It’s good to finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. For the past six years I feel like I’ve been living under some kind of theocratic dictatorship.
I can still remember the disillusionment I felt when Al Gore was robbed of his rightful role as president in 2000. In 2004 I was even more flabbergasted when George W. Bush was actually elected to the office of the president.
It is really tempting to go for the ultra-conservative evangelical throat and give them a taste of the hell we’ve been put through — but I’m not that kind of person. Neither are most of the liberals and progressives I know.
Recently I got an email from a gay man complaining that I present the editorial content of this paper from a decidedly liberal viewpoint.
I make no secret of that fact that I am a liberal. Liberal isn’t a bad word, despite the fact that Republican conservatives have demonized it for so long.
Here’s what the dictionary says about the word “liberal:”
1. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.
2. of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.
3. free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant: a liberal attitude toward foreigners.
4. open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.
5. characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts: a liberal donor.
My critic is right — I do present the news in a liberal manner — particularly keeping in mind definitions one, three and four. Sound like anything to be afraid of? I don’t think so. Even still though, there seem to be a lot of conservative evangelicals out there running scared, as evidenced by this email I received just after the mid-term elections:
Repent:
For the judgment of God is going to come on you. And you will spend eternity in the lake of fire. But God Almighty will have mercy on your soul if you turn from your ungodly perverted ways.
The wages of your sin is death.
The message was typed in all caps, signed and a phone number was included, but I’m not about to give free publicity to another local yokel, evangelical crusader trying to go center stage with his theocratic terrorism.
To the person who sent me this email I have this to say: Relax. Take a deep breath. You sound very afraid. Don’t be. No one wants to take your freedom to worship away from you. But you might want to rethink sending out threatening emails in God’s name promising an eternity swimming around in a lake of fire. Would he really approve of that?
In the days leading up to the election so many people have said so many outrageous things, all utilizing fear in an effort to get voters to the polls.
From Pete Winn, the associate editor of the ultra-conservative Citizen Link, came this dire prediction:
“…if liberals gain control of Congress on Tuesday, the fate of future conservative judicial nominees will hang in the balance.
“With them … will hang the fates of pre-born babies, marriage and religious liberty.”
From Gary Bauer, who heads another super-conservative organization known as American Values, came this doomsday scenario: “If conservative Christians lose in the Senate tomorrow, it will be a disaster, and we may lose our last chance for the next 30 years to make progress.”
And from uber-neocon James Dobson came what sounded like a threat said with a shaking fist directed at his flock of followers: “To all of those values voters out there, don’t you dare sit this one out. You have an obligation…”
An obligation to keep you and your ilk in a position to use your spiritual beliefs as a means to discriminate and keep the government edging closer and close to theocracy?
I don’t think so. And clearly, neither does the American public.
For the longest time I haven’t recognized this country. So many people seemingly obsessed with religion and wearing faith on their sleeve, utilizing it as a weapon to wield at the appropriate moment, determined and driven to convert our country into a “Christian nation.”
This is not a Christian nation. It is a nation where you are free to be a Christian. It’s a place where you don’t have to be afraid to be a Christian. But it’s also a place where you should never use your Christianity to make others afraid by enacting discriminatory, hate-filled laws based on your beliefs.
With reasonable politicians now in majority control of this country — not paying lip-service to a fundamentalist mafia — we can begin to rebuild our tarnished reputation and repair the damage that was done during this awful period in history.
People are saying this vote was about George Bush. Some are saying it’s about the war. I’m saying it was about both of those, but something even more — the fear of the downward spiral of our democracy into a theocracy.
Hopefully, we’ve put the brakes on that runaway train. Final word to the evangelicals: you’re welcome to stay on board — you just can’t drive anymore. We need conductors looking out for everyone’s interest — not just yours.
David Moore Editor
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