Onward, Christian Soldiers

Now that terrorism is under control, our fearless leader finally is focusing on some very important domestic issues, such as stopping gay and lesbian marriages, subpoenaing women’s reproductive healthcare records, examining library borrowing histories and circumventing the Senate confirmation process to appoint some controversial state Supreme Court justices (Charles W. Pickering Sr. in January and William H. Pryor Jr. last week).

Some of America’s best and brightest are being slaughtered each day overseas fighting the war on terror. The irony is, while we are ostensibly trying to protect Afghanis from religious persecution by the Taliban and Iraqis from terrorist oppression, We the People, to some degree, are being subjected to both right here at home.

The Bush administration’s push to legislate decency is nothing more than an attempt to ensure Christian votes. As a result, the will of the vocal religious population is being forced on the rest of us.

It is my understanding, as a dyed-in-the-wool Lutheran, that God intended people to have free will. I would guess that means the free will to have an abortion, to listen to Howard Stern, to watch distasteful half-time shows during the Superbowl, to get a divorce, to get pregnant out of wedlock, to be in a homosexual relationship and to commit a whole host of other sins. So what right does anyone have, much less Christians, to interfere with God’s plan for people to have free will? Will sinners not have to appear before God for their transgressions Judgment Day?

The answer seems pretty simple to me. Don’t like abortion? Don’t have one. Don’t like gay people? Don’t sleep with one. Judge not, lest ye be judged.

According to recent accounts in the New York Times, on CNN, MSNBC and C-SPAN, the Taliban is alive and well and living in Afghanistan, where women once again are prisoners in their own homes, subject to “virginity tests” (rape) should they be out in public alone or with a male escort who is not their husband. We haven’t found any weapons of mass destruction, compelling evidence of the development of biological or chemical warfare, and Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts are still a mystery. More than 70 percent of Americans still believe Saddam Hussein was directly involved with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

I think it’s about time the Bush administration and the religious right gets their acts together and their priorities straight. Maybe the Christian soldiers can head to the Middle East to lead the battle and send our troops home, and our faithful leader can figure out how to address the issues of poverty and lack of education here so future generations have a prayer.

Reprinted courtesy Eagle Newspapers, Syracuse, New York.