FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio



THIS YEAR 2008 I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE TO OUST GARY ACKERMAN FROM CONGRESS


Here’s a letter I am mailing out to the voters in the 5th Congressional District of New York as a follow-up to the letter mailed out by the FILANGIERI SOCIETY OF JUSTICE AND GOOD GOVERNMENT, a not-for-profit organization advocating passage of good laws, calling on the voters to oust Democratic Congressman Gary Ackerman next November elections:

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

My name is JUN POLICARPIO. I live in the Douglaston-Little Neck area of Queens for 10 years which is within the 5th Congressional District of New York.

This congressional district constitutes northeastern part of Queens County and northwestern part of Nassau County on Long Island.

The Queens portion covers the communities of Corona, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Malba, Queensboro Hill, Whitestone, Beechhurst, Bell Park Gardens, Bell Park Manor, Douglaston, Douglas Manor, Little NeckJamaica Estates, Lefrak City, Linden Hill, Hollis Hills, Holliswood, Glen Oaks, and Flushing.

The Nassau portion covers Manhasset, Manhasset Hills, Manor Haven, Munsey Park, Port Washington, Port Washington North, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Russell Gardens, Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Gardens, Great Neck Plaza, Greenvale, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Saddle Rock, Saddle Rock Estates, Sands Point, Searingtown, Strathmore, University Gardens, Albertson, Baxter Estates, Williston Park, East Williston, Flower Hill, New Hyde Park, North Hills, Old Westbury, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, and Lake Success.

The 5th Congressional District is regarded as the most ethnically diverse district in New York and the most affluent. Population is over half a million residents majority of which are Christians in religious affiliation.

I know we all respect each other’s religious and cultural beliefs and practices. That’s why we all came to this country, the United States of America, since the coming of the Pilgrims in the 18th century to escape religious persecution.

Surely we want our district to be represented in Congress by a person who respects our various religious beliefs and practices, most particularly that of the most numerous Christian communities.

However, all eyes are now on the incumbent Democratic Congressman Gary Ackerman from Jamaica Estate. But we look at him with shock because he voted “No” to a Congressional Resolution, HR 847, that passed the House of Representatives last December about the importance of Christmas and the Christian Faith. He was one of only 9 Democrats who refused to denounce and reject any act of bigotry or persecution against Christians in the United States as well as anywhere in the world.

2008 is the 24th year of Congressman Ackerman in Congress representing the 5th Congressional District of New York. His legislative performance has been rated “POOR” by his peers and by a Washington, D.C. political watchdog.

When asked by a reporter why he did reject the Resolution, he quipped sarcastically that he never received Christmas gifts. He tried to explain by invoking the constitutional principle of Church and State somehow suggesting that the Resolution that gives importance to Christmas and the Christian Faith violates the Constitution.

He failed to give a clear explanation why he voted in favor two previous Congressional Resolutions: October 2 Resolution, HR 635 honoring RAMADAN, the holiday of the Muslims, and the October 29 Resolution, HR 747 honoring DIWALI, THE HOLIDAY OF THE HINDUS, SIKHS, AND JAINS.

What the Constitution forbids is the establishment of a State Religion and the requirement of a religious test to get a government job. The Resolution does not do it nor even suggest it. The principle of the separation of Church and State indeed protects the American people’s right to worship.

There is no logical way to characterize Congressman Ackerman other than branding him as an anti-Christian bigot in the United States House of Representatives. Truly he has a voting record marked with an anti-Christian bias.

In 2003, Ackerman demanded the resignation of President Bush’s Education Secretary, Rod Paige, for saying that values taught in Christian Schools are far better than those in public schools. William Donohue, president of the CATHOLIC LEAGUE, America’s largest Catholic civil rights organization, lambasted him and called him “an Anti-Christian bigot.”

In 2005, Ackerman voted against a Resolution that gives importance to the symbols of Christmas such as the Christmas tree and the Nativity Scene. He also voted against another Resolution designating a National Day of Prayer for God’s guidance in America’s war in Iraq.

When Ackerman voted against a Congressional Resolution condemning a New York Times advertisement paid for by MOVE ON.ORG, a radical leftwing advocacy group, labeling General David Petraeus, American Commanding General in Iraq, as a traitor, he became eligible to carry another name: an anti-American Military who does not support our troops.

In 2006, Gary Ackerman rode back to Capitol Hill like a Black Knight without a horse after winning the elections unopposed.

This year 2008 November elections, I accept the challenge to oust Democratic Congressman Gary Ackerman once and for all and deny anymore authority to represent the 5th Congressional District whose constituents are mostly Christians and supportive of our troops.

Thank you and God bless you all.


JUN POLICARPIO
Junpolicarpio@gmail.com
Junpolicarpio.com(to be updated)