How to respond?
Two things have come across my desk recently, that I find disturbing. First, something called the "Manhattan Declaration" (Subtitled, A Call of Christian Conscience). It affirms three truths, and I'm sure you already know what two are: "sanctity of human life" and "dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife". The third is, well, strange, to say the least, given the first two: "the rights of conscience and religious liberty." I guess they must not mean the rights of conscience for women, or the rights of religious liberty for people (like me) who think that God dignifies the marriage of two men, or two women. And I doubt that the "sanctity of human life" includes adults on death row.
The second is a statement apparently being sported on bumper stickers and t-shirts: “Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8” The exact verse, depending on one's translation reads: "May his days be few; may another seize his position" (NRSV) or "May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership" (NIV) or "Let his days be few; and let another take his office." (KJV). If that weren't bad enough ... the context of that verse is very disturbing. Go ahead, go read the whole thing. I'll still be here. Basically, they are wishing not only death for Obama, but misery for his children, and even more. The most ironic thing is to look at verse 16, which reads: "For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the broken-hearted to their death" (NRSV, speaking of the same person as in verse 8). Which, of course, is the furthest from the truth about Obama.
There seems to be an increasing vehemence with which the religious right is speaking their opinions. As someone who appreciated the large number of witty (or not so witty) slogans about the Bush administration, I don't ever remember a popular one suggesting his death, and suffering for his family.
I don't know how we can respond to this.This helps, but it's only a beginning.


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