The Republicans seemed to be determined to reduce my ambivalence about Kerry.
The Republican Party acknowledged yesterday sending mass mailings to residents of two states warning that "liberals" seek to ban the Bible. It said the mailings were part of its effort to mobilize religious voters for President Bush.
The mailings include images of the Bible labeled "banned" and of a gay marriage proposal labeled "allowed." A mailing to Arkansas residents warns: "This will be Arkansas if you don't vote." A similar mailing was sent to West Virginians.
Truly a new low. I can't think of a recent campaign that has seen such an outrageous assertion by a party. And this is what they are openly admitting to, so I can't imagine what kind of stuff they are mailing out through front groups.
Friday, September 24, 2004
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Sigh. The politics of fear. One thing the Repubs understand is that as long as they can keep people afraid, of ANYTHING, they have a better chance. The cynicsm of it always leaves me nearly breathless though-- the party that "hates" government and wants a Darwinian "every man for himself" world is falling back on "Vote for us, we are your big strong daddy who will keep the monsters under your bed from getting you." One, two, three...let's all turn on the lights and look under the bed together. Ooops! No monster!
And Daisy, Daisy, Daisy....it isn't "the Left" who wants to do away with religion in the public square-- it's people who love FREEDOM. Once upon a time, America was a more homogeneous nation, and to the extent that we weren't, those whose rights were being trampled on were much less free to express that. Being a thinking people (at least, on good days, I hope so), we figured out that was a bad thing, for many different reasons, so many of us try not to do it nowadays. Even if Christians are in the majority (which I think is disputable), the Constitution was designed to protect the rights of minorities. That's why majorities only get to rule to a certain extent.
Apparently you feel that these rules compromise your free expression, though I challenge you to cite an instance where YOU PERSONALLY have been prohibited from exercising your religious expression in the public square, as opposed to wanting taxpayer funds to support some general religious expression.
Plus, you might want to try a little imagination and empathy. You don't see why the Bible shouldn't be a central part of our public discourse. How would you feel about the Koran? Or the teachings of Buddah or Confuscious? If it would offend you to recite "One nation under Allah" in the Pledge of Allegiance, maybe you can see why someone else might object to "One nation under God". The Constitution's establishment clause not only protects people from your religion, it protects YOU from THEIRS.
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