Being a lifetime DFH type, I have always been puzzled as to why conservatives fear the "left." To paraphrase, what's so scary about peace, love and understanding?
I got a bit of a clue when I began to read Tim Weiner's fascinating book, "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA." Who knew that one of the reasons the CIA began intervening in elections in sovereign nations...was to prevent the Vatican from falling into the hands of the "godless"?
I admit that back in 1948, when Christian believers in the CIA threw the Italian election to the Christian Democrats (preventing the Communist Party from taking power), there was some cause for fear. No one knew what Stalin's plans were, and no one knew just how far his arm stretched. It was possible that if the Communists won the election, they would burn the Holy See to the ground - or perhaps worse, decide to redistribute its vast wealth a bit more equitably among the people. The horror!
But now? The Soviet Union, despite Fred Thompson's assertions, no longer exists. Stalin's been dead for a long time, and the Communist Party in America barely exists. All that remains is we, the Murkin middle-of-the-roaders, who have been pushed and prodded into a "radical left" frame that doesn't fit any more.
I have a message for our poor propagandized brethren and sistren in the Christian faith. Be not afraid; for lo, we liberals and progressive types have no desire to demand that you give up your religion. We are not communists, despite the rantings and ravings of paid psy-operatives like Rush Limbaugh. Many of us, believe it or not, are also people of the Christian faith. (It's true!) In fact, did you know that both Al Gore and Jimmy Carter are evangelical Christians? I swear on a stack of Bibles!
I understand that you've been told that were we to take over the government, we'd take your guns, force your children into gay marriage and burn down the churches and temples. But isn't it time you realized how ridiculous that is?
All we want is the separation of faith and state. In the interest of freedom of religion, we want everyone to be able to worship as they please - and we don't want the government to tell us what religion, if any, we must espouse.
Now, doesn't that sound like a world we want to live in?
I got a bit of a clue when I began to read Tim Weiner's fascinating book, "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA." Who knew that one of the reasons the CIA began intervening in elections in sovereign nations...was to prevent the Vatican from falling into the hands of the "godless"?
I admit that back in 1948, when Christian believers in the CIA threw the Italian election to the Christian Democrats (preventing the Communist Party from taking power), there was some cause for fear. No one knew what Stalin's plans were, and no one knew just how far his arm stretched. It was possible that if the Communists won the election, they would burn the Holy See to the ground - or perhaps worse, decide to redistribute its vast wealth a bit more equitably among the people. The horror!
But now? The Soviet Union, despite Fred Thompson's assertions, no longer exists. Stalin's been dead for a long time, and the Communist Party in America barely exists. All that remains is we, the Murkin middle-of-the-roaders, who have been pushed and prodded into a "radical left" frame that doesn't fit any more.
I have a message for our poor propagandized brethren and sistren in the Christian faith. Be not afraid; for lo, we liberals and progressive types have no desire to demand that you give up your religion. We are not communists, despite the rantings and ravings of paid psy-operatives like Rush Limbaugh. Many of us, believe it or not, are also people of the Christian faith. (It's true!) In fact, did you know that both Al Gore and Jimmy Carter are evangelical Christians? I swear on a stack of Bibles!
I understand that you've been told that were we to take over the government, we'd take your guns, force your children into gay marriage and burn down the churches and temples. But isn't it time you realized how ridiculous that is?
All we want is the separation of faith and state. In the interest of freedom of religion, we want everyone to be able to worship as they please - and we don't want the government to tell us what religion, if any, we must espouse.
Now, doesn't that sound like a world we want to live in?
2 comments:
Couldn't have said it better myself. Lovely post.
Nice.
More please.
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