On Sunday morning, the highest profile Republican yet, retired General and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, endorsed Barack Obama for president. One of the primary reasons he cited for his endorsement was the negative tone the John McCain campaign has taken against Obama. Specifically, the McCain campaign, not necessarily McCain in particular, has attempted to associate Obama with terrorists, Powell said. Later, he also expressed concern in the negative connotation among many Americans that Obama is a Muslim, which Obama is not.
So, Powell asked: “What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer’s ‘No, that’s not American.'”
He concluded his argument by saying, “If you’re an American, you’re an American.”
The reason I bring this up is because it is similar to another issue. What I’m referring to is the extremity of the religious right. The polarity of the Christian right is easily evidenced by the well-known ostracism emanating from such popular figures as Ann Coulter, the deceased Jerry Falwell, Bill O’Reilly and others. This religious connection with politics leads many religious groups and congregations to engage in partisan activities to support their beliefs in the political arena. For example, according to USA Today, a church in Waynesville, N.C., kicked out several members who supported Democratic Sen. John Kerry in the presidential election, and the pastor said anyone who planned to vote for Kerry should either leave the church or repent.
The religious fanaticism of the right is obvious and dangerous. According to the stereotype, if you are Christian, you are automatically a conservative, and vice versa. Likewise, Democrats are amoral and un-Christian. Similarly, that is how the two presidential candidates are depicted: Obama, the Muslim (or non-Christian), and McCain, the traditional Christian family man. But that is simply not true. Obama is a professed Christian and a seemingly outstanding family man.
Historically, the Republican Party has not backed up its Christian image. Bill Clinton is usually the first politician that comes to mind when thinking of sex scandals, but he is only one Democrat compared to many Republicans caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Dan Crane, Mark Foley, Bob Ney, Tom DeLay, Don Sherwood, Larry Craig and others are only a few of the Republicans in Congress who have been involved in scandals (usually sexual) over the past 20 years. Republicans are not immune to sexual promiscuity and are just as likely if not more than likely to be “un-Christian.”
The religious right also likes to go too far by slandering their opponents on certain issues like abortion or gay rights. The pro-life position is overwhelmingly seen as a Christian position. Pro-choice advocates are therefore labeled as sinners, murderers and “baby-killers.” Gay rights advocates are believed to support homosexuality. The religious right often fails to realize the difference between moral and political values. Morally, as a Christian, I may not agree with abortion and homosexuality, but I realize that politically, I should tolerate them. Yet, I will more than likely be labeled as a non-Christian in response to this article. Moreover, though I disagree with one side of the argument, I very much appreciate the value of their arguments and can understand why people think the way they do. I don’t think any less of them for it. I wish more people could also be so understanding.
Furthermore, we cannot forget that throughout history, both recent and old, religious fanaticism positively correlates with intolerance, racism and bigotry. Adolf Hitler and the Ku Klux Klan both used religion to justify their actions. Religious fanaticism has been used as a justification for the slaughter and conquest of millions of natives by colonial powers in the past. The famous Rev. Falwell was a staunch supporter of racial segregation. Currently, too many people see the war on terror as a holy war between Christians and Muslims. Minorities are blamed for everything, and discrimination is still more than abundant in this country. I could go on and on, but historical examples are more than clear. The religious right also narrowly likes to blame others for so many of their problems because it is all too easy to focus on others’ mistakes rather than their own.
Religious fanaticism has led to a “blind faith” by many in the Republican Party. In my opinion, this blind faith has contributed to the disintegration of conservative values in the party. We must learn to evaluate politics more objectively. Though I’m not a Democrat, there are good arguments for Christians to join the Democratic Party. More importantly, though, I hope that newer generations will not robotically vote for the Republican Party and spout the party line in the simple assumption that it is the Christian party. Furthermore, I hope people will come to respect politicians’ morals, despite their politics.
Lazarus Austin is a senior majoring in history. He can be contacted at [email protected].