The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good

Jimmy Carter is my hero. Some background. In 1976 at the ripe old age of 19 I voted for Jimmy Carter in my first election. I saw him give a speech early in the primary at U of I and was impressed by his intelligence and his ideas. I voted for him in the primary and then for president. He did some admirable things in his 4 years of presidency but I have to say at the time I didn't think he was a good president.

I voted for John Anderson in 1980. We got stuck with Ronald Reagan. What was I thinking???

For the next 25 years, Jimmy Carter has distinguished himself as the ultimate retiree. He built houses for the poor. He negotiated agreements in Korea, Israel, some Latin American countries. He oversaw free elections in countries that were previously dictatorships. He started the Carter Center that is involved in projects to alleviate global poverty and disease. He won a Nobel Peace prize. He is an amazingly energetic man who lives his beliefs.

He is one of two people I would like to have a conversation with.

Now he has a new book out, Our Endangered Values. I just finished it and found it to be a close mirror of my thoughts. Go out there. Buy it. Read it. He takes the current administration, the right wing of the Republican party, and the Christian Right to task for violating the values on which America was founded. Separation of church and state. Human rights. Rule of law. International treaties and conventions. And he does it with intelligence, logic, and a moral strength that is surprisingly missing from our current supposedly Christian administration. He prefaces all of his comments with an explanation of his faith and his values. It's not very long but it is very pointed.

If you are outraged at this administration's actions, read it. If you are somewhat uncomfortable, read it. If you have questions, read it. If you are a supporter, read it.

The Bad
Ooh boy are we gonna have some heads rolling this summer. Now that Jack Abramoff, the high rolling DC lobbyist, has pleaded guilty to a variety of wrongdoing and turned states evidence, many of our elected officials are sweating bullets. He bribed, cajoled, and junketed his way into many congressional offices to get things done. It seems that his work was mostly for the Republican Party, but Democrats are also known to have benefited from his largesse. And who was his mostest bestest friend? Why, Tom Delay of course. I think we'll start seeing indictments in the summer, just in time for mid-term elections.

I don't know if we can blame the current administration for the level of corruption in our national government. I think that any party in power is in danger of disreputable behavior. This seems to be as dirty as it gets and we are the direct victims of this corruption. Why do we need to drill in Alaska? Lobbyists say we do. Why should we relax environmental standards? Lobbyists say so. Why do we feel it necessary to cut taxes for the rich? Well, lobbyists tell us it'll help. Why is there pork in our budget? Lobbyists have asked for it. What about defense spending on projects that have no apparent value in the current global climate? Lobbyists. Why don't we worry about global warming? Lobbyists.

There's too much money going around in DC and the people with money - the lobbyists - are not representing your and my interests. And if lobbyists are the ones who have our representatives' ears, they aren't really our representatives, are they? I think we have gotten to the point where the haves - the small minority with money - have the influence. The middle class has very little influence and those who are at the bottom tier have none. Congress just passed cuts to benefits that help our poorest. And they are contemplating another tax cut for the richest. It is simple to see where the power is.

The Ugly

As I have said in the past, I am a Christian. I read the Bible. I was born again. Jesus Christ is my savior and died from my sins. I believe wholeheartedly. But there are times when I don't want to admit that.

We have one of those times now. Pat Robertson. He also professes to be a Christian. He has a national Christian TV show. When people who are not Christians think of what a Christian is, they think of Ned Flanders and Pat Robertson - a flake and a pharisee. I wrote awhile ago about how Pat Robertson wanted someone to assassinate Chavez, the President of Venezuela. Now he goes on TV and talks about Ariel Sharon's stroke. He admits to liking Sharon and praying with him. Then he goes on to say essentially that Sharon suffered a stroke because he negotiated with Palestinians and gave them their own homeland. Says that God is punishing anyone who divides Israel. Just like Rabin before him who was assassinated. Here's the clip: http://mediamatters.org/items/200601050004.

I'm again shocked and outraged that "Christian" leaders can say things like this. On national TV. With a large audience that believes everything they say. Can someone please expose this man for what he is? He is a bigot. A dangerous demagogue. A pharisee.

As I said, there are times when I don't want to admit being a Christian. Not if it means that I am associated with a dangerous bigot. I'll read my Bible and ponder Jesus' words about grace, peace, and wisdom. And I'll pray for others to have discernment and gain wisdom. And I'll try to have grace for people like Pat Robertson.