FEATURED JOBS
When Texas Gov. Rick Perry jumped into the GOP presidential sweepstakes this week, he overtly spoke of his desire to enter the Oval Office with his savior, Jesus of Nazareth, leading the spiritual way. In fact, last week alone the elected official said that he was “called” to the presidency. Then at a massive prayer rally he appealed to Jesus to save America.
One might justly ask, “save American from whom?” No one cannot deny our country’s damaged economic, environmental and employment standing. Yet, they stem from joint Democratic AND Republican leadership, which is what it will take to improve the situation. And, by the way, the country is not “lost” or in need of “saving.” Rather, it is struggling. Mightily. And by playing the religion card, Perry can only divide the nation even more, purposely or otherwise. That is not because America is a land separated into major segments of heathens and believers. Rather, it is because the country is best when it keeps overt religion – not broad religious principals – out of the Oval office.
This religious talk makes some – not all – Jews nervous. That stems from a centuries long gene implanted in the DNA due to the violent abuse of political power by non-democratic rulers. So today some Jews brush off comments such as Perry’s as politics that plays to the American mainstream (certainly not much of northwest Baltimore City or central Baltimore County) or as a hangover from the once doctrinaire Jewish iron wall against combining religion and state. But our nation’s founders correctly warned about the toxic mix of faith and government. The solid reasoning for that has not changed.
One’s religious beliefs surely do help create one’s public policies. But decisions must be made in accordance with the law of the land – ones that enshrine protection of minority beliefs and populations. What Perry believes is his business. What he – and any candidate – needs to prove to ALL Americans is that he can represent every one of us while resenting or repressing not one of us with exclusionary practices.
Comments (0)