Sunday, March 28, 2004
The Rapid City Journal
March 28, 2004
Whose beliefs?
Whose beliefs are stronger: 80-year-old lesbians wanting to legally recognize their 50 years together ... or Episcopalians deciding not to break from the main body because they'd have to sacrifice billions in church property?
Whose love is more powerful: the couple seeking the legal recognition just to exist ... or the neighbor who preaches that they're inherently dishonest and must change to fit someone else's opinion?
Whose sins are more forgivable: the neighbor asking to not be fired, discriminated against or brutally attacked ... or some of the born-again S.D. moralists with admitted pasts of drug and alcohol abuse, womanizing, divorce and abortion?
Whose goal is pure: those who seek true social equality ... or the elite claiming "we're all sinners in the eyes of God" but dividing their families and neighborhoods for political gain?
Whose God reigns: a watchful, forgiving deity ... or a vengeful smiter?
Which Scriptures are of more importance: those on "abomination" ... or the multitude commanding love, tolerance and respect for all your fellow men?
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)
I do.
March 28, 2004
Whose beliefs?
Whose beliefs are stronger: 80-year-old lesbians wanting to legally recognize their 50 years together ... or Episcopalians deciding not to break from the main body because they'd have to sacrifice billions in church property?
Whose love is more powerful: the couple seeking the legal recognition just to exist ... or the neighbor who preaches that they're inherently dishonest and must change to fit someone else's opinion?
Whose sins are more forgivable: the neighbor asking to not be fired, discriminated against or brutally attacked ... or some of the born-again S.D. moralists with admitted pasts of drug and alcohol abuse, womanizing, divorce and abortion?
Whose goal is pure: those who seek true social equality ... or the elite claiming "we're all sinners in the eyes of God" but dividing their families and neighborhoods for political gain?
Whose God reigns: a watchful, forgiving deity ... or a vengeful smiter?
Which Scriptures are of more importance: those on "abomination" ... or the multitude commanding love, tolerance and respect for all your fellow men?
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)
I do.
Friday, March 26, 2004
The Rapid City Journal
March 26, 2004
Real aim
"Activist judges" has joined "patriotism" in the lexicon of Orwellian doublespeak, utterable only by Republicans.
"Judicial activism" is a dangerous buzzword from an already rich "moralist" industry, including Focus on the Family, FRC, CWFA, and AFA, soon to be funneled $2 billion in public funds "sanctifying marriage" (filling their coffers to spread internationally discredited propaganda, creating caricatures of homosexuality, and unnecessary fear for teenagers), benefiting only an elite class of BMW Baptists.
Their real aim by subverting faith in the system is to term limit judges, setting the entire judicial process up for election, the better to influence policy with more than just their barely-legal voter guides.
The Thune co-sponsored "The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act" (allowing churches to endorse candidates and donate 20 percent of their collection plates), failed. The similarly tainted "Faith Based" power grab has also been stalled.
I'm willing to trade the modern Herod-esque church all the political power it wants, as soon as it starts paying its taxes.
March 26, 2004
Real aim
"Activist judges" has joined "patriotism" in the lexicon of Orwellian doublespeak, utterable only by Republicans.
"Judicial activism" is a dangerous buzzword from an already rich "moralist" industry, including Focus on the Family, FRC, CWFA, and AFA, soon to be funneled $2 billion in public funds "sanctifying marriage" (filling their coffers to spread internationally discredited propaganda, creating caricatures of homosexuality, and unnecessary fear for teenagers), benefiting only an elite class of BMW Baptists.
Their real aim by subverting faith in the system is to term limit judges, setting the entire judicial process up for election, the better to influence policy with more than just their barely-legal voter guides.
The Thune co-sponsored "The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act" (allowing churches to endorse candidates and donate 20 percent of their collection plates), failed. The similarly tainted "Faith Based" power grab has also been stalled.
I'm willing to trade the modern Herod-esque church all the political power it wants, as soon as it starts paying its taxes.
