First, I read John Carlson, a sailor recovering from extensive cancer surgery (removal of bits and pieces including teeth and insertion of a feeding tube in his stomach), was declared fit for duty. I guess the Navy is developing new ways to achieve their retention goals. This same sailor, with many years of service, was immediately pronounced 80% disabled by the Veterans Administration. Then Michael B. Mukasey, the president 's nominee for Attorney General, is not able to define torture. Finally, I receive an e-mail from a young military surgeon at Walter Reed raging about closing military healthcare systems while he is confronted with severely wounded soldiers, extremely sick patients and disappearing medical support services. Depressed, I think: different month, same issues. But this past weekend rubbed salt into America's, the military's and my wounds. Is there any hope that things might change?
A "Values Voters summit" was coming to Washington DC. With all the national dissatisfaction and the country's failure to support the troops and their families, "value voters" may offer a ray of hope. Well no, they did not. It seems that "value voters" are the very "Christians" responsible for the condition of our nation today. I put quotes around Christian because their version of Christianity seems more akin to the Christianity of the inquisition and the witch trial than the Christianity preached by Jesus. So I looked at their advance website:
This October, values voters from across the nation will join together for The Washington Briefing 2007: Values Voter Summit, the second annual call to action for voter participation, education and training and a rallying event for patriotic Americans who want to transform the political landscape on issues such as the sanctity of life and marriage, immigration reform, religious freedom, health care, radical Islam, judicial activism, geopolitics, the media and much more.
Well that may answer it. They do not know that we are at war! No mention of Iraq or Afghanistan. No mention of our troops and their deep repeated sacrifices. No concern for them even remotely mentioned. And this just after Rush Limbaugh's listeners told Rush that a match to their two million dollar donation might atone for his attack on wounded and disagreeing veterans. "Value voters" had to be aware of the sensitivity of troop issues.
I am not particularly religious but from everything I've learned or heard, Christ's religion was one of hope, love and caring for the least of us. Somehow Christ's religion is transformed by "value voters" into the pharisees' religion and a tool of the current establishment -- killers of both the law and hope. How did this happen? How did failed-Senator Santorum and his religion of greed and power, real-Senator Craig and his apparent religion of denial and lust and finally George Bush's religion of "might makes right" come to represent "Christian" religion in America? Something is seriously wrong with America if these "Value Voters" represent the country's values. These are not America's values.
Even the fundamentalists among us are finally questioning how toleration of torture is Christian. How not husbanding the earth and its creatures is Christian? How not caring for the helpless and the sick is Christian. I AM anti holier-than-thou but not anti religion. I AM pro Roman Catholic Nun/nurse who ventures into the most dangerous sections of my city to treat her HIV/AIDS patients all while she undergoes treatment for breast cancer. I AM pro Episcopal padre who braves the fiercest of storms to hold the hand of a dying patient while his own child is sick at home. I AM pro preacher who struggles with family issues yet starts a book store and community gardens. Know why? They know that life can be cruel but to succeed we need to look out for each other. They set an example of love, tolerance and compassion that simply cannot be refuted. Do I respect and honor their dedication, absolutely and I am proud to know them. I have known extraordinary people like these all over the world in every religion. They are the real "value voters" not self proclaimed groups claiming to be religious and playing to the politicians. They don't demand obedience. They lead by example. They do not seek power. They seek assistance. Know what? They are religion and values. Not the self designated value pharisees courting political power but the true disciples out in the communities, not working for converts, they seem to come automatically, but working for justice, community and their God.
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