Dear Sons, 

As I wrote in Part 1 of this edition of “Letter to My Sons”, I am focusing on our shared beliefs in Part 2. I believe, in order to understand and discuss our opposing beliefs we should first identify and acknowledge our beliefs,religious/moral values, and political tenants we all agree we share in common. In this segment, I will outline for you what those fundamental core beliefs are for me. I believe this is important because it is these beliefs I must use to measure and evaluate all other issues. Whether done consciously, or unconsciously, we all must use our core beliefs as the litmus test for our positions on any topic. All I ask from you is to read my declarations on this letter, and decide for yourself if you hold the same beliefs, or not. I welcome discussion on how my core beliefs may differ from your own, but I certainly do not request any discussion. 

I am dividing my core beliefs into two categories: Moral and Civic. The former is of course formed by my religious beliefs, while my civic beliefs are informed and influenced by my moral beliefs. As with all people, they become interwoven. 

My Core Moral Beliefs 

1. I firmly believe that the universe and all living things were created by one God, who exists as three separate persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and he lived as a man, and died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, and rose from the dead on the third day. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. 

2. I believe God wants us to always respect the dignity of all human life, as he created man in his image, and blesses each human with a soul. I do not know when that soul is bestowed upon the child, as God has not revealed that to us. As humans, there are many things we don’t really know about God and the universe he has created. But I believe he gave Moses the 10 commandments, one of which says, “thou shalt not kill”. With that command from God I feel obligated to include in my belief system opposition to abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty. He did not say, thou shall not kill…except when… 

I believe in the importance of forgiveness, both receiving it from God and offering it to others. 

3. We are called by God to love our neighbors as themselves. All humanity are our neighbors. We share one planet, given to us by God to thrive and protect.

Civic Beliefs 

1. I believe that all men and women are created equal and as such have all the same rights and liberties. I think that regardless of a person’s ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other attribute, they should all be treated equally in the eyes of the law and given the same chances to achieve. 

I believe in the idea that sovereignty and political power rests with the people, who elect their representatives and participate in decision-making. This is what we call a democratic republic, and when the balance of power tilts to government, the democratic republic existence is threatened. 

I believe in the Rule of law, the principle that all people, including the government, are subject to the law and that no one is above the law. 

I firmly believe that all individuals, including those in positions of power, should be subject to the same laws and the same legal proceedings. 

Democratic republics are predicated on the rule of law, which entails that everyone, even elected officials, is bound by the same set of laws. This makes sure that everyone is treated equally and fairly under the law. 

The protection of individual rights and freedoms, is the foundation of our Constitution. I do believe that it was through God’s grace the Founding Fathers drafted a document that created a government that didn’t trust a strong government – hence the separation of powers. And then, to close the deal, the Bill of Rights was added to continue to protect individual rights and freedoms. At the same time, the role of the government is to protect it’s citizens from those entities that endanger individuals, communities and the nation. 

4. To avoid any one arm of government from becoming overly powerful, I firmly believe that authority should be divided across other branches, such as the executive, legislative, and judicial ones. This helps to prevent any one branch abusing its authority, and provides a system of checks and balances to ensure that the government operates in the best interests of the people. This Separation of Powers has worked well throughout our history, but it was not without its challenges over the years (Example: The Joe McCarthy Era) 

5. I believe it is critical to a functional democracy that every citizen participate in free and fair elections, where each person has an equal opportunity to vote and have their voice heard. Fair elections provide a way government to be accountable to the people. If we can’t trust the fidelity of our elections, we have lost our democracy. All actions that are designed to illegally change the election outcomes, or designed to simply create doubt into the fidelity of an election are acts that threaten democracy.

6. Voting, debating, peaceful protesting, or other forms of participation help to ensure a healthy and vibrant democracy. Violent protests are an act of criminal behavior and those who participate, either in person, or by facilitation must be held accountable. 

7. I believe in the importance of personal responsibility, including taking care of oneself and one’s family, and contributing to society through hard work and self-reliance. I believe that individuals should be free to pursue their own goals and interests without interference from the government or other individuals, as long as they do not harm others. 

8. I believe everyone should have access to basic human needs such as healthcare, education, and a livable wage. 

9. Generally, support free market capitalism and believe that the private sector is usually the better means of providing goods and services, but not in all situations. Sometimes, as has often been the case in the healthcare sector the capitalist profit motive causes great harm to those less fortunate. Some government controls are needed to assure all people have access to good healthcare. 

10. I believe in a strong national defense and the importance of maintaining a strong military to protect the country and its interests. 

11. I believe that individuals should be free to pursue their own goals and interests without interference from the government or other individuals, as long as they do not harm others. 

Why I am an Independent 

I value the ability to approach issues with an open mind, free from ideological or partisan biases. I abhor the idea that I would allow some political party determine what I believe, or how I should vote. I view that approach to forming positions on issues as lazy and a shortcut to making informed decisions. 

I often prioritize practical solutions to problems over ideology, and am willing to consider a range of options to address issues. 

I value responsible management of public finances, and may support policies aimed at reducing government waste and promoting fiscal responsibility, as long as that does not impose undue suffering or financial hardship on citizens that have limited resources. 

I support greater transparency and accountability in government, including measures to reduce corruption and increase public access to information. 

I prioritize individual rights and freedoms, including civil liberties such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press, and the freedom to live.

I prioritize protecting the environment and promoting sustainable practices, including policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean energy. 

I prioritize the protection of free and fair democratic elections. 

What are my major concerns and issues we face as a nation? 

1. I fear that our democratic republic is under assault and in grave jeopardy of survival. The introduction of social media has given the enemies of democracy powerful weapons to alter public perceptions and opinions, and can be used to harness mob mentality and violence. 

2. Mass shootings have become almost a daily occurance. As of March 9th, 2023 (the 68th day of the year) there have been 106 mass shootings. As to more recent figures, the Gun Violence Archive recorded 647 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2022. Compared to this time last year, mass shootings in 2023 are outpacing last year’s rate. By contrast, a 2013 congressional report identified just 78 mass shooting events between 1983 and 2012. This is a serious, and worsening problem that must be addressed. 

3. We are a nation that has welcomed immigration, but that immigration must be orderly, lawful, and fair to all. The current illegal immigration problem must be resolved. We can’t continue being a thriving nation with illegal immigration going unchecked. 

4. Quality healthcare must be made affordable and accessible to all citizens. 

While the above 4 issues are not the entire list of important issues, in my mind they are my top 4 concerns. 

I hope this series of letters help to clarify my beliefs, thoughts, priorities and concerns. Believe me when I say they are from my heart. I do not mean to imply what your values are but I do believe we share much more in common than we realize. Love, Dad.