Politics, and God's Funny Bone

Spirituality Column #98
September 23, 2008
Current! in Carmel (IN) Newspaper
Current! in Westfield (IN) Newspaper

Politics, and God’s Funny Bone
By Bob Walters

God shows up in funny places in American politics.

Republicans include God in politics, but that’s not always a good idea. Pray for wisdom, sure. But the way churches fight about religious practices, worship and doctrines, they could never achieve consensus in government.

Democrats include God in politics when it fits a momentary need, then go back to outlawing public prayer while defending gay marriage and abortion. Democrats can say outrageous things about religion and get away with it because hardly anybody thinks they understand what they are saying.

Libertarians are true to their roots … they never want to hear anything about God in politics or government, period. Call them the irreligious right.

(FYI, for a religion that includes its own government, look up “Islam.”)

Feminists lost Hillary for president and now, dealing with family-values pitch-perfect Sarah Palin, are losing their minds. Wanna-be philosopher celebrities spew daily invective against a caring mom and accomplished, corruption-busting governor.

Then there’s the media, the wretched Fourth Estate (lowest caste) of the cultural order. Since Mrs. Palin joined the Republican ticket the media has proven it is absolutely and possibly irretrievably out of touch with the depth and breadth of Christian belief, intellect and – yes – kindness residing in majority America.

Democratic “talking points” for a recent news cycle were about Jesus Christ being a “community organizer” (reference to Obama), and Pontius Pilate being a governor (reference to Sarah Palin).

The media thought it was clever. Republicans would never compare anyone to Jesus, and I remind the Democrats Bill Clinton was a governor.

Actor Matt Damon – in an Associated Press video interview – grimaced and stammered as he contemplated the “bad Disney movie” horror of a potential Palin presidency. Damon vapidly posed, “does she believe that dinosaurs were alive 4,000 years ago?” He really said that, smacking of what I perceive to be the unspoken epilogue, “like the rest of those nutty Christian Creationist right wing lunatics.”

I don’t remember Mrs. Palin ever mentioning dinosaurs. Damon’s implication was that, because of her faith, Mrs. Palin is stupid. I’m not sure when there were dinosaurs, but then I don’t “believe” in dinosaurs; dinosaurs as “belief” don’t matter.

I believe in Christ; Christ matters. Mrs. Palin thinks integrity matters. The media thinks Matt Damon matters.

Mrs. Palin’s pregnant teenage daughter? She is accepted and loved by her family, her church, most of America, and of course, by God.

Only the Democrats, feminists, celebrities and media seem to be mad at her.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com), a closet political junkie, thanks Mrs. Palin for her candor, her faith, and for finally making this year’s election interesting. You go girl.