Politics and Religion
Religion
Religion has always been a part of the debate whenever time there is a contest for the president of the United States.
It is ironic that this could be the case when the constitution mitigates against this reality in no uncertain terms.
Politicians, however, will use anything that they can get a grasp of to there advantage.
So it should not
come as any suprise when a particular candidate see it fit to tout how religious he or she is.
Politicians know that a large amount of the population hold allegiance to one denomination or the other;
then it would only be opportunistic for them to demonstrate how much they are being guided by their faith
in there decision making; hoping that it would strike a note with the religious side of voters.
Ploy
It is very evident that this ploy works often times than not, else why would they make this known at every chance they get?
Why would they have spiritual leaders in their campaigns? Not to give advise on climate change-one hopes!
Why would they appear on podiums with Pastors and religious leaders? Why would they show up at churches
in every "silly season"? No one ever sees them in church no other time of the year? Or hear of their religious
beleives whenever time they are making unreligious decisions, such as giving massive tax breaks to
the rich oil companies, while so many trying Americans have to struggle to fend off having there homes go up for foreclosure.
They don't think religious when people like Hilary Clinton were voting to send the troops to Iraq.
Isn't " thou shall not kill" one of the most profound of the ten commandments Of the Bible. What the heck! Didn't the
troops got the blessing of Pastors before they went into battle? Then, what do they left the Politicians to do.
Opium of Society
Karl Marks, one of the greatest philosophers of our time, said that religion is the "opiet of society".
Opiet, meaning opium. Opium sucks the life out of your body, and so does religion.
Religion has been causing war and conflict since it was instituted among human beings.
It was the main tool used to ratify slavery, from the days of the Bible, through the days of the Roman Empire,
The Trans-atlantic Slave Trade,until now. It was used to justify all the wars that were ever fought.
Not to mention occurances such as the Holocaust.
If it was not for religion probably we would have the America we have today.
One that is puralistic in every way. It was in an effort to escape from religious persicusion
why many fled Europe in droves, with the view of living in a place where their mere existence
would not depend on whether they held fast to a particular religion or not.
Muslims
One can come to a reasonable conclusion that if it was not for religion over three thousand innocent
Americans would not have lost their lives on the eleventh of september two thousand and one, when
fanatics proportedly from the Muslim religion slammed two planes into the twin towers of the Trade-Center.
Many of the insurgents in Iraq are of the view that the war that has taken over their country is one
of religion. That the troops, who are fighting on behalf of America, a country that is view by the world as
a Christian country, are attempting to wipe out the Muslim population of Iraq. Many would sight that
as being cynical, but which religion isn't?
Clinton and Obama
The campaign for the democratic nomination between Senators Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama
has seen at its center, the issue of religion. The issue of religion took on a more aggressive tone
ever since sound bites of Sen. Obama's Pastor and mentor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.,
blasting America for all its ills made its way on the internet and all television network there is in the country,
and probably around the world. Pitty Sen. Obama did not know that politics, and issues of this earth does
not mix well with religion, such as the one Rev. Wright professes. A religion that thinks that
all natural disasters are god's remedy for the "wrongs" we human has committed. Then Rev. Wright has every
right to implore god to "Damn America!"
The Media
The media never siezes to upset people who hold fast to common sense and intelligence. They ride
the religious issue on a dialy basis, as if it was a thoroughbred competing to win the Sweepstakes.
When the tirade by Rev. Wright blew up, instead of seeing the Pastor's statement for what they were,non-sensical!
Many a newsmedia saw it fit to pressure the story for all its worth.
Then again, if it was not for the rants carried on by Rev. Wright we would not have witnessed one of the greatest
speeches of all times: the one titled, "The Perfect Union", done by Sen. Obama, in response to his beloved
Pastor's comments, and the idiots in the media, who thought that his "crucifiction" was inevitable, as a
result of what his mentor of more than twenty years had done.
To take stupidity to another level. News giant CNN, has put on a" Faith" debate between Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama,
where they discuss and feild questions on the depth of their religious faith. All this is taking place
while thousands of jobs are being lost on a monthly basis, it even seems daily by the day; while
violent crime is on the increase; and want and despair is probably the highest it has ever been
among many Americans.
President of America
One would expect that a candidate vying to be President of a country like America would be putting
forward policies that will transform the economy, an economy that is looking down the double barrel of a
gun by the name of depression, yes, i said the "D" word. Sounds depressing? Doesn't it. One would also
expect that that candidate would be putting forward policies to transform the social fabric of the society,
a society that has been on the decline for the better part of the last forty years: inclusive of the
education system, the ever clear and present tension between the races, and other countless issues
that this piece would not allow me to articulate.
Probably the urgent issues will never be discussed if an issue as frivilous as religion is taking up so much time,
and is at the center of the Psychie of the decision makers in such a profound way.
