To paraphrase the old “pants/fat” joke…does the last name
make him look like an idiot?
“I am asked sometimes whether I would ever allow my
decisions in government to be influenced by my Christian faith. The simple and
safe reply is no, never, of course not.”
The words of presidential hopeful Jeb Bush while giving
the commencement address Saturday, May 9, 2015 at Liberty University, you know,
the center of higher (that means Christian) learning started by Jerry Falwell.
(Everyone remembers how tolerant, open-minded, and non-prejudicial Rev. Falwell was.) I
am sure every student there breathed a sigh of relief that for once a candidate of
Jeb’s stature wouldn’t be using the office of the presidency to expand his
religious convictions, like, say, his brother George W. did. But when you read
further, it’s obvious that’s exactly what Jeb would do.
The Senator made this statement in 1964. It has come to pass.
The Bush article appeared in May 10th newspapers
across the nation and was entitled “Religious Freedom Defended at Liberty”. The
problem is the title is incorrect, unless the word “freedom” has been flipped to mean the right to
practice bigotry and intolerance.
Expounding on what he views as an absolute religious right,
he said “…as usual, the present [Obama]
administration is supporting the use of coercive federal power. What should be
easy calls, in favor of religious freedom, have instead become an aggressive
stance against it. Somebody here is being small-minded and intolerant, and it
sure isn’t the nuns, ministers, and laymen and women who ask only to live and
practice their faith. Federal authorities are demanding obedience,
in complete disregard of religious conscience – and in a free society, the
answer [to obedience] is, ‘No.’”
Jeb looking confused, a typical Bush trait.
Let me distill his gobbledygook so it’s clear what he
meant. Business owners of faith want to
discriminate against consumers based on a narrow-minded religious belief; and
those who oppose that discrimination are being the “small-minded and
intolerant” ones. The nuns, ministers, laymen and women living and practicing
their faith should be allowed to use the power of law to continue their bigotry…because
that’s what their holy book demands of them. We cannot allow that
discrimination to be curtailed because without it, they cease to be true
christians.”
As usual, the clergy are allowed to select which parts of
their holy books they’ll wield against the people they don’t like. Leviticus 11:9-12
states shellfish are an abomination but no church I know of demands government action
against Red Lobster. And even though Leviticus 11:6-8 says don’t touch the skin
of a dead pig, I have yet to hear, read, or see any person of faith ordering an
end to American football games. But Jeb Bush wants to safeguard the religious bigotry of
those who can’t abide gay marriage or the use of birth control. And he's considered the
moderate GOP candidate.
What is it about projection that is so appealing to
politicians? Jeb wants to use the power of government so that people practicing
their faith can continue to discriminate; not to use that power to grant all people the
same rights. When it comes to religious bigotry, they deny there is any discrimination and
instead claim it is those who are being discriminated against that are being small-minded
and intolerant. Jeb drools over the ready-to-use accessibility of projecting
religious discrimination. It’s the political version of "I know you are but what am I?".
Why should the government allow any loopholes for
religious intolerance? Bigotry is bigotry whether it’s dressed up in the language
of faith or not.
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