For more than 30 years conservative Catholic and Protestant voters have been supporting the Republican Party. They have supported candidates who identify with their world view and support efforts to make the United States more of a "Christian nation". According to media reports 81% of Evangelical Christians voted for Donald Trump in the last election. They continue to support him despite his immoral and unethical behavior; and apparently believe his "Only I can take care of you" refrain. They believe his Supreme Court nominees will over turn Roe vs Wade and make abortion illegal in the U.S. Most support the president's border wall with Mexico as a way of keeping the "other" out of the country. Also they are very supportive of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, because they believe she will move tax dollars from public schools into private and religious schools which they support.
These same people try to deny minorities their constitution rights by supporting "religious freedom" bills. Evangelical and fundamental Christians teach that being gay is a sin, so they do not accept the position that LGBT citizens should enjoy civil rights such as the right to marry, or that gay couples should be able to adopt children or have they same legal status as heterosexual couples enjoy. In areas of the US controlled by the Republicans, there has been a concerted effort to undermine any move toward a more liberal/progressive position on social issues. The leadership of this movement believes the only way to stop the move toward a more progressive society is to elect public officials who agreed with them---thus we get a President Trump. It appears a lot of conservative Christians support Trump, because they think he is their best hope to move the nation toward a more "Christian society".
What about Trump's love affair with Russia? The conservative Christians have no problem with his cozy relationship with Putin because he supports the Russian Orthodox Church and as far as they are concerned he is the leader of a predominately "white" Christian country in the same battle with Islam as the US. They see no problem with Trump's defending Putin and believe he will be able to improve relations with the Russians and to them that would be a good thing.
White conservative Christians have been trying to limit the rights of minorities for a long time. They used their interpretation of the Bible to justify slavery, segregation and the separation of peoples of different colors ever since the nation was founded. It is not an accident that the Christian church is the most segregated institution in America. Some of it is cultural, but conservative white Christians especially in the South still hang on to the prejudices that they have carried with them for generations.
Republican/Conservative Christians oppose any efforts to solve the problems associated with human caused climate change. People who join a church by "accepting Jesus as their savior" believe they are saved and going to heaven. Thus they do not worry about what happens on Earth because they believe they are destined for paradise when they pass from the scene. They just do not care about anyone but themselves.
Speaking as a Progressive, I believe it is our duty as human beings to continue to point out the activities of others who are working to diminish the lives of our fellow citizens and expose the inequities that exist.
No comments:
Post a Comment