I’m a non-practicing Catholic who went to a Catholic school all my life (some regrets and some pluses, which I’ll be happy to get into some other time.) In any case, I briefly want to address the fact that most Christians, specially Catholics vote Republican for the sole reason of ‘conservatism’ or rather because they’re against abortion. It’s the only reason.
If you agree with what most of the Democratic Party stands for except for the only fact that they are “pro-choice”, why would you be so blinded as to vote Republican then? There is no way you can actually make up your mind just like that based on that notion solely. It’s like not going to work because you disagree with a project that your boss wants you to do at all costs. I know that religion is an “extremely” delicate issue to deal with, specially for practitioners and worshipers and what have you. Muslim fanatics, Orthodox Jews, Opus Day Catholics, and now, according to some Hollywood celebrities, Scientologists, to name a few import ones -except for the latter (of course)- are the perfect example of this.
Why is there so much impotence and relentless hate between Muslims and Jews in the Middle East? Is religion overrated? Why was there a Holocaust that erupted in World War II in the first place? Is it too passe or not important enough nowadays in the Western World? There are multiple answers and takes on these questions to give a precise one. But, in the end, it comes down to being a religious fanatic and being blinded by scriptures, religious figures, myths, fables, prophecies, etc. With conservatives all across the nation, Christianity has always played a key role in the US elections. Their stance on the issue is not based on facts or the common good but rather on impositions and religious despotism, as I like to call it. Some call it morality, something that should never mix with politics. Perhaps, ethics is the answer or what should come hand in hand with politics and, consequently, play a key influential and most critical role in the electoral process. Perhaps is common decency.
Condemning bloodshed over traditional belief, the Bible’s Old and New Testament appeals to the greater good of society and, thus, humankind. It was Jesus who proclaimed so profoundly to do, act, and “treat others as you would like to be treated.” Faith in your brothers and sisters, faith in the common good, faith in the saints and your pastors, faith in the angels, faith in a better world and a better future is what the message comes down to deep down…
It’s so hard to get Christian Conservatives to think otherwise. At times, their faith takes them to places of such fanatical views that they look down and despise anything contradictory. It makes them act and treat others in total opposition to how they would like to be treated, which firmly contradicts Jesus’ divine message of reciprocal treatment. Shared by extremists and terrorists, fanatical views, when out of hand, result in unthinkable calamity and catastrophe. I believe faith, hope, and even spirituality are one thing. But basing your facts on the sole notion that it is condemned by your religion and its preachers just doesn’t make any sense. What if your religion said it was o.k to hate people of different skin color, or murder those who don’t believe in the same scripture as you do? I don’t mean to make a comparison with religious fanatics who kill in the name of their Gods, tradition, or whatever it is they believe in… The truth of the matter is that voting Republican because you are pro-life means that you are contributing to that same cause or notion. Don’t you agree that killing innocent lives like women and children in the name of an absurd war or invasion is much worse than putting an end to a fetus?
Republicans couldn’t possibly call themselves pro-life because whenever a war is declared and fought, it is innocent lives who pay the worst and most expensive cost. It’s such a paradox, isn’t it?…
For what it’s worth, I just hope some people would realize what’s at stake here and the difference they can make for a new and better United States of America. For the common good and for the people who are fighting the true war of raising a family, finding decent jobs, caring for others and, in the end, trying to make ends meet. That’s the only scripture and faith I believe in.
