Today I received an email from, yes you guessed it, not Barack Obama. Sorry for pulling the classic Buzzfeed click-bait. Anyways–it was from Sara El-Amine, the National Organizing Director for Organizing For Action, a 501C non-profit that advocates on behalf of our great President’s agenda and was announced by his wife, Michelle in January, 2013–so clearly one can tell OFA is closely tied to the President. The content of the email was simple, a political action committee asking for donations. However, it was the attitude and underlying belief held by its author (which, by the way was poorly masked amongst the requests for money and support) that has so greatly upset me.

As progressives, this is how we win.

I am going to place a link to the e-mail here, OFA Email,  feel free to read it prior to reading my response below.

Before I get into my response, I just want to note how unsurprising it is that so little gets done, when people in places of power, (ie media, politicians, movie stars, and apparently organizers etc.) are willing to openly proclaim the other political party an enemy, as if there there cannot be victory without defeat. In companies, teams,  where there is a divided base there is inaction, and with inaction there is failure. One can assume the same applies to government.

Here is my response to Sara below:

Sara,

It is people like you, both from the ‘Conservative’ & ‘Progressive’ backgrounds that are holding our country back. All of the inaction in congress today, stems from the very basic attitude that you are distributing in your email.

Let me explain–the very first statement of your message mentions your “opponents”. Regardless of one’s political affiliations, I do not believe that anyone in our nation should be considered an enemy or opponent of another American. It is possible to hold different desires, but in the end everyone in politics, as you are, should be looking to improve life for all of our nation’s citizens, not just the “good progressives” (as opposed to what I’m assuming are the “bad conservatives”).

A house divided against itself cannot stand

I want to remind you of a quote from Abraham Lincoln regarding the well-being of our nation–in 1858, Lincoln stated that,“A house divided against itself cannot stand”. This quote holds true for our country today. No American should ever, ever be seen as your opponent. We exist as one nation, to support one another and seek the well-being of our 350,000,000+ society.

You may have disagreements with the other side, as I have disagreements with both. That is perfectly okay. The goal is to leverage those disagreements for the betterment of our country. The goal is not, I repeat, is not, to ‘win’. Especially not at the loss of the other party, or in your words, opponent.

I highly detest that language and wish that in future notices, meetings, and general communication you promote the your agenda and beliefs without portraying it as a battle–a zero sum game, with a winner and a loser.

Best of luck in your organizing and I wish you, and your organization the best of success.

Your fellow patriot,

Taylor White

 

Note: I didn’t add the flag in my actual email, but I thought it was a nice touch.

UPDATE 11:22 PM GMT-5: I received a second, follow-up email from the organization, that while not as bad, also makes clear derogatory marks towards the “other side”. Read it here.

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