I fought depression all week. Not sure why. Maybe simple fatigue. Maybe sinus problems.
The political scene does not help. A Republican friend this week told me that it was really the Democrats fault. If we had nominated a reasonable alternative, Republicans would have been able to vote for someone other than Torture McGee.
Yeah, that's right. Completely out of power, but it is still the Democrats fault.
Sigh.
Bush guts our constitution, and the Republicans in the House and Senate assist him. Bush goes on campaign speech where he says that the party of Roosevelt has become the party of "cut and run."
Meanwhile Bob Woodward (who long ago traded in his credentials for fame) reports that the violence in Iraq is unbelievably worse than the Administration admits. Somewhere around 100 attacks a day and growing. But George "Jesus" Bush can stand and berate Democrats.
Republicans pass a law that made former Soviets stand up and say, "Hey, that looks ok" and he can berate us? Habeus Corpus gone. The Pentagon and Bush given the power to define torture AND who is an enemy combatant. But it is us, the lowly and morally challenged Democrats who are the problem.
And the church. Streak, what about the conservative Church? The one who taught you your values? What do they say? Well, I am glad you asked. James Dobson is still talking about the gays marrying and rallying the evangelicals to the polls to defend our morally challenged President. Jerry "Fatty" Falwell says that God will help the GOP retain power. Meanwhile, no conservative evangelical has addressed torture. Oh well. WWJD?
Speaking of the asshats with the Bible. They love to spread around the "pass-on emails" that alert the faithful to the most recent political challenge. I would respect that if any of them--JUST ONE--actually addressed poverty or people in real pain. Instead, they parrot the GOP on terrorism, demonize liberals, or lament that the brown people are coming over the border.
The denomination and faith of my youth is defending torture, demonizing immigrants, ignoring constitutional attacks, and abetting an incompetent, and morally challenged dope.
Sigh.
10 comments:
You know, I recently hurt a friendship by hitting "reply all" to an email full of fear for the brown folk.
It went on and on about protecting what's ours and keeping "them" out and ended with the sig line "You are the only Gospel that some may ever read".
I asked who he thought "the least of these" were today. I only answer like this about every fifth time, but it's worth it.
Streak,
I say let 'em all in. I've told my congregation that we should be glad that God is bringing the world to us.
Regards,
Les
I thought Republicans weren't playing the blame game. Or was that just last year?
Educat, I love that. The only Gospel some people may ever read is one of hate. Les, how the hell do you remain a Southern Baptist? The absolute rest of your party and your conservative evangelical faith spend far more time attacking gay people and the "migrants" and have absolutely no problem with torture or rewriting the constitution.
WJ, they have always played the blame game, they just never like it when it blames them. Very seriously, the current crop of Republicans are morally bankrupt. Hard to see it any other way.
I'm with you, Streak, both in depression and sinus troubles.
In fact, the only reason I've been able to sleep well this week is because of Nyquil.
I have no answers for you right now, but I just wanted to thank you for your honesty and for writing a lot of the things that I feel but don't write.
Streak,
Change only comes from within.
Food for thought?
Les
Thanks, Zalm. I appreciate it.
Les, I hope you are right. It is hard for me to see hope in the conservative evangelicals, and they appear to be a big part of the base that keeps him propped up(barely). And when you see what Dobson, Falwell, et al are hoping, praying, and planning on for the fall election, it ain't change.
Streak, I have seen a running commentary through your blog - you argue that the values and actions expressed by the current President do not mesh with the values of some Christian groups. These groups, if they interrogated their own political beliefs, would recognize the slippage between their beliefs and the President's actions. My question to you is this: do you think that people give their political affiliations such close scrutinity? I consider myself a reasonably educated person and sometimes, though rarely, insightful. I do not put much thought into my political decisions - you know my criteria for voting. I put little or no thought in the democratic process and, as you know, rarely participate. It seems that people are more comfortable with the fictions and "invented traditions" of their parties to give them much serious thought. I know some political scientist might take me to ask for some of my observations about political behavior, but it seems to me that people attach themselves to a political party without much thought (usually it is the party of their parents, or it can be a regional affiliation, etc.) and then follow and support the party for the rest of their lives. It seems to me that it takes a momentous event - nationally and personally - for a person to change their party affiliation. I can think of two instances in American history when political parties were realigned (and there are probably others): the coming of the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. You may be right that this should be one of those momentous moments, but the "war on terror" does not appear to generate these kinds of personal crises for people. Maybe they are too absorbed with Terrell Owens.
On a side note, I do enjoy Falwell's new "manifest destiny" rants - it is our God-given right to overrun politics.
Change only comes from within.
That assumes the system you're in is worth fighting for or changing to begin with. Sometimes it's better to cut your losses and try something new when something else clearly isn't working.
Wasp,
I agree. :)
Regards,
Les
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