Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 14, 2006 11:56:49 GMT -5
Values Or Ideology And Projection
Some conservative politicians have been vocal about their religious
"values," inferring that that their opposition have neither values nor
religion. Examining their actions and statements, I am impressed with 2
problems.
First, they often do not take traditional Christian values or religious
creeds into account. Instead, they are more focused on political positions
and ideology. Examples are the focus on revenge to justify the death
penalty, the quickness to go to war, and the judging of others. Jesus
taught, in the Sermon on the Mount, as did Paul in Romans 12:19, that we
are not to take revenge, but leave it to God. In both of these passages we
are taught to turn the other cheek. Later in the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus says that we are not to judge others and Paul expounds on this in
Romans 14.
The 2nd problem is that they verbally take a position and then act against
it. Bush says he wants to promote democracy in the Middle East. But, he
doesn't accept the election of religious Shiites in Iran or Iraq, Hamas in
Palestine or Hezbollah in Lebanon. It appears that what he really means is
that he wants these people to adopt our attitudes, ways of living, and
especially our economic system. He has said that he wants them to be free,
but he has frequently supported warlords in Afghanistan, militia leaders
in Iraq and totalitarian governments in Pakistan, Kirgyzstan, Saudi
Arabia, etc. Bush acts pragmatically, not considering any spiritual
values.
Most conservatives say they value life and support Bush, who has acted to
support certain positions they favor. Yet, Bush has rejected life for
those with life-threatening diseases. Stem cells offer the best hope for
research in many illnesses, but this opportunity has been overwhelmed by
claiming minute cluster of cells is human life. Bush and other religious
conservatives reject life for those labeled "evil," whether death row
inmates or those they label terrorists. They seem to relish executing
people and show little concern for loss of civilian lives in Afghanistan,
Iraq, Darfur and Lebanon. While violent terrorist actions by Hamas and
Hezbollah are horrid, a truly spiritual person must put blame equally on
all who practice them. Today, these two groups take the same violent
actions Israeli's Irgun and Stern groups took in the late 1940s, during
the conquest of parts of Transjorden. Conservative Jewish governments have
continued to perpetrate violence against Palestinians and neighboring
countries, most recently Lebanon. These include kidnappings,
assassinations, seizing or destroying property and confining people
without trial as well as bombing and shelling. American conservatives also
ignore the positive actions of these Hamas and Hezbollah while affirming
the positive actions of Israel.
The major religions, especially Christianity, all hold up the needs of the
poor and teach that wealth is a temptation causing people to act evilly.
Yet, Bush and conservative Republicans have focused on cutting taxes for
the wealthy, while trying to eliminate programs for the poor. They rail
against welfare fraud, while overlooking the unaccounted millions or
billions earmarked to help Iraq. Many American companies have not been
held responsible for financial irregularities and outright fraud during
the conflict. This has caused the Bush administration-like Reagan and
Bush's father's-to run up the national debt to record levels. They ignore
the Bible's call to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to them.
Of course, the record debt level belies a primary traditional conservative
value.
Conservative religious/political groups have been hostile to Medicaid and
Medicare. Jesus was a healer, not just of peoples' souls, but also their
bodies and minds. These conservatives say such practices are not in the
Constitution and should not be allowed. But, the Constitution states in
the Preamble that a principle purpose of government is to promote the
general welfare. The Declaration of Independence states three inalienable
rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. None of these concepts
are possible in the face of serious illness. Healthcare was unable to
provide help when our country was founded, but now it is. Is good health
only for those who can afford it?
Conservatives put "Support Our Troops" and "God Bless America" stickers on
their cars. The Sermon on the Mount teaches us to pray for our enemies,
not just for ourselves. Some view the Mid-East conflicts in light of the
Old Testament. While a person can find some passages to support their
position, these passages must be understood in the light of Jesus
teachings and the New Testament. Cheney and other Bush partisans claim
that Democrats are unpatriotic for not supporting the President in the
war. The hypocrisy of their position can be seen in the fact that Bush
sent too few troops to Iraq, did not properly armor Humvees, trucks and
other vehicles and did not supply sufficient body armor, food, medical
care, and other support for some time. Again, these conservatives' values
seem to be doctrinaire ("the war will be over quickly and they will
welcome us") not value driven.
Conservatives generally support the posting of the Ten Commandments. Yet
they ignore the 2nd half of Jesus summary of them, "Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself." This obviously applies to those very different from
oneself, as Jesus taught in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Conservatives ignore certain commandments. "Thou shalt not bear false
witness" seems to forbid the spin, distortion and outright falsity seen in
the administrations pronouncements. After raising the ceiling on the
national debt, Treasury Under Secretary Quarles stated that the debt was
the lowest in years as compared to GDP. Of course, he ignored the fact
that the Social Security, Medicare and Interstate Highway Trust Funds are
depleted to cover our debt.
"Thou shalt not covet" contradicts the push for consumption to keep up
with the Joneses pushed by the administration after 9/11. It also goes
against the push of the rich, supported by conservatives, to help them
afford anything they want at the expense of the middle and lower classes.
The Iraq war could be seen as the result of coveting Iraq oil reserves.
When Rumsfeld stated that those who oppose the administration's war in
Iraq as suffering from "moral and intellectual confusion," it was
laughable. He is like the blind man Jesus warns us about using as a guide.
Psychology has a concept for people who see their own faults in others,
rather than acknowledging them. It is called "projection." Perhaps we
should rename these "conservatives" as "projectors."
Roger A. Meyer, Chattanooga
(source: Letter to the Editor, The (Tenn.) Chattanoogan)
Some conservative politicians have been vocal about their religious
"values," inferring that that their opposition have neither values nor
religion. Examining their actions and statements, I am impressed with 2
problems.
First, they often do not take traditional Christian values or religious
creeds into account. Instead, they are more focused on political positions
and ideology. Examples are the focus on revenge to justify the death
penalty, the quickness to go to war, and the judging of others. Jesus
taught, in the Sermon on the Mount, as did Paul in Romans 12:19, that we
are not to take revenge, but leave it to God. In both of these passages we
are taught to turn the other cheek. Later in the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus says that we are not to judge others and Paul expounds on this in
Romans 14.
The 2nd problem is that they verbally take a position and then act against
it. Bush says he wants to promote democracy in the Middle East. But, he
doesn't accept the election of religious Shiites in Iran or Iraq, Hamas in
Palestine or Hezbollah in Lebanon. It appears that what he really means is
that he wants these people to adopt our attitudes, ways of living, and
especially our economic system. He has said that he wants them to be free,
but he has frequently supported warlords in Afghanistan, militia leaders
in Iraq and totalitarian governments in Pakistan, Kirgyzstan, Saudi
Arabia, etc. Bush acts pragmatically, not considering any spiritual
values.
Most conservatives say they value life and support Bush, who has acted to
support certain positions they favor. Yet, Bush has rejected life for
those with life-threatening diseases. Stem cells offer the best hope for
research in many illnesses, but this opportunity has been overwhelmed by
claiming minute cluster of cells is human life. Bush and other religious
conservatives reject life for those labeled "evil," whether death row
inmates or those they label terrorists. They seem to relish executing
people and show little concern for loss of civilian lives in Afghanistan,
Iraq, Darfur and Lebanon. While violent terrorist actions by Hamas and
Hezbollah are horrid, a truly spiritual person must put blame equally on
all who practice them. Today, these two groups take the same violent
actions Israeli's Irgun and Stern groups took in the late 1940s, during
the conquest of parts of Transjorden. Conservative Jewish governments have
continued to perpetrate violence against Palestinians and neighboring
countries, most recently Lebanon. These include kidnappings,
assassinations, seizing or destroying property and confining people
without trial as well as bombing and shelling. American conservatives also
ignore the positive actions of these Hamas and Hezbollah while affirming
the positive actions of Israel.
The major religions, especially Christianity, all hold up the needs of the
poor and teach that wealth is a temptation causing people to act evilly.
Yet, Bush and conservative Republicans have focused on cutting taxes for
the wealthy, while trying to eliminate programs for the poor. They rail
against welfare fraud, while overlooking the unaccounted millions or
billions earmarked to help Iraq. Many American companies have not been
held responsible for financial irregularities and outright fraud during
the conflict. This has caused the Bush administration-like Reagan and
Bush's father's-to run up the national debt to record levels. They ignore
the Bible's call to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to them.
Of course, the record debt level belies a primary traditional conservative
value.
Conservative religious/political groups have been hostile to Medicaid and
Medicare. Jesus was a healer, not just of peoples' souls, but also their
bodies and minds. These conservatives say such practices are not in the
Constitution and should not be allowed. But, the Constitution states in
the Preamble that a principle purpose of government is to promote the
general welfare. The Declaration of Independence states three inalienable
rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. None of these concepts
are possible in the face of serious illness. Healthcare was unable to
provide help when our country was founded, but now it is. Is good health
only for those who can afford it?
Conservatives put "Support Our Troops" and "God Bless America" stickers on
their cars. The Sermon on the Mount teaches us to pray for our enemies,
not just for ourselves. Some view the Mid-East conflicts in light of the
Old Testament. While a person can find some passages to support their
position, these passages must be understood in the light of Jesus
teachings and the New Testament. Cheney and other Bush partisans claim
that Democrats are unpatriotic for not supporting the President in the
war. The hypocrisy of their position can be seen in the fact that Bush
sent too few troops to Iraq, did not properly armor Humvees, trucks and
other vehicles and did not supply sufficient body armor, food, medical
care, and other support for some time. Again, these conservatives' values
seem to be doctrinaire ("the war will be over quickly and they will
welcome us") not value driven.
Conservatives generally support the posting of the Ten Commandments. Yet
they ignore the 2nd half of Jesus summary of them, "Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself." This obviously applies to those very different from
oneself, as Jesus taught in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Conservatives ignore certain commandments. "Thou shalt not bear false
witness" seems to forbid the spin, distortion and outright falsity seen in
the administrations pronouncements. After raising the ceiling on the
national debt, Treasury Under Secretary Quarles stated that the debt was
the lowest in years as compared to GDP. Of course, he ignored the fact
that the Social Security, Medicare and Interstate Highway Trust Funds are
depleted to cover our debt.
"Thou shalt not covet" contradicts the push for consumption to keep up
with the Joneses pushed by the administration after 9/11. It also goes
against the push of the rich, supported by conservatives, to help them
afford anything they want at the expense of the middle and lower classes.
The Iraq war could be seen as the result of coveting Iraq oil reserves.
When Rumsfeld stated that those who oppose the administration's war in
Iraq as suffering from "moral and intellectual confusion," it was
laughable. He is like the blind man Jesus warns us about using as a guide.
Psychology has a concept for people who see their own faults in others,
rather than acknowledging them. It is called "projection." Perhaps we
should rename these "conservatives" as "projectors."
Roger A. Meyer, Chattanooga
(source: Letter to the Editor, The (Tenn.) Chattanoogan)