Key Takeaways
- Representative Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Mo) concluded a prayer opening the 117th Congress with “Amen and a woman”.
- As progressive candidates begin winning at local and state levels, it’s only natural to expect them to want changes made with how children are educated on gender.
- There are millions of concerned parents throughout the country right now, who don’t support how children are being taught about gender.
The opening of the 117th Congress has come and gone. Sadly, with everything currently happening in the United States that should have our full attention, the way Representative Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Mo) closed the opening prayer should have been the focus.
With Cleaver also being a Methodist pastor, I want to believe prayer is an area he would specialize in. However, as a devout Catholic and Christian writer, the words “Amen and A-woman” just didn’t sit well with me. As the parent of a five-year-old child, this has really grabbed my attention.
I get it. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats are pushing for a plan that eliminates pronouns that are gender-specific. I’ll touch on that here in a minute. Still, when a Christian, Muslim, or Jew finishes a prayer with the word “Amen,” the term doesn’t relate to gender. For a pastor or leader of a Christian congregation, this is basic knowledge.
In order to understand the original meaning of the word “Amen,” we need to look at its etymology. The word is Hebrew and has traveled through several languages, including Latin and Greek. It means “certainty” or “truth.” In the original Hebrew, it can also mean “so it be” or “it is so.”
As people of faith, when we conclude our prayers with “Amen,” it has nothing to do with God’s gender identity or role. That being said, when your focus is pleasing others instead of speaking the truth, it’s easy to pick up on the English word “men” in the spelling.
Possible Changes Coming to Congress
Many Republican representatives are condemning a plan proposed by their Democratic counterparts calling for the elimination of gender-specific pronouns. If the proposal goes through, the House of Representatives’ rules will no longer include words such as “he” or “she.” Instead, it will be “they” and “them”. While this will start with the House of Representatives, one can only expect the way all of the congress communicates will also be changing.
According to Democrats, their aim is to “ensure we are inclusive of all members and their families – including those who are nonbinary.” The word “child” will be used to replace “son” and “daughter,” while “parent” will replace “mother” and “father.” The words “sister” and “brother” will now become “sibling.” Aunts and uncles are to be known as “parent’s siblings.”
Could schools be next?
Throughout the United States, non-binary and transgender candidates are not only running for election, but they’re also winning. These results are heavily influencing Democratic politics. As these candidates begin winning at local and state levels, it’s only natural to expect them to want changes made with how children are educated.
This could mean even more significant changes for public school curriculums. While school already looks much different than when I was elementary school age, even more changes could be coming within the next two years. If congress is willing to go as far as changing the words and vocabulary used in government offices, buildings, and establishments, what’s to stop them from making these same exact changes in public schools?
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I could understand these changes happening at colleges and universities, where students are at least adult age and able to think for themselves. Maybe even high school. I don’t think this is going to be where Democrats aim to make the changes though. I believe they will want to start influencing the students as early and as young as possible.
The Next Generation of Parenting
I’ve already mentioned the fact that I’m a devout Catholic. So, I’m not the parent of a young child. I’m the father of a five-year-old little girl. Up until this point, I’ve made sure I’ve stayed politically correct with the topic at hand. For transgender and non-binary people, I have nothing but respect for the words and vocabulary you use, providing a level of comfort in an evil and cruel world. I completely understand how calling me a “parent” instead of a “father” would make you feel more comfortable yourself.
That being said, I don’t understand how you could think it’s ok for the way my daughter is taught and the education she will receive to be forced to change? Actually, you won’t. When I say I’m a devout Catholic, that means my little girl goes to a private, Catholic school. Still, she has friends in ballet, gymnastics, cheerleading, and all the other activities young girls participate in at her age, who don’t attend the same school she does.
I’m not one of a kind. There are millions of concerned parents throughout the country right now. We’re not just Catholic. We are people from all walks of life, with many different beliefs and religions. We’re not saying you can’t change the way you go about living life and communicating. We’re simply saying it’s not ok for you to demand we follow along.
Jeffrey Stevens is a published author and is currently earning his second degree in theology from Aidan University. His writing career has focussed on living the Christian faith, mixed with some sports writing from time to time.
Jeffrey regularly writes on his personal website and blog, “The Catholic Wordsmith.” In addition, he’s written articles about his faith on websites such as Big Pulpit, Catholic 365, Catholic Stand, and Joshua’s Outpost. As a sports writer, Jeffrey has written articles that have been published on Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and Bleacher Report.
Jeffrey can be heard hosting “The Catholic Wordsmith Show” available on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and RadioPublic.
