Human President Bush will be quoted in an upcoming BBC documentary saying that God told him to wage war around the world. Palestinian information minister Nabil Shaath says that Bush said to him,"God would tell me, 'George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan.'Frankly, it's a little frightening to me that you humans rely so much on input from purportedly-real superbeings. Now granted, apes have never been known to worship God (or even gods), so maybe I just don't get it -- but that isn't even really the point. [grunt]
"And I did, and then God would tell me, 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq.' And I did."
What irks me is that I had always learned from my benevolent keepers and handlers that the U.S. government doesn't get too tangled up with religion anymore. That once upon a time, the good men who wrote the Constitution mentioned God in such documents because of the nature of society at the time, but that the U.S. has some sort of separation between the two. That governmental leaders were not going to do things just because their flavor of religion urged them to do it.
So why did Bush declare a "Jesus Day" back when he was governor of Texas? Why does he keep giving taxpayers' money to churches, even repaying churches for the charitable donations of their parishoners? Why would he make political decisions, such as waging war, based on what he says are directions from God?
Does his reliance on his Christian God mean he doesn't believe in the validity of other human religions? Does that mean that Bush doesn't have to worry about what happens to Muslims (or Jews, or whoever) because they're not Christians and they're not right?
Does it mean that if Bush thinks his God tells him to thump that Bible a little harder and start appointing all of his right-wing Christian buddies to the government that he should just do it?
If I were a non-Christian human living in the United States, I would be getting a little concerned about now. Of course, I'm just an ape, so what do I care, right? [grunt]
1 comment:
Even Christian humans living in the U.S. should be concerned. I know I am.
Many Christians feel led by God... not necessarily spoken to, but influenced by. Unfortunately, a few are arrogant enough to believe they've heard God's voice speaking solely to them.
This problem is not restricted to Christians. Or even to the religious. Many a crazy person has said the voices in their head told them yada yada yada.
Personally, I wouldn't care that the President hears voices, except for the fact that he's basing actions and policies on these "conversations." Actions and policies that costs people their lives and their loved ones.
Separation of church and state. Freedom of speech. Equality. (Just to name a few.) How does "God told me to wage war for X people and against X people" fit in with the values our country has historically stood for?
How can other societies respect us when we let our country be run this way?
Our government leaders have to lead for ALL the people. They have to make sound, logical decisions based on facts and the desires of the majority. NOT on talks with their god(s).
Our next leader has to be a leader for everyone - whether they are Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green, Christian, Jewish, Pagan, Atheist. Our leader should be reasonable, strong, moral, even-tempered, intelligent, open-minded and honest.
What are the chances anyone like that will ever run for President?
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