McHenry County Democratic Party Chairman talks about giving to food pantries as a way of advancing "social and economic justice."
Here’s an article on the web site of the McHenry County Democratic Party.
Re-printed with permission, it tells of Chairman Mike Bissett’s fast to benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank from last Wednesday until his party’s annual Jefferson Day Dinner on Saturday, April 14th.
Hunger is not a game
“Do you know what real hunger is? Have you ever wondered if you’ll eat today, or tomorrow, or even next week?
“Nearly 50 million Americans wake up every day wondering if they will have enough to eat. One out of every 8 people in Illinois need help from a food pantry just to get by.
“Those statistics are shocking. Those facts are shameful. This is America, the richest country on Earth. Why is there so much hunger? What can WE do to fix this?
“We can do two things.
“First, we can work to elect leaders who care about the poor and the hungry, and who recognize our collective responsibility to ensure a life of dignity for every American. That’s what makes us Democrats.
“Second, we can help the hungry by supporting local food pantries and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. If you really believe in social and economic justice, there is no better way to prove it than by helping to make life a little better for your neighbors in need. That’s what makes us human.
“I’ve decided to help raise awareness of this issue by fasting for 10 days. I haven’t had anything to eat since the morning of Wednesday April 4, and I won’t eat again until the evening of Saturday, April 14. I’ll be posting a daily video blog during my fast, and I will use that as an opportunity to tell you more about the problem of hunger in America.
“April 14 is also the evening of the Democratic Party’s Thomas Jefferson Dinner. Our keynote speaker will be Pete Schaefer, the president and CEO of the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
“I hope you will join us. Supporting our party’s mission is one of the most important things you can do. Thank you.”
I absolutely do NOT believe in social and economic justice! Collective responsibility? More hogwash! This is a path to destruction.
I believe in personal responsibility and integrity.
I feed lots of hungry people.
I also donate to food pantries often.
But the hogwash this “party” person is spewing is NOT a principle to live by.
Check your Bible for further instructions.
HE is risen, indeed!
Nice, Cindy. What a piece of crap.
It’s been a long time now since I noticed if someone was doing a political/protest fast. I’m not hard hearted. I AM tired of those who try to manipulate me. I’m also not buying into the Democratic baloney. Years in Chicago, years in Illinois can be very enlightening.
“Cindy’s” comments were okay and expressed ?her? opinion.
As to helping the world – seems to me America and her people have done a LOT to feed people, get them medical care, and teach them how to survive in their environments. Our sons and daughters have given their lives or come home forever changed because of fighting wars to help others. We’ve watched the ads for starving children for dozens of years and shed tears and dreamed about those children. We’ve also watched the countries that can LEAST afford to make a lot of children – do it anyway!
We’ve seen children living in filth and shake our heads because we can’t understand why the seemingly capapble adults in the area, who supposedly love those kids, don’t pick up the garbage and cover up the holes where the rodents run wild.
You can blame their governments, their military, their individual citizens – but the fact is it happens. Children are not being made because they will be loved and given opportunities in life. They are too often being bred to become bigger armies, for manual work, and to become someone who will take care of the elderly.
No one should go hungry in this world, not here and not wherever “there” is. However, I can’t and I won’t accept a guilt trip for the planet.
If those in the Peace Corp taught others to not swim in the water where they throw their garbage and body waste – and years later they are back to doing it anyway and getting diseases – who is at fault? The same goes for the transmission of HIV in countries where there’s a lack of resources and violence and rape are common.
In a perfect world everyone would be kind, fair, and contribute as they could to society. First do no harm would be the rule of each land. Sadly, it’s simply not a perfect world and human beings aren’t perfect either.
There comes a point where the collective “we” get tired. “We” help who we can. In some cases “we” no longer donate to charities that help other countries. Some of us contribute to charities that help starving kids in (ex.) Kentucky or homeless seniors in our own communities. When “we” found out that all those donated eyeglasses probably didn’t help our people but went elsewhere, we were extremely happy that others could see and at the same time frustrated because people here needed glasses and couldn’t afford them.
Perhaps what contributes to the hurt is that our country, our people, are frequently considered the “bad guys”.
So as to tossing guilt trips at “us”, give it a rest already.
Cindy,
I have checked my Bible.
The parable of “The sheep and the goats” seems to apply here.
I’m sorry you were offended by my attempt to bring more awareness to this issue.
I’m glad you are helping food pantries, and I hope you don’t mind a few Democrats trying to emulate your example.
Mike
Anonymous,
You will notice, if you actually listened to what I said, that I never mentioned “other countries.” There’s enough for us to do right here in McHenry County.
Mike
Mr. Bissett: As with a lot of things Democrats try to do, it “SEEMS” like you are doing a good thing.
You bring up a good point about The Sheep and the Goats”.
Thank you for agreeing with me that we are indeed to be our Christian brothers’ keepers.
Since you quoted it, I am sure that you understand that the parable is about obedience.
For the others, I will explain that Christians should never set themselves up to be the servants of the unsaved.
So all in all, the “seems” part could very well lead to trouble down the road.
You do understand why welfare is in such a shambles, right?
Gal 6:5
Wow…some pretty telling rhetoric from Cindy and others. Heaven forbid that a Democrat would do something to bring attention to the very real issues of hunger and poverty in our own backyard.
Thanks Mr. Bissett for doing something tangible to bring attention to this.
Oh, and for you right- wingers, you will also note that while Bissett mentions the values of his party, but he is doing here is bringing attention to the fact that the local food bank needs more resources. How and why is that not a very important thing to highlight?
Mr. Bissett – keep doing what you are doing.
@Cindy
For the others, I will explain that Christians should never set themselves up to be the servants of the unsaved.
What’s wrong with serve first, save second? HE is risen? Maybe you think He should check membership cards at the door…
For the others, I will explain that Christians should never set themselves up to be the servants of the unsaved.
How very Calvinist of you. But this is some of the worst theology out there. Such a theological position can only come from wanting to read scripture to fit your ideology rather than read scripture for what it says.
Nowhere in that passage does it talk about “obedience.” And nowhere in that passage does it talk about only taking care of “Christian brothers.”
But ya’ll can go ahead and read it for yourselves:
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not [a]take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Dave? You are a victim of citing passages and not understanding the WHOLE picture. You are your own god. You have put your own ideas and understanding above what HE tells us. (Much bigger sin than becoming a servant of the unsaved.) Did anyone remember reading that I actually support the food pantries? Be careful what you fall for. Nice treatise on showing everyone how to totally MISS the point.
**You are a victim of citing passages and not understanding the WHOLE picture. **
Says the person that selectively cited Galations 6:5, which is very clearly about one’s own sins, not about being poor, hungry, etc. Please do tell which passages say that we are only supposed to take care of our “Christian brothers” (sorry sisters… ya’ll are out).
**Did anyone remember reading that I actually support the food pantries?**
Does that mean that you are sinning? How do you know that everyone at the food pantry is your “Christian brother.”
**You are your own god. You have put your own ideas and understanding above what HE tells us.**
Heh… this is awesome. Again, you are adding to the text. Not me.
Dave? Matthew 10:14 Goodbye!
**Dave? Matthew 10:14 Goodbye!**
Wow…that is your proof text? Really?
So by that verse you think that Christians shouldn’t do what, exactly? Not assist those that are not your “Christian brothers?”
I find it hilarious that you say that I don’t understand the “WHOLE picture,” yet you continue to throw out isolated verses completely out of context.
And you didn’t answer my question. How are you not sinning by giving to food pantries?
Good job, Dave.
Cindy’s interpretation of the Bible is not only unfathomable, it is clearly self-serving and convenient.
Googling Cindy’s “Christians should never set themselves up to be the servants of the unsaved.” reveals that the phrase originates with the “Bread Upon the Waters Ministry” operated by an endtimes looney named William D. Brehm.
He uses rather unique interpretations of scattered Biblical passages to interpret the “Goats and Sheep” parable to say that when Jesus used the words, “my bretheren” those words did not address his followers, but referenced only those obedient to God and thereby it was they (the bretheren) who should be helped.
He goes on to find bits and pieces of old and new testament justifying not helping “unbelievers” and even stops just short of saying Christians should violate the law to favor other Christians.
And some people obviously buy into this crap!
Michael Bisset: You lie!