"POLITICS AND RELIGION ARE A BAD MIX"

This week as I watched the Republican Presidential Debate, I became more convinced that we as a nation are starting to go down another wrong road. I cannot remember when I have seen more candidates attempting to show who is more religious than the other. And it is not just the Republicans, the Democrats have caught on to the strategy and started making great progress on the same issue. Republicans are more religious than Democrats. Democrats are more religious than Republicans. I am more religious than you. I personally do not care and wish that we would stop using God as a campaign slogan to gain votes. Our founding fathers were very wise in their preparation of the U.S. Constitution wherein they distinctly separated church and state. Freedom of religion was a right for all to practice as each saw fit. Religion was not the basis of our government–it was the basis of our people. There is a big difference. There was not one religion but as many as the citizens desired to practice free from government interference. When we start to mix religion and religious beliefs with our politics and government, we have started a very bad mix. This is a phenomena which has occurred with ever increasing volume in the last eight years. It is a phenomenon not in the best interests of our nation.

Government has one purpose–to provide for the safety and welfare of it’s citizens. Religion has one purpose–to provide for the spiritual needs and development of it’s followers. Belief in God is a very personal and private relationship for each individual. Although I may not go to church each week, I would match my religious beliefs with anyone. I do not need to be advised by my political leaders as to my morals and character based on what they believe is correct. I do not need to be told by my political leaders what God meant to say according to them. If I want spiritual guidance I will go to my church. What I want from my political leaders is strong, wise management and leadership of my government according to the law.

The ever increasing influence of religious belief in our secular government is scary. It like many other things can get out of control. The Middle East immediately comes to mind. Nations where religious belief dominates the government and society. It was not that long ago when the Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in Iran. The Ayatollah was indeed a very religious man with strong religious beliefs (at least in his mind anyway). His beliefs were so strong that he decided that all the people would share those same beliefs, values and standards of conduct. Obviously you could disagree but not for very long. This is an obvious extreme example which is absurd to associate with the United States. However, the point is still the same. Religion and politics is a bad mix! Do I want a strong Christian leader as my President? Do I want a strong Jewish leader as my President? Do I want a strong Morman leader as my President? I do not want religion as a primary criteria for deciding who will be the next President nor do I want my vote on who is the best to serve based on religion. If you do be careful what you ask for because you may just get it!

It is time to quit using God as a campaign slogan. It is time to quit using God in an attempt to get more votes than the next candidate. Personally, this strategy is beginning to become offensive. Some will read this and agree while others will read it and be offended by my viewpoint. For those who are offended, you miss the point! Beware of the self-righteous who believe that only they know the proper code of morality, appropriate values and the best standards of conduct for all. After all, the only one truly offended by the "political religious circus" is probably God himself..

Only my thoughts for you to simply think about this week!

IN KEVIN'S OPINION

"Where is the Priority?" 

Well, here we are, with another week coming to an end.  A week closer to America’s biggest commercial holiday – Christmas.  Yes, still another Christmas in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I can clearly see the reason for involvement in Afghanistan; however, there is no valid reason for the death and destruction in a country which had absolutely nothing to do with the attacks during “9/11”.  Sorry. no WMD or connection to al Qaeda.  Despite the current administration’s best attempts to make the linkage, the chain has failed to bridge important gaps with unanswered questions.  I love how the national news was reporting this week that there have only been 38 deaths in Iraq for the month of November.  That’s great as long as one of those deaths did not occur in your family, which affects multiple people. 

Do not be fooled by the reports that you are reading that the deaths are down, the Iraq economy is bouncing back, and the “Bush surge plan” has been successful.  Yes, it should be successful if you have 160,000 troops on the ground with thousands of American civilians, including contract paramilitary.  The question is what happens when there are only 10,000 troops in the country?  Let me tell you what will happen.  But better yet, let hundreds of years of past history send you the message.  The entire Iraq situation will be once again thrust into chaos.  Of course, the senior elite will have lined their pockets with enough American dollars to escape the collapse with their close family members.  Check closely and you will find that a majority of the family members of the elite now live outside the country.  Why?  That’s why they are the elite; they know exactly what will happen when “the Americans leave.”  And, we will leave eventually.  No, not all Americans.  There is a gigantic new U.S. Embassy that needs to be staffed by unwilling US State Department officers and it must be secured by the U.S. military.  Plus, the Bush administration is currently negotiating military base agreements with the Iraqi parliament; like we have not spent enough money there already.  Could we get a “rent-free” lease or how about a few barrels of oil?  Hey, where is that oil anyways?  I need to look at that issue.

Did you know that we have spent over one trillion dollars thus far in Iraq alone?  I cannot even comprehend that amount of money; much less how we will ever repay the debt we are creating for the generations to follow.  But who cares, that will be their problem.  Hey, we had to combat terrorism by occupying countries.  I am sure they will completely understand as their tax rates soar out of control.  Let’s not forget to set some money aside to pay for the thousands of injured soldiers in the VA system – the forgotten heroes; about 25,000 from Iraq and Afghanistan alone. 

By the way, here in the Washington, D.C. area, there was a week of mourning for Sean Taylor.  You ask “how was he killed in Iraq”?  No, you don’t understand.  He is a football player in the National Football League and played for the Washington Redskins.  He was killed inside his home near Miami by intruders this past week.  Tragic yes, but a week of mourning, please!  Sports radio and local TV spent several hours per day on coverage.  Thousands of Redskin fans held candle light vigils at the training camp in his honor.  Enough please!  Yes, it is unfortunate that this young man (with a past history of trouble) met an early death but the amount of attention showered upon him or other celebrities is unspeakable when you compare it too our men and women who die defending their country in far away places like Iraq or Afghanistan.  I don’t see any candlelight vigils for them.  They are generally laid to rest in the cemetery with a few friends and family without any real fanfare.  I was appalled to see the American flags flying at half mask above Redskins Park in honor of Sean Taylor’s death.  Those flags should not have been lowered for a 24 year old millionaire.  Please call the Redskins and ask why the flags aren’t lowered every time a soldier, sailor, or airmen is killed defending the country.  Why doesn’t the country keep the flags at half mask until all the deaths stop?  I know, I am getting carried away.  But I do hope that I got some emotions flowing inside you to do something today!