" is a frightening statement, Sarah. It is not funny; it is threatening. There are some crazy people in this country on both sides of the political aisle, and saying such things could incite them to violence that is very real.

Please join with me in turning to a God of Love and not fear, that our country and our world -- and perhaps most importantly, our own hearts -- might be purified of hate. It is love and love alone that will heal our country and heal our world.

Marianne Williamson

 

Comments

[Deli]

09:17 PM on 04/21/2010

Too bad Palin can't read.

[tobiegiddio]

11:02 AM on 04/09/2010

I think it is interestin­g how Marianne Williamson and Oprah and such are SO focused on Sarah Palin now...Opra­h having her on her show, this article etc..I think it's easy to point out the obvious with what's going on with Sarah Palin who is a TOTAL caricature of a woman in politics. It sells books and gets you ratings and sadly keeps the focus on what a authentic conscious woman in politics IS NOT.

[Evyfeline]

11:55 AM on 04/09/2010

Totally agree with you! Also I find her intro baffling: "I am writing to you now as a fellow American and also as a woman who, like you, puts my spiritual journey above all else."

Sarah Palin on a spiritual journey? Is Marianne high? A journey of lies, distortion­s, ignorance, greed and narcissism maybe. There is nothing "spiritual­" about Sarah Palin. Nothing at all!

[Pookie Lieana]

10:47 AM on 04/09/2010

Well said, Marianne. I commend you for the soul satisfying wisdom of your words, and the grace with witch you undertake this challenge to spirit... seeing, and meeting that of God in Sarah Palin.
"I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit."~G­ibran

I am looking forward to her reply, if any. I take that back, she will respond… honoring that of God in you – your letter, meeting spirit to spirit is the action that is called for from sincere children of God.

[DebsdeVries]

02:36 PM on 04/05/2010

Listen to these words. Marianne Wilson has spoken words that arise from the will fo peace, of common sense, harmony and love. We must collective­ly awaken and realise we cannot and are not supposed to be 'the same' and that we have mechanisms­, in our language, and in our souls and hearts, to live with these difference­s. We must awaken, and put down our guns and our need to savage that which offends us. Imagine you had heard these words and you didn't know where they came from, or whether they were spoken by a man or a woman. How would they sound to your heart then?

[DebTex]

12:44 PM on 04/05/2010

Palin is the biggest bore!

[ForVivi]

01:08 AM on 04/05/2010

Some people are just up to no good. I believe Palin knows exactly what she's doing and having a good time doing it, free will and all that (wink, wink)

[Richard Gerber]

11:42 PM on 04/04/2010

That was a Good letter Marianne. Fear is the Anti-Chris­t in my mind at least and actually those disconnect­ed from the source feel fear and think and act irrational­ly. "Fear is the Root of All Evil" ~Infinite Play

[Pat Walker]

07:56 PM on 04/04/2010

We need to be the change we want to see in the world - thanks for your efforts and beautiful words.'

[aurora50]

05:52 PM on 04/04/2010

Well, I posted this at another thread, and thought it might do here, as well:

"I'm wondering about something; in the bigger picture...

I wonder if Tea Party members EVER see the stories of their lives in the 'media'?

do they feel the urge to March on Washington­, on April 19, with their guns, to finally see themselves in the story of their times?

could Ms Palin, with some enlightene­d management­, be given the job she could do so very well, telling the Real American stories of these obviously unhappy neighbors of ours?"

this thought came to me on Friday, as I was pondering how to open my heart to this person...

[ChicagoSuz]

02:19 AM on 04/04/2010

Nice try, Marianne. Too bad it will fall on deaf ears.

[KayJay90]

11:04 PM on 04/03/2010

Well, that is sad. Marianne Williamson read Sarah Palin's book, and she believed the story as told by Palin of the Down Syndrome baby's progeny and birth.

Boy, she thinks she's disappoint­ed in Sarah Palin's choice of words in her public statements now? Wait 'til someone tells Ms. Williamson that everything in Palin's book is a lie.

http://www­.themudfla­ts.net/cat­egory/goin­g-rogue-bl­ogging-the­-book/

And if everything in that book is a lie, imagine how many MORE lies Sarah Palin has told the world, Ms. Williamson­....

[azcowman]

12:47 PM on 04/04/2010

I caught that, too. Maybe "a willing suspension of disbelief" because her purpose was not at this time to get into the lies, just the incendiary language.

Just found a line in A Course in Miracles that she could have quoted here: "There are no idle thoughts, because all thoughts have form.

She, and everyone would do well to find the website, "Palin's Deceptions­."

But not today. Today google "e.e. cummings+t­he sun's birthday.

[corwin]

04:34 PM on 04/04/2010

I'm a medical doctor. COuld you explain to me the Down's baby (also known as 'Trig" lies.
I would be happy for a coherent explanatio­n. I'll check back.Would you mind if I forwarded your explanatio­ns to a cpl of Ob Gyn's to confirm my evaluation­s of upcoming reply ?Well be waiting

[KayJay90]

04:53 PM on 04/05/2010

"We"? Who's "we"? First tell me that, and I might reply further.

[Sabreen60]

10:52 PM on 04/03/2010

I very much doubt that P@lin or Repubs will hear you. Especially if you believe this article.

http://www­.consortiu­mnews.com/­2010/03311­0.html

[Archivist1000]

03:45 PM on 04/03/2010

Question for Ms WIlliamson­:

You say: ...... """I admire you as a self-made woman who has achieved a lot in your life, and I can see how some unfair criticisms that have been leveled against you could have hurt terribly. """ .

Then go on to say:

""""When I read your descriptio­ns of liberals in the book -- not just critical, but simply false -- my jaw did drop a couple of times, like I almost thought you must be joking... you couldn't really think that. ..and tried to ignore your jibes. """"

So, then: If you recognized Sarah's descriptio­ns of liberals as not just critical, but simply false, ... why do you believe Sarah's version of how she was mistreated by the Media, the campaing and unfairly critisized­?? Those 'criticisc­ms' came mostly from people whose descriptio­ns by Sarah are 'simply false' and subjects of the 'jibes' are they not??

From her debate with Halcro (with video proving Sarah lied when writing about it) to the allegation­s of threats of gang-rape on her daughter Willow (which were never reported by Sarah, so either it's false OR she behaved irresponsi­bly) not much has stood up to even cursory scrutiny.

However, thank you for writing this letter to Sarah Palin. If nothing else, you may have set an example for other prominent figures to speak out.

http://arc­hivist.lea­pserve.com­/archivist­s-opinion/­a-plea-on-­deaf-ears-­marianne-w­illiamson-­eloquently­-attempts-­to-bring-r­eason-into­-the-mains­tream/

[kungfu1969]

03:29 PM on 04/03/2010

That was a very well written letter, Marianne and I really hope she reads it takes the hint. Unfortunat­ely, from what I know of this lady so far, I imagine she will make fun of it and continue on with her everyday hate filled speeches, because that keeps viewers viewing and writers writing about her. She is a media whore that will say anything to stay in the spot light, despite the dangerous rhetoric. She knows exactly what she's doing, well...act­ually it's her handlers that know exactly what they're doing, she's just as much a puppet as Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck and any other of those talking points haters.

[AudsMom]

03:08 PM on 04/03/2010

common sense!