So I just got off the phone with dear mommy, and wow, i have to hand it to Dubya/Rove. They know what they are doing, and they understand the American people far better than Democrats do i dare say.
My mom is an immigrant who converted to Christianity based on missionaries in her home country (shudder). She prays daily for my soul and that I may come to know Jesus Christ as my savior. My reaction has always been probably similar to Kossacks--ew!!! get away from me organized religion!! luckily, dad is an agnostic intellectual who read Bertrand Russell and agrees with him.
However, over the years, several bible studies later, i can't quite convert, but i at least understand the world view, and it is one shared by many many Americans, and i think it crucial for people on this blog to hear, if we want to win elections. Yes, i wish this were Europe where people don't go to church or care about religion. But we aren't Europe, and if we Democrats want to regain any sort of majority, the words/beliefs of folks like my mom, who identifies (for now) with and votes Democratic, need to be respected.
I asked my mom if she had seen The Passion. She said no, but her church wants to go, but it's all sold out. She said she had seen clips and they make her want to cry, because she thinks about how sinful she is and how she needs Jesus to take away her sins and how grateful she is to him for his sacrifice. Her pastor said that he has heard from many folks who want to be baptized now after seeing the movie, who have been called to repent. I ask if she thinks it's anti-semitic. the thought never even crosses her mind. no, she says. i don't understand why people bring that up. It's clear from the bible that the romans killed him. So while elite intellectual circles/media may talk about the anti-semitism, for most folks, The Passion is a deeply moving, transcendental experience. And bashing the film too much can only hurt us among voters. She called Mel Gibson a "blessed man." i tried not to gag.
She then said she can't believe what the SF mayor is doing with the gay marriage thing. she says it is wrong for the government to do such things. i ask her if she supports Bush's constitutional amendment. the next things she says shocks even me. "Yes, i think we need it. This country was founded by Christians, we are a Christian nation and we have been blessed because of it. i really feel America is blessed by god. But now it is deteriorating, and i do believe the homosexuals are cursing America. it's like the Israelites once Moses led them out of Egypt and they began to sin and forgot to worship God. God then punished them. i am really scared that he will do the same thing now that our government is endorsing gay people to marry."
I try the "equal rights" argument. Mom, gay people just want equal rights. she says, no, no. i don't mind gay people. i don't think they should be discriminated against, but i do not think the government should endorse their marriages because gay people are abnormal. we should not sanction such behavior. Marriage is sacred!
She goes on about how America is trying so hard to rid god from its public spaces. "So what if a teacher wants to put up the 10 commandments? So what if someone wants to pray in class? I don't understand why our government is so bent on trying to erase god from public life. no wonder we are losing our values."
trust me folks, i tried to use the "America was founded by deists, not Christians, we were founded based on freedom of religion, blah blah". then she said, well, then why do we use the Bible and not the Koran to swear people into office?? Face it, this is a Christian nation and that must be respected she told me, and it's not. if she were a Christian right winger, she'd say "it's them damn liberals fault." But she's not. She's still a big fan of Hillary and Bill Clinton, which is usually grounds for disqualification among the right wingers.
I was rather stunned by the whole thing but now i fully realize the power of the Bush culture war. I pointed out that Bush is just trying to distract us from his disastrous war and economic policies. She agrees. (she was against the war, against the tax cuts, believes in universal health insurance, thinks big corporations have too much power, is pro-choice, etc....) but she still says the amendment might be necessary to save America from the coming apocalypse.
Sigh. So i write this to give some perspective on "middle America." my mom, as an immigrant, person of color, is a natural part of the Democratic base. she's one of the ones Bush is trying his damnedest to woo with such culture war based appeals. And i think my ma's views are closer to most Americans (scarily enough) than are the views of the typical Kos poster. We will need all these voters to beat Bush. Which is why i am treading carefully on this and willing to give Herseth and others a pass.
