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November 18, 2004
Adopt a Christian
In the 2004 election, there were a surprising number of votes out there to reelect the president, many of whom come from a group of Americans who voted strictly on moral issues, without regard to economic security and completely at odds with unemployment and a war raging on in Iraq. In fact, “moral issues” was the number one factor affecting their vote according to Conservative Christians.
How did they reconcile the immorality of war itself? How does health for everyone not figure into the Christian mentality? How do these same Christians justify the death penalty when Jesus himself taught us to be forgiving in everything? Caesar is to Caesar and God is to God? Judge not lest ye be judged?
I believe that much of this comes from the fact that many of these people have no significant exposure to the other points of view, living in the secluded world of Church three times a week, Rush Limbaugh and Fox TV news. No Comedy Central, CNN or HBO for them. These people actually believe the L Word refers to liberal.
In order to bridge this country back together, I believe we should start a new organization, The “Adopt-a-Christian Foundation.” I’ll start with my next door neighbors, who were very quiet about the election but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion they both punched their tickets for good-ol’ W. It’s time to sit down, befriend them, get to know them and why they think the way they do and tell them a little about us.
Those of us on the gay side can stick close to home, those mighty Calvary Chapel-ites and other Church-a-rama goers at least have some experience living around us, and I’ve known more than one who was able to treat us with respect as individuals, even able to work with us while secretly undermining our rights by sending money to organizations intent on hoarding us into concentration camps.
The rest of us can go online, trolling the sites where Christians hang out, befriending them and chatting about unimportant things but making them like us, avoiding politics at all cost until common ground has finally been struck. “Oh, I can’t let a little thing like politics come between our friendship,” is the opening line. After that we listen to them for a while, agreeing with them while we can stomach it and when we feel obligated to say, “Oh, that’s not right,” don’t bother to elaborate. Remember to say, “I like you so much, let’s just drop the subject.”
This gives each of us time to research, start out with the responses that are less challenging to their minds. “Oh, I don’t know. He’s the leader of our country and I feel we should stay the course, but there’s just something about him that I can’t put my finger on. I’m worried about him.”
Oh, this will take time, and the more reactionary of us need not involve ourselves. You guys can remain the radical left, we still need you out there. But the rest of us have something to offer, and the only way we can get on the right track is by bridging back to the half of the country that seems to have been alienated from us—from reality.
After all, if all these people watch is Fox News, listen to Rush Limbaugh and trust everything the Republican controlled government has to say, where else are they going to get their information?
Posted by Bastique at November 18, 2004 10:27 AM