Dear Cynthia

The following series is a fictitious correspondence between a U.S. Congressman and his wife. Any similarity to real persons, contrived, cloned or otherwise actually breathing is purely coincidental and unintended.

My dearest Cynthia,

What a week I've had. As you know, this week we set our collective minds on health care for the American people. I think that if we play our cards right, the speaker will select me to chair a new committee on this subject. You know what that means..... perhaps another junket to Aruba. (we learned so much last time we were there!)

Anyway, what is so amazing to me is the fact that our poll numbers continue to show that the average Joe doesn't understand a thing about what we are trying to accomplish here; and that's good for us and good for America. Some crazy history teacher sent my Washington office a placard with a speech by George Washington on it, talking about liberty and the need to be careful about political parties and private ambition. Everyone knows that during the 17th century, the average person was illiterate and only a group of elite persons chosen by fate could have put together something as bold as America. Today, dear, as we both know, is no different. Imagine, the average, uneducated factory worker trying to dictate policy to someone like you and I who understand government so well, because we actually live it.

At our committee session on healthcare today the speaker wanted to be sure we were all on the same page - that a national system, empowered and managed by the federal government (congress) was the only viable solution for the nation's uninsured. We expect opposition from doctors of course - poor suckers won't know what hit them, and none of us are sure how we will draft them into the new national service, but we have some sharp people working on how to make that happen. On that note, I met a young policy man today who worked on the Iraqi civil corps and I think he would do well as a part of our healthcare coalition - he has the right connections (wealthy parents) and could serve us well in the future. I had hoped, but never dreamed that we would earn so much money in government. I know that you feel it is still unjust compensation for all the time we must spend apart.

I think a federal health system can be one of my most impacting lifetime achievements. Don't worry, we aren't going to be a part of the system (just like taxes and compensation).

Honey, i really feel good about this - our poll numbers are showing that the American people want government to handle the big things for them - so they can spend time with family, at work, etc. and won't have to worry about them. We will have to deal with the individual rights crowd to be sure, but I don't think they can muster enough opposition to stop us. With both houses of congress and the President on our side, I feel fairly confident we can make this happen.

give my love to Trish and Mike and tell them that I will fly in on Sunday.

Love,

Richard.

The Da Vinci code and Christian silliness

The media-fed frenzy over Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" novel continues unabated and fortunately for Mr. Brown and the producer's of the upcoming film, the profits likewise grow. My question this week is, "Why is the "Christian" world so up in arms over a silly book? " I haven't read Mr. Brown's book, and I don't intend to, and it seems very strange to me that people who claim to believe in the God of the Christian faith would be so put off and even downright angry about a book. Even more ridiculous is the fact that all over America people are taking valuable preaching time in pulpits from Maryland to California, addressing this work of fiction - engrossing and articulate thought it may be.

What is all the furor about?

Basically, if one reads media related to "Christian" topics, one would be led to believe that God is nervously biting his anthopomorphical finger nails wondering whether or not people will still believe in Him after the Da Vinci Code film comes out. Today's media would have one think that the Bible is somehow now irrelevant because of a work of fiction by an apparently talented author. While Mr. Brown's book does not demonstrate either of these things, what is does demonstrate is the absurdly weak belief system of anyone who claims to be a Christian and is effected by this book or film. What one who is worried about the Da Vinci Code, and claiming to be a Christian is really saying is "I don't have enought faith to allow me to really believe what I say I believe".

I have a hypothesis. I can't prove it which is why it is a hypothesis. My idea is that God wants the Da Vinci Code to become as popular as possible because He wants people to see how little they really believe in Him. What will the "Christian" world do when the next big book or movie comes out, claiming that Jesus was secretly a Raelian and was raised by hamsters until the coming of the summer solstice. How lame are we if we question our belief system simply because of a fictional book? Very lame.

For those of you who claim Christianity and are afraid of this book - get a life. If you have ever read the book of Romans (it's in the Bible) or Genesis, or any other book for that matter and you still have so little faith that you can be swept away by the next "big" thing, you have some serious repenting and praying to do. God isn't intimidated by the next fad. And He died in part so you wouldn't be either.

Lastly, let me save you some valuable money. Quit enriching lame "Christian" authors who write stupid books like "How to answer the Da Vinci Code" or "The truth about the Da Vinci Code'. Take the money you would waste on garbage literature like this and buy some bibles with it to pass out to others. Then start reading yours. You don't need Lee Strobel or any other monkey to help you understand the Bible - it's even translated into your language, whatever that may be.

If someone comes up to you (which they won't) and says "You know, I was reading the Da Vinci Code and it said that Jesus was really a pumpkin ", having actually read your bible, you can answer "No, but if you'd like to learn who He really is, I'd be happy to tell you" Instead of shaking with fear and running to your local minister and asking him "was Jesus REALLY a pumpkin?"

If you have lived in America for any length of time and I approached you and said, "America is the most underdeveloped, impoverished nation I have ever seen." you would probably ask me if I had smoked crack lately. This should be your reaction when people challenge what you SHOULD know to be true about God. Let children read silly books like the Da vinci code and believe them. Get to know the one, true God and let childish games be played on everyone else - don't waste your valuable time with them.