Airdrie Mayor’s Leadership Prayer Breakfast – Oh Dear God Letter #14

Hello Dear Leaders of Airdrie City Councillors and Annointed Congregants,

   What we are reading is a similar message the other two messages from others within the congregation on the cancellation of the previously confirmed presentation. None of you have actually answered the basic questions we have asked. The statement this time that the decision was unanimously concluded tells us that you have not unanimously understood what we wanted to present or you have unanimously understood but lack the capacity or empathy to hear and understand all of the people you serve, the people that keep you employed.

1. Why are you unable or unwilling to listen to perspectives that affect all citizens?

Listening for the purpose of understanding does not necessarily require power to change things. Listening is in itself an act of understanding. This is action that you have the power to take. We gave it to you.

2. Why do you entertain issues and narratives that that support other areas of concern for which you have no power to change?

Does the City of Airdrie’s ‘purview’ only include talking points and issues directly tied to other levels of government that provide funding?

  The City of Airdrie’s unwillingness or inability to be transparently open to perspectives outside of their authoritative scope is, to use political parlance, ‘problematic’. To keep repeating the same unhelpful responses to why you won’t listen is not helpful or reasonable.  It breeds distrust in the government at all levels.

  Could you or anyone else at least tell us what prayers were offered at the recent Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast? Neither newspaper that covered the event had record of it. What outcomes were any of those in attendance praying for? Clearly Airdrie City Council has no influence on what a higher power might provide, prayer or not. If you do have these connections then you had best use them for the benefit of all citizens without regard to demographics or religious affiliations, and especially the most vulnerable and segregated citizens of Airdrie. Was this event a show that falls into your ‘purview’.

  If we were to add an opening prayer to what we wish to present to city council, would you listen then?

  We’ll ask then one last question on this matter and you can get on with your selective and valued ‘purview’…or choose honesty, integrity, transparency, and courage to guide you.

  If you do not serve all of the people, or God for that matter, who do you serve?

Most sincerely,

Al Neitsch