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February 12

Another View: Christian values are reflected in how we treat others, Earth

Yet Republicans portray gay marriage and access to contraception as defining issues.

By ANDREW WRIGHT

In his Feb. 3 column ("Birth control rule reveals Obama's disdain for Catholics"), M.D. Harmon lays out a curious argument on how Obama and other "hard-core leftists" have a "disdain ... for traditional Christianity."

The argument goes something like this: Obama supports a law that requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for contraceptives, denies adoption agencies the right to place children with "traditional" families only, and opposes laws mandating marriage be between a man and a woman. As a result, Harmon concludes that all Christians should vote Republican this November.

His argument presumes, however, that Christians don't care about all other Christian values. For example, Jesus taught that we should help the neediest in society, yet Republicans want to gut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other programs that help the poor and needy, while Democrats staunchly defend them.

Republicans start unnecessary wars so that their buddies in the military-industrial complex can get rich.

Republicans vigorously fight Democratic attempts to "redistribute wealth" by increasing taxes on the wealthy and eliminating loopholes that allow companies such as GE and Exxon to pay no federal taxes at all.

Republicans want to overturn regulations that keep our air and water clean; require our workplaces, oil rigs and mines to be safe; and require a minimum wage be paid. Conservatives routinely demonstrate intolerance to Muslims, gays, immigrants, minorities and the poor. There is very little about the Republican platform that is consistent with traditional Christian values.

If all you care about is your homophobic tendencies and a health insurance option that you can choose not to utilize, then by all means follow Harmon's advice and vote Republican this fall.

If you care about core Christian values such as acceptance of human diversity, compassion and mercy, helping the neediest, environmental stewardship, peace and tolerance, then perhaps you should take a hard look at voting Democratic this fall.

Andrew Wright is a resident of Cumberland Foreside.

 

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