Bill Mahr:
...When I hear "people of faith," I think, "Well, those are people who suspend rational judgment for [the] nonsensical b**s** that they believe."
I'm willing to lay good money (if I were a betting man) that a great portion of those reading this entry completely agree with that statement. Well, I am sick of that characterization.
Forget the fact that it's downright mean (my beliefs are no more nonsensical than yours, thank you very much), it's totally ignoring a crucial component of true, democratic principles. This country was founded on personal freedom, some of which are spelled out specifically; press, speech, and, yes, religion. My religion is precisely why I continue to "renounce war and proclaim peace."
We Democrats are constantly complaining that Republicans are unwilling to play nice with others. Well, have you noticed that Democrats are unwilling to play nice with themselves? Middle America isn't "red" because it's filled with right-wing nuts. Middle America is "red" because there is only one party that is even willing to embody their principles (even if that party later completely ignores the principles it espouses). Until we, as a people and as a party, can begin to embody the rights, beliefs, and character of the individual (every individual), we will continue to find middle America well outside our reach.
That's what being a Democrat is supposed to be about anyway.