An individual whose views we felt would have little influence over the mainstream American wrote a book that stands on the top of the New York Times best seller's list. Ann Coulter received encouraging applause from Leno guests, who were literally yelping at her for more. Coulter's book, "Godless: The Church of Liberalism," is an attack on the ideals of liberalism. However, instead of rejecting the book outright, I feel that we need to take the threat very seriously. Ann Coulter thinks that we cannot accept religion. In reality, we embrace it, for if we do not, we will be just as intolerant as extremists on the far-right who believe that they and nobody else have the answers.
"[The book is titled] Godless, which liberals don't mind. I mean, no one's complained about it. I think that if somebody told me Godless I'd take notice of it. They're obsessed with this one section of one chapter. But the point of the book is that liberalism has become like a religion, all the bad things associated with religions which I don't think you see that much from the God-based religions, by the way. The self righteousness, the intolerance, the refusal to Calvin's differing beliefs... They promote themselves through the schools through the government, the children are baptized in the religion of global warming, of recycling and safe-sex but you can't even have a moment of silence. That is preferring one religion over another and they advance themselves by denying their own religion."
-Ann Coulter
An individual whose views we felt would have little influence over the mainstream American wrote a book that stands on the top of the New York Times best seller's list. Ann Coulter received encouraging applause from Leno guests, who were literally yelping at her for more. Coulter's book, "Godless: The Church of Liberalism," is an attack on the ideals of liberalism. However, instead of rejecting the book outright, I feel that we need to take the threat very seriously. Ann Coulter thinks that we cannot accept religion. In reality, we embrace it, for if we do not, we will be just as intolerant as extremists on the far-right who believe that they and nobody else have the answers.
It is not enough for us to ignore Ann Coulter. We now believe that her beliefs will not spread from heart to heart in this nation, but Senator John Kerry believed that if he did not reply to the Swiftboat Veterans accusations that they would go away and would not influence the average American. Senator Kerry's silence resulted in the loss of the 2004 election. Our silence concerning Ann Coulter's book and will ring over Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.'s call for freedom, justice and equality. Now is not the time to stand down: it is not the time to be silenced.
However, criticizing Ann Coulter's words will never allow us to achieve our goals: it is time to forge our own agenda in order to empower people behind what we stand for, which is anything but Godless. Though I did write a parody song about Ann Coulter after the story broke, the time for joking and parody is over. We must take seriously not only Ann Coulter's words, but our own calling and obligation to better this world for all of humanity.
Ann Coulter made a good point, that the media is obsessed with her chapter on the 9/11 widows but ignores every other aspect of the book, including the title. However, the media is not liberal: the media often focuses on one story for days at a time, such as with the Howard Dean scream, Cheney's hunting accident, and countless other examples. Focusing on that nasty quote provides the cable news stations with ratings, all while the genocide in Darfur and other important humanitarian issues are being ignored. It is the job of the media to sell talking points and shape the agenda through appealing to a wide audience, not just liberals. The media may not focusing on the title of her book, but many liberal's sure are.
Individual spirituality cannot be judged or determined by what one says. True faith rests in one's selfless deeds and actions towards the betterment of humanity. Following God does not only pertain to helping those who are less fortunate than us: it means giving them the dignity and respect that they deserve, that they have never been allowed to possess before. It means making certain that the environment that sustains us is preserved for generations to come. It means not discriminating against someone just because they are of a different race, sex, religion or gender. And it means spreading love and kindness through teachings, not through warfare and the barrel of a gun.
This is not to say that the liberal base does not have its problems: there are people who do not follow these tenants, who scream and hate just as loudly as extremists on the right. We must not allow our anger and resentment to overshadow the importance of our social justice causes. Instead, we must embrace those who have great conviction and faith, and believe strongly in a higher calling.
I believe that there is a God, but not a God that polarizes and separates people, not a God that allows It's followers to distain human rights and treat `the other' as inferior, not a God that ignores science and preaches fiction over fact or war over peace. We must pull together as humanity to put an end to the suffering, devastation and violence we inflict upon one another, beliefs that are not created through the hand of God but from the sword held in the overpowering hand of inhumanity. Righteousness will never come through war, discrimination, and ignorance, but from our hearts and the compassion we have for one another, as Senator Robert F. Kennedy pointed out in the speech he presented after Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated.
The word God is presently being abused by politicians: it is presented as a hollow word without meaning or content. These words are Godless and are used to rally support but not to change the world for the better. The words of prophets are being drowned out by words of politicians seeking re-election, and the debate shifts from "we should help the poor, end the war in Iraq, preserve the environment, end racism and discrimination, and help future generations," to, "we need to put the Ten Commandments in a federal court house, give tax cuts to the rich, make torture legal, teach creationism in schools and ban gay marriage." Religious people with true faith respect other faiths and help other human beings; preaching through example, not through bullying and self-righteousness.
Comedian Bill Maher pointed out that "If you believe Jesus ever had a good word for war, or torture, or tax cuts for the rich, or raping the earth, or refusing water to dying migrants, than you might as well believe that bunnies lay painted eggs." Just because somebody is not Christian does not mean that they are Godless, and it does not mean that they cannot respect the true teachings of Jesus or other prophets. People of faith must reach out to those who may not share their faith but share their goals and ideals. There is much common ground and we must stand side by side to achieve our objectives. Especially in communities of faith, reaching out to people with differing faiths will forge unbreakable bonds as we march through the streets demanding justice, equality, dignity and compassion.
The Rabbi at my temple, Rabbi Allen Maller, for example, recognized that those of faith must unify, and must not create division between each other. This is why he formed a collation with thirty local religious groups, realizing that despite their differences, they were all trying to do good and all posses attributes that will benefit humanity. At his retirement ceremony, the rabbi was honored with huge applause from just about everybody in the congregation for this noble act. Rather than dividing people based on religion as Coulter is trying to do by calling liberals "Godless," Rabbi Allen Maller attempted to unite people of all faiths, no matter their political stances or religious views, to better humanity through their faith. He did not ask for his own religious beliefs to be perceived as absolute truth, and reached out to other faiths so that he could increase his tolerance and wisdom though alliances. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, "I am a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew," recognizing that only if we are united can we beat our swords and weapons into plow shares and sew the seeds of justice of knowledge and peace in these drought-infested lands.
As liberals we must not shy away from creating alliances with people of faith. Though some liberals may have different spiritual beliefs than people of faith, the majority of us share common objectives and dreams. Ann Coulter's point about liberals being percieved as "Godless" should be taken seriously. It is not that liberals are Godless: the opposite is true in the majority of cases. However, the point that someone is painting us as something we are not should not belittle or silence us: it should strengthen out will to use our actions and words to stand up for what is right. The people of America will only take us seriously when we stop this bickering and unite, confronting the trials and hardships plaguing humanity knowing that our actions will serve a higher purpose.