...from California and one of the few Unitarian Universalists in Congress. At a town hall meeting recently, a constituent concluded a rant with "...don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining." Without missing a beat, Stark responded "I wouldn't dignify you by peeing on your leg; it wouldn't be worth wasting the urine."
This story reminds me of another Unitarian in politics, Adlai Stevenson, who was also known for his witty ripostes. In an earlier, more civilized era the governor of Illinois was once asked his opinion of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, the famous Protestant preacher. While he may be known today primarily as the author of the best-seller, The Power of Positive Thinking, Peale was a somewhat more controversial figure in his day. Not only did he consider Stevenson unfit for the presidency because he was divorced, but he was also known for his anti-Catholic bigotry, foreshadowing some of today's not-so-subtle racism. When asked about the candidacy of John F. Kennedy in 1960, Peale declared "Faced with the election of a Catholic, our culture is at stake." He also implied that a Kennedy administration could end free speech in America.
Stevenson's response? "Speaking as a Christian, I find the Apostle Paul appealing, and the Apostle Peale appalling."
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