|
published in Orlando Sentinel 11/12
(column written by local activist, not staff for paper)
*************
MY WORD: GEORGE CURCIO
As a Christian, it is difficult to find any affirmative comfort in the outpouring of support among my brethren for the re-election of George W. Bush.
Regardless of the background or beliefs of those who voted for Bush based on "moral values," the fact remains that their votes are simply the public expression of privately held opinion. Acknowledging this leads to remembering that it was the crowd at the scene of Christ's crucifixion that voted for God incarnate to be sacrificed on the cross and a criminal set free.
The point here is not, by any means, to equate the defeat of John Kerry with the crucifixion of Christ. Instead, it is to point out the nature of man, as described by the very beliefs that so many Christians carried with them into the voting booth on Nov. 2.
It is to point out the dangers of religious arrogance, to the extent that man may come to believe he knows what God is saying, when, in actuality, he may be putting words in Go! d's mouth rather than listening to what God is actually saying. It happened to the Pharisees, and it can happen to us.
Blame should not necessarily be ascribed to those grass-roots Christians who feel the Republican Party speaks their language while the Democratic Party does not. As an activist within the Democratic Party, I think it seems apparent that we have ourselves largely to blame in losing this portion of the electorate.
Rather than fighting back against Republican presumptiveness that asserts the GOP is the party of God, we have acquiesced on the issue. We have failed to fight back as active participants in the moral war in which Republicans and Christians have proudly proclaimed we are engaged.
The Democratic Party strives to be one of inclusiveness. As such, we support abortion and homosexual rights. But we do so not simply because of a desire to appease extremist members with such beliefs. We do so as a result of moral underpinnings, including those r! ooted in the Bible, that lead us to such conclusions.
But we have failed to make that clear. We have presented our conclusions without providing the examination, scrutiny and application of moral values leading to them. As a result, we have allowed ourselves to be portrayed as godless, licentious, and whatever other descriptions the Republican Party has chosen to throw our way.
Instead of hurling invectives, we in the Democratic Party must extend our inclusiveness to Christians and their concerns, to show that we also speak "their language."
***********
George Curcio, a former secretary of the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
