Son of The O'Jesus Factor

Thanks to a call from a friend for computer assistance (a dead mouse, among other things) I was able to listen extensively to Fresh Air's interview with Raney Aronson and Wayne Slater. Aronson produced, wrote, and directed Frontline's show, while Slater, a Texas journalist, has followed the political career of Shrub for some time.

Both touched on a point that others have made, and to which I'll add my .002 cents worth: when a politician claims God as the source of their policy, opposition to said policy becomes heresy. Um, call me old fashioned, but I still believe strongly in the First Amendment. While Bush hasn't embarked on a frontal assault on this element of the Constitution, one could certainly call his remarks the moral equivalent of an end-around. Which is a dangerous precedent.

I mean, first, even a genuine interpretation of Biblical literature (or prophesy, or whatever you want to call it) portends some ominous happenings for humanity. Not the sort of stuff that people would, say, want their grandkids to go through. Then you've got the added weirdness that fundamentalist Christian ideology has imparted on the good book (which, if you ask me, is remarkably similar to the weirdness that fundamentalist Islamacists have imparted on the Quran). You end up with a package that almost begs for large amounts of fire and brimstone--something the US Military is more than able to provide. Armageddon becomes a matter of discretionary policy, which, quite honestly, I think is a little unfair to those of us non-believers. To understate, it's mighty damn selfish of them to impose the Apocalypse upon the other 5 billion plus--not to mention the rest of the flora and fauna--with whom they share the planet.

OK, so perhaps that's a little heavy on the doomsday scenario. But there are other, even more important considerations. For instance, I went to the March for Women because I believe strongly that women's rights--sexual, political, social, economic, health, you name it--are fundamental to the progressive cause. As women succeed in their (alas, neverending) struggle, I think we will see a general progressive awakening as the myriad feminist perspectives establish themselves in the realm of public debate. Fundamentalist Christian ideology seeks to limit the role of women in our social and political arenas--and again, considers opposition to this as heresy. Abortion becomes a flashpoint, because, in the attempt to limit the rights of women, a fertilized egg suddenly becomes more important than an female adult. Waxing poetically about the "soul" of a fertilized egg carries the implication that an adult woman's "soul" is considered not quite equal. God, via his messengers, i.e. ministers, provides the cover for what is an attempt, pure and simple, to limit the rights of half the population.

The irony of all this is that women played an extensive role in the formation of the early Christian church. Yet, today, a twisted interpretation of the written works seeks to suppress women's rights, while at the same time tries to justify killing in the name of freedom. To which I can only say, if there is a deity and if she's listening: Goddamnit! No pun intended.