Open Letter to Tony Perkins

Dear Mr. Perkins:

I was initially delighted to see that you had joined so many other American Christians in responding to the Born Again American campaign. But your recent "Last Word" column makes it clear that you have misunderstood the campaign, and I'd like to give you a better sense of our goals.

In your column, you say that our theme song, "Born Again American" by songwriter Keith Carradine, misuses themes of God and country to "lure" people into a "big government, anti-family agenda." You seem to be particularly disturbed by the line, "My country 'tis of me." You even call it "humanist dogma." I think of it another way entirely. I hear and feel "My country 'tis of me" as an assertion of the responsibilities of citizenship. It's a patriotic anthem, like "This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land," which so many Americans joined in singing during the pre-inaugural concert at the Lincoln Memorial in January.

I'm glad that you find the refrain hopeful and instructive: "I'm a Born Again American, conceived in liberty. My Bible and the Bill of Rights. My creed's equality." I'm just sorry that you cannot overcome your unwillingness to believe that someone you disagree with politically might just be motivated by genuine patriotism, or your cynical insistence that we view the Bible and the Bill of Rights as mere props.

The Born Again American campaign encourages Americans to recommit to the principles in the Declaration of Independence, to commit themselves to staying engaged in our civic life. If you go to our website, www.bornagainamerican.org, you will see the pledge that we have asked Americans to sign:

I am a Born Again American
I am my Country's Keeper
My President and My Congress report to me
And so -
I will stay informed and involved
I will make my voice heard
And not just at election time
I can make a difference
I matter
I am an American, Born Again

Could not members of the Family Research Council sign that pledge in good faith as easily as members of People For the American Way?

The Born Again American campaign grows from the same impulse that led me to send an original printing of the Declaration of Independence around the country so that people in small communities could thrill to this piece of history in which our founders risked their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to declare a free nation. I disagree with your assertion that America's greatness has never been from the will of man. I believe our greatness derives from many factors, including the will of generations of men and women to stand up for the principles in our founding documents and help our country live up to them. I believe that is still our work as Americans.

Millions of people have viewed the Born Again American video, and many thousands have signed the pledge. We've heard from many Christians who don't necessarily share all my ideas about politics and policy, but who sent the video to their friends because it tapped into their love for this country, their faith in its future, and their desire to be part of building our shared home.

Sincerely,

Norman Lear

P.S.

For the record, Born Again American is a project of Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan civic engagement organization that has registered millions of young voters without interrogating them about their political or religious views.

Comments

[Clearthinker123]

Is Norman Lear truly patriotic, or is he pushing a far-left, socialist agenda, trying to create a new country that has no room for conservatives, true libertarians, vocal followers of Jesus, Republicans [gasp!], or anyone who dares question abortion, homosexuality, globalism, Marxist values, or other controversial beliefs or practices? Remember, left-wing "diversity" or "tolerance" usually means that only leftie extremism is acceptable; anyone who does not automatically agree with left-wing dogma must be silenced, shouted down and intimidated into disappearing. Similarly, "patriotism" as defined by Lear, probably means: a) the elimination of all religious expression outside the home and church; b) the unquestioned embrace and subsidizing of abortion practices; c) the celebration of all forms of sexuality and eroticism regardless of their social corrosiveness; d) concerted efforts to suppress---even legislate away---conservative actions and thought; and e) the establishment of a centrist , authoritarian government not unlike that of Cuba---a government that adheres to all the doctrines of communism even as it waves the flags of "liberty."

I'm sure the reactions to this post will showcase screaming intimidation tactics and smears, perhaps a hefty dose of radical-academic argument thrown in for good measure . That left-wing "tolerance" (hah!) again. I'm not surprised that one respondent , receptive to Norman Lear's supposedly America-loving "Open Letter," even went so far as to quote Trotsky. Very American, a real promoter of liberty, that Trotsky!

[SteveS]

I really feel for all people who have to be born again. I was lucky enough to get it right the first time.

[realpolitic]

One thing Tony Perkins is clear on - Jesus came to talk about the evils of big government. Who know where Perkins would get an idea like this one?

[Texas Aggie]

Now there are those like Perkins whose real allegiance is to something outside our country, something that, at least in his mind or what passes for a mind, supplants our country. His values do not include American values of tolerance, rights for everyone, and equality. Instead, like the majority of his ilk, he demands that everyone submit themselves to his twisted interpretation and distortion of what one of the wisest teachers the world has ever known actually taught. Tony's allegiance isn't to this country, not even to the religious leader he pays lip service to. His allegiance is to himself and his quest to control people. If Texas actually broke itself into five parts, Tony could go live in East Jesus along with the rest of the the bigoted community. I would guess that East Jesus could be east Texas with maybe parts of central Texas. (Here in Texas, "East Jesus", usually expressed as "East B_mF__k Jesus," is any place that is so far from everywhere else that you can't find it.)

[LiberalMathProfessor]

What we are up against, or so I say, is the inherent human tendency to metaphysics and generally primitive thought and feelings, uninformed by science; and by science I mean an attitude of innocent ignorance in a universe that defies explanation (ask any physicist and she or he will confess they know not the why of things), yet an ignorance that asks "what is really going on here, anyway?" Christianists and other religionists don't dare let down the drawbridge; they don't want to know, since they already "know" and must possess the language--NewSpeak, NewThink, remember? Contract and restrict the language and voila, thought and thus inquiry (and threat to The Establishment) are restricted and tamped down. Trotsky observed that "..there lives along side the twentieth century the thirteenth. Millions of people use electricity and still believe in the magic powers of signs and exorcisms.­.. Movie stars go to mediums. Aviators who pilot miraculous mechanisms created by man's genius wear amulets on their sweaters. What inexhaustible reserves they possess of darkness, ignorance and savagery."
We live amongst a few brave souls who want to know the truth, while the hoards make as though they and only they already know the truth. With events like what Norman is discussing, we see the hoards running scared.

[schatsie]

I do believe that the religious establishment in the US was used to promote SLAVERY and WAR... and prohibit women from voting (be submissive­...) and other lack of CIVIL rights... Where was the church when poor Matthew Sheppard was crucified?

[schatsie]

Mr. Lear, thank you so much, you are an American Treasure and I wish all of your old programs were on cable instead of the right wing pap....

[mmsmithdo]

Humans are susceptible to certain temptations: 1. The desire to escape responsibility as in "it's God's will" or "The Lord will provide". 2. The desire to tell other people what to do. 3. The desire to believe they can influence the physical world through thought and/or prayer.

Institutional religions cannot seem to avoid encouraging these tendencies which are attempts at
feeling more powerful than you really are.

Jesus said "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be also." I say "Watch out if there are four or five."

Jesus also said "Love one another." and "Go into your closet and pray in secret." and he rejected the offer of Satan to give him the earthly world, saying, "My kingdom is not of this world."

Institutional religions do not belong in the political process and should lose their untaxed status if they act as channels for donations to influence elections or referenda.

[schatsie]

you should see what the French did to the Religious Institutions as part of the Revolution­...They knew the role the church played in justifying­/sanctifty­ing and perpetuating the ruling class... It is time we woke up here.

[rextrek]

Mr Lear...you­'ll have to forgive Ol'Tony Perkins...­he's too busy finding ways to make LGBT Americans lives miserable to think clearly...­Mr Perkins is MORE concerned about who does what,with what body part(s).

[Steve Blake]

My giant invisible friend
my giant invisible friend
He hates it when you sing
No money does it bring
My giant invisible friend.

[whatsthatsound]

He was great in "Psycho". Sad that he has actually become one.

[67bug]

Dang, you beat me to it!

[iowa gal]

It's not the same Tony Perkins!!! The one you're thinking of died several years and was himself a gay man.

This guy is just a garden variety homophobe and all-around religious nut.

[Sapphire9]

They know that. That's what makes the joke, you know, funny.

[luziannagirl]

I sent it to a Southern Baptist minister friend of mine, who while impressed with the overall quality and appeal, was offended by the use of the phrase "born again", and the featuring of obviously Christian gospel choirs.

He said he felt use of the phrase and choir "mocked" Christianity in a subtle way. I think he probably more accurately meant "co-opted" rather than mocked, as if the video were a sort of violation proprietary rights. As if Christianity owned the term "born again", and a church is the only place for a gospel choir, and their music only that which is approved by certain ministers and church leaders.

Sent it to a non-religious politically conservative friend, and while he was impressed with the "catchy" music, was suspicious of the piece's "real agenda". "Norman Lear, isn't he a big liberal?"

I suspect both will forward the piece anyhow, albeit for their own reasons.

YES!

[BonoVox]

Well done, on all fronts. I applaud your treating him with respect.

[toypiano]

Thanks Norman Lear!

[me again]

The "religious right" has a really bad habit of twisting everything to meet their political agenda. A pretty sad state of affairs. The most divisive part of the problem is that many of these "preachers" don't follow their own advice....­.they rush their teen daughters for abortions, frequent escort services, take monies which do not belong to them etc. etc.......­a blight on the face of religion in this Country.

[allamericanmale]

more like a pimple, meaning, not representative of the entire lot.

Christians take things they considered sacred very seriously.

Born again is a term which begins someone's Christian life.

Some people may find it offensive to use it in a purely secular term.

[crisdel]

No one owns those words. The term "born again" was used in many other ways before it was commandeered by Christians. A bit like Donald Trump, a few years back, wanting to trade mark the words "you're fired". It IS offensive when an individual or group tries to change the meaning of common language.

[bdaved]

That's the way language goes. It bugs me when people say "hard road to hoe."