Republican Mantras and Malevolence.
You hear a lot about the "culture of life" and how the Republicans think that the Democrats don't have any. They are about "Life" they think and the Democrats are about "Baby Killing."
Anyone who disagrees is a "conspirator with evil" and should go to confession immediately.
A lot of post-election wrenching of garments, wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth has taken place in the post-election briefing of what went wrong, "how we lost" and more casting of stones and aspersion on the evil Democrats who are so liberal as to be "Godless" or clueless. Never mind the fairly brainless Caribou Barbie part of the equation.
This is all a very self-righteously convenient way to avoid looking in the mirror at the log in one's own eye. It allows one to avoid the harder questions like- why really don't they like us (you).
An honest look at "Why we lost" (you lost) should deeply examine the following question in addition to the pathological intelligence lying unto unjustifiable war defrauding a nation, tanking the economy selling it down the Euphrates River, ignoring the plight of the fatherless, the homeless, and casting stones on anyone who believes there is a more effective way to stop or curb abortions than locking up pregnant or post-abortive women and their doctors, etc. :
How well did we Love Our God and Neighbors as Ourselves. This is not just a nice thing, it is a Commandment. Breaking them comes with consequences. Always.
Is it love to cast stones or build bridges. Is it love to condemn or provide.
Is it love to cast nasty aspersions on people's ethics and honor rather than walk a mile in their moccasins when we are told specifically not to Judge-that's not your job. Further is it love to just not try to understand the argument sticking ones fingers in the ears and head in the sand?
Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and preach- but he did not state that this great commandment usurped what he stated clearly was the greatest commandment; to LOVE your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and LOVE your neighbor AS YOURSELF. He is even more clear about the priorities; he said essentially, I don't care if you can prophesy, I don't care if you give everything you own away (like the rich young ruler) I don't care if you have all the preaching eloquence in the world-that's all very well and good. But, it you have no LOVE you are just a clanging gong- how annoying, a
clashing cymbal--you are like a hand full of fingernails scratching down a chalkboard. Because if you have no LOVE, you are full of yourself and hot air. You are a pompous Ass. You are a False Priest essentially; the definition of Pharisee- the only category of people on the earth for which Jesus demonstrated pure contempt.
If your neighbor is hungry and you have food, is it love to eat in front of them and not invite them in?
If your neighbor is the guy sleeping homeless and wandering the park in front of you is it Love to walk on by and do nothing to help find them shelter?
If your neighbor has been taken by predatory lending and left for dead by the side of the Foreclosure Sign, is it Love to just sue her and blame her.
If your neighbor has been scammed and abused by a greedy Simon Le Gree landlord and evicted
on his head is it Love to kick him when he is down?
Is it love to engage in fraudulent emotional manipulations-of an entire country who sent their sons and daughters to war and lost over 4,000 of them in the sand hell of a country half a world away so Exxon Mobil executives and people like McCain can have more houses than they can count?
What is Love.
Love is not jealous, it is not proud (full of ego), it does not insist on its own way, it doesn't count wrongs against it (hold grudges or vengeance), it does not rejoice in the wrong- it does not perpetuate needless suffering. It doesn't wage wars killing people for no reason, or wrongly motivated reasons in war and lie to everyone about why. It doesn't fire people who disagree for political persecutory reasons who are good people trying to serve the country.
One very wise Priest said before the election "Republicans Don't Deserve To Win This Time", and he is probably a hard core Republican with a lot of fancy highly placed Republicans in his Parish in a fancy Washington suburb. He knows why.
Let's only hope that he wakes the rest of the party up--For God's Sake people.
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