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November 13, 2004

They say the issue that won the election for George W. Bush was values. That is a terrifying fact. Those values espoused by the righteous right and" born again" Christians, were expressed in their opposition to a woman's right to choose, a gay person's right to equality, and research on stem cells that would otherwise be discarded. And we are to unite together in these moral values? I think not.

Family values are held up as the moral guide for living our lives as Americans, and somehow John Kerry didn't have any legitimacy for being a man with moral values because he stood for equality and the right to choose and the need for research using stem cells. I heard a woman espousing the family value that only the" born again" will be saved and since George W Bush was born again, he is the one to lead us.

The arrogance of righteous morality permeated the campaign and presidency of George W Bush. Ridicule and sarcasm sprinkled with lies and half truths with underlying hatred every now and then, have only one mission, tear the opposing erroneous and immoral side down and lift the righteous and moral side up. Under the guise of morality, superiority becomes the rightful stature of the moral right. It is scary to think that the" born again" Christians now assume they have a mandate and with abandon can use morality to justify their bigotry and their decisions.

The war against terrorism becomes a"Holy War"and America, led by the chosen messenger of God, George W Bush, lays claim to having the more powerful God and the Holier God, so therefore, the right to be the victor of this war. This is truly frightening. What ever happened to the values of honesty and integrity, of fairness and respect?

There is a hostility in our country that righteousness breeds, and it is found everywhere. The entitlement attitude assumes superioriority to non-believers and they need to get out of the way, now. On the highway, in the deli line, on the radio, on the television, even in the churches, we rule, you don't, so get out of the way.

When a helping hand is offered it is rare and treasured. More often it is hostility and aggression that is directed our way. Meanness is our country's currency these days, and meanness has become the accepted way of life. It is assumed by the morally righteous that the way to protect their moral superiority is to denigrate and put down the morally inferior to keep them in their place. And this is the tone of a moral nation? I think not.

We don't negotiate with other nations, we bully, or try to if we can. There is no conciliatory tone, only intimidation. Has 9/11 changed us this much that now we distrust everyone and feel we must bully or be bullied? Haven't Israel and Palestine been trying this tactic forever, and what has it gotten them? More violence and hatred. It doesn't work. In fact, it is wrong. We need to pray for George Bush, but not in the way he thinks. We need to pray he will see the error of his righteous ways before it is too late.

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