Letter from the Chairman: "Show Solidarity with Rebecca's Family"

Fellow Raven Republicans and all Ravens,

Yesterday morning our Benedictine Family lost a young member in a very tragic way. Freshman Rebecca Lueke died in a car accident in a crossover collision on her way back to campus. No doubt many of you have already heard of the terrible news, but I would like to highlight some aspects I’m learning as I read about her. I never met Rebecca, but perhaps I should have.

• She was here at Benedictine College on a scholarship for basketball; she cared for her body and enjoyed the vigor of hard work.
• She was the captain of her basketball team in high school; to at least her coach, she showed leadership, a quality of a true Raven.
• According to her high school, St. Teresa’s Academy, she was “an absolute gift to both her school and parish communities.” Her parish involvement shows a passion for her faith.
• As one report said her organs will be donated to others; she wanted to serve others beyond her own life.

I have no authority to speak on her life, but it seems to me that Rebecca was an incredible person who loved life. It is not easy for a family or community of any size to suffer the loss of a loved one. Her family, teammates, and friends will no doubt mourn her death the most. At the same time we as fellow Ravens also grieve. I was especially struck while watching the news report on her accident. There was a moment when the camera focused in on a police officer carrying what appeared to be a backpack; it was at this moment I realized a sudden loss. This was no impersonal statistic to be analyzed; this was a young woman going back to school from home to complete her final exams.

I do not mean to intentionally draw emotions from you—the event itself will do that enough. But I do want to show some solidarity with my Raven Family and with Rebecca’s loved ones. There seems no answer to the question of “why.” There seems no apparent reason behind this seemingly senseless loss of life. Anger, confusion, and downright depression are present.

This, though, is not forever. With help from family and friends we can come to be more at ease with death. No, time does not necessarily heal; there will be moments that we will be overshadowed with sorrow. But time and love DO win the war against our loss. With fervent prayer and community our losses become our understanding that our loved ones are gifts. Now, Benedictine, is the time we begin to understand. Yes, we must first mourn: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Pope Francis says to let the tears of our sadness flow. “All of us have felt joy, sadness and sorrow in our lives, but have we wept during the darkest moment? Have we had that gift of tears that prepare the eyes to look, to see the Lord?"

I encourage all of you to draw from this tragedy a renewed vision of life, to see the Lord. See the good and the Truth, and find value in everything. Call your family and say that you love them, or miss them, or just hello. Mourn and then rejoice, for God looks forward to comforting you. Today is when we gain a new understanding of our school’s motto: Forward. Always Forward. Everywhere Forward. Keep moving forward in Christ.

One way is to pray and show whatever support we can to Rebecca’s family. Attached is a card with a short prayer for Rebecca and her family. There is space as well for a small note and your name. I encourage you to print it, fill it out, and return it to myself, the other executive members, or the SGA office in the Upper Student Union. To my fellow Raven Republicans: this is especially a time where we enact our belief of family and community as the central building block of society. Take five minutes to show, in a small way, your love for a Raven.

Thank you, everyone, for taking time to be mindful of life. It is so precious and dear. May God bless you all, and may God comfort Rebecca and her family.

For the repose of the soul of Rebecca Lueke. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Heartily,

Stanton Skerjanec, BCR Chairman

Prayer Card here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B81V6OuE_-6WRnpDQ3hfaHNVVkk/edit?usp=sharing

The President's Christmas Card

Many legitimate criticisms are made of our current President, but some are bizarrely petty.  For example, in 2011, Todd Starnes of Fox News Radio condemned the Obama's Christmas card design in a blog post titled No Christmas in White House Holiday Card.  (This happened two years ago, but it's Christmas card season, and that makes it topical.)  He reported ominously that the card features First Dog Bo and poinsettias but no Christmas tree. Sarah Palin offered her opinion,

“It’s odd,” she said, wondering why the president’s Christmas card highlights his dog instead of traditions like “family, faith and freedom.” Palin said the majority of Americans can appreciate the more traditional, “American foundational values illustrated and displayed on Christmas cards and on a Christmas tree.”

Palin may find the card odd, but I find it odd to associate "American foundational values" with something that withers and dies in our living room.

This was the offending Christmas Card:

I don't know about you, but I like this card.  The room looks cozy and the poinsettias and the evergreen on the mantle certainly indicate that it is a Christmas card.  I have no problem with highlighting Bo.  I like Bo.  He is the only member of the Obama household that would happy to see me if I showed up unannounced in the White House living quarters.  Sure it would be nice if the card included something religious, but I rather doubt that a non-religious Christmas card is an affront to God.  Pick your battles and leave Bo alone.

Crossposted on Button's Blog