On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...

On the twelfth day of Christmas
Bluenecks gave to me
A Congress with a Soul,

Petroleum independence,
Strong labor unions,
Tom DeLay convicted,
Balance the budget,
Peace in Iraq,
Rove with a pink slip,
No domestic spying,
Better education,
An anti-torture law,
A budget with a heart,
And a rebuilt New Orleans.

Congress this week took a strong stand for Christmas, passing a resolution in favor of the "symbols and traditions of Christmas." This, while the war in Iraq drags on and powerful members of the same body fight for tax cuts for the rich, cuts for spending on the poor, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and giving the government more power to infringe our civil liberties. This Congress' leadership has no soul, and tramples the real message of Christmas.

"I like Christmas," said Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-NY, who is Jewish. "I like helping the needy and the poor and the least among us...If you wanted to protect the message of Christmas, come to the floor with real bills of substance...Where is your bill to house the homeless? Where is your bill to feed the needy? Where is your bill to clothe the naked? Where is your bill to protect senior citizens who will not be able to heat their homes this winter?"

Thankfully, well-organized groups of religious leaders have taken a stand for the real meaning of Christmas, insisting on a moral budget. And a few brave members of Congress have been listening. There are some things to celebrate. The Senate's rejection of the Patriot Act, and the removal of some of the more egregious cuts in social programs (like food stamps), shows that there are some signs of hope this Christmas season.

What Bluenecks Can Do: Send members of Congress a holiday thank you for their willingness to stand up for the real meaning of Christmas: peace and justice for all.