The Far Right is still calling the shots.
(PASO ROBLES, Calif.) - Evangelists who presume to speak for God, fervently believe Christianity is the wave of the future; that Jesus can do no wrong, even though Christians amount to only about 30 % of the world’s population, making Jesus less than a Universal Lord.
Geo. W. Bush is a disciple of this philosophy, and his faith prevents him from recognizing danger or reversals that should not be neglected. He invaded Iraq confident that Jesus would not let him down, and, with the aid of K. Rove, et al., Bush believes Christianity [God’s plan] is to achieve worldwide dominance on the American model.
Sarah Palin expresses a similar belief when she says “the Iraq War is God’s War,” while confessing it would be presumptuous to believe “we” can know God’s will. Quoting Abe Lincoln she says, “better to pray God is on our side.” But what is the difference? How can she justify “God’s War” [as she does] unless she presumes to know His will? Her rhetoric is illogical and hypocritical-hyperbole pure and simple.
It is commonly believed “God helps those who help themselves.” Its true, but a problem arises when, in Domestic Policy, “trickle-down economics” fails to live up to the meaning of noblesse oblige; when CEOs and selfish opportunists with insatiable appetites for money, obtain extreme wealth at the expense of the less fortunate, and ignores their obligation “to behave in an honorable and generous way toward those less privileged.”
Good management anticipates crises so as to avoid them. Following the Great Depression banks were audited twice a year. and the audits worked. But Republicans rejected the audit-restraints meant to prevent economic crises, and look where it got us! Wise management might have avoided much of the Katrina crises too, but by assuming God was in control [Thy will be done] the Bush Administration failed it its duty. When Religious faith interferes with Political decisions, as it has under Geo. W. Bush, and could continue if McCain and Palin are elected, it [religion] should be a subject for serious discussion based on historical fact as follows:
Christianity is no more than 100 generations old [2000 divided by 20 years], and closer to 80 if divided by 25 years.
Christianity became prominent in 312 AD [1700 years, or 70 generations ago] when Emperor Constantine incorporated Christianity into his Holy Roman Empire.
The Nicene Creed [recited in Churches to this day] was imposed on Christians by Emperor Constantine when Christians could not agree on the meaning of the Trinity. Emperor Constantine was a Pagan who believed in witches, Christians did not. But to counter the Reformation movement the Church changed its policy and insisted, by it’s Edict of Faith, that “witches” [defined as both heretic and apostate ] are real.
The Inquisition was established in the 14th Century to eliminate defectors from Catholicism, and its tyranny has affected the thinking of generations ever since.
The Malleus Maleficarum [Witches Hammer], sanctioned by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484, was used by Catholics and adopted by Protestants to try and sentence millions of Christian-defectors [either way] to awful deaths [c.1500-1800].
The New World was discovered in 1492, some 25 generations ago.
Pilgrim-Christians landed at Plymouth on December 21st 1620, and burned their last so-called witch in Salem, MA one-hundred years later, 12 generations ago.
The last European witch was killed in 1782 in Switzerland.
America proclaimed its Independence as a Secular State separate from Religion in 1776, just 10 generations ago. [should we wonder why?]
My recollection is of six-generations [persons I knew or know] beginning with my grandfather born in 1870, and three great-grand-children, the last born this year.
Today, Evangelists want to return us to a time, prior to the separation of Church and State, when religion made life and death decisions for us.
The Republican Party thrives on enemies. The Axis of Evil of Bush’s imagination, No. Korea, Iran, and Iraq, he accused of hating America and of aiding terrorists who might attack us.
Yet Bush invaded Iraq, overthrew Saddam, set himself up as dictator [Commander in Chief] squandered America’s wealth in dollars, lives-lost and seriously-wounded, and robbed us of Constitutional Rights. America’s prestige has been damaged by Bush’s misguided sense of religious righteousness that approves of Inquisitorial methods in America’s defense that he alone feels qualified to render. Nonsense!
North Korea agreed to destroy its nuclear facility, and did, but Bush reneged on his promise to remove N. Korea from his list of terrorist states, so work on its nuclear program has resumed.
Iraq says it is ready to go it alone, and wants the United States out as soon as possible, but Bush resists [see below]. Iran says it is willing to negotiate to resolve its perceived nuclear threat, but Bush won't do it.
There is reason to believe these “problems” can be resolved peacefully, so why should it be necessary to have an anti-ballistic-missile-system in Europe, as a defense against whom? Russia’s anxiety seems perfectly natural under the circumstances. Russia is not our enemy, “the cold-war is over.” Bush says so, but Russia it beginning to play it’s Western Hemisphere cards.
Why Georgia suddenly attacked Ossetia, an autonomous and peaceful region within its boundaries, is anyone’s guess. Ossetians are known to prefer Russian rule to Georgia’s. But Georgia broke the peace knowing Russian Peace-keeping troops would respond as reasonably they might be expected to do. The unnecessary conflict was over in a matter of days, with human and property casualty.
Bush and John McCain say Russia’s reaction was intemperate and excessive, which seems appropriate so near to an American election when another “enemy” would favor the Republican candidate.
Bush sent Georgia a Billion dollars for aid-and-recovery, and Dick Chaney went there to show the U.S. stands with Georgia in its dispute, and Condoleezza Rice says the time is not right for the U.S. to conclude a planned nuclear agreement with Russia, adding stimulus to what hopefully will amount to a political charade.
An ephemeral internet report on 9/5/08 implied Iraq is thinking of buying F-16 fighter jets from the U.S., and Gen. Patraeus recommended a reduction of no more than 8000 ground troops from Iraq. It all has the earmarks of another Bush-maneuver to remain in Iraq to fulfill his objective of establishing autonomous bases there not subject to Iraq sovereignty or authority. And Secretary Gates of DOD says America should expect to be in Iraq for “many years.” Seems Monopoly is the name of the game.
The Far Right is still calling the shots. McCain said he would rather lose his presidential nomination than lose the war [a political ploy] that, in light of the above educated guess, helps us understand the obscure references to “winning the war,“ and what victory in Iraq really means; namely, submitting to the will of America [and Jesus?].
If Obama is elected, withdrawal from, and peace with Iraq, could save billions-of-dollars for use on domestic-work-projects where jobs are needed to restore the economy, and restore America’s International credibility. Why keep the enemy-pot boiling when a peaceful simmer and common sense will suffice and be more effective?
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Kenneth G. Ramey was a 79-year old "writer without a Website" who is generating excellent, provocative articles on the subject of religion and world affairs. We are pleased that Ken's "lone wolf" presence as a writer in the world has been replaced by a spot on our team of writers at Salem-News.com. Raised in Minnesota and California during the dark years of the Great American Depression, Ken is well suited to talk about the powerful forces in the world that give all of us hope and tragedy and everything in between. You can write to Ken at: kennethramey@yahoo.com
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