First off, Obama '08. Word.
So I've been reading dailykos for a while now, and haven't ever written a diary (I know, I know). I'm an avid lurker though, and have been fully impressed with and inspired by the amount of community involvement this site has brought to our political process in this country, and how people here really can feel like their voice is heard. People here are passionate about making their country better. That's inspiring.
That said, I have to say something.
I was reading this post today and had to say something. I am a Christian, and believe what Jesus says. I am not ashamed to say I believe everything that Jesus says in the Bible. Nor am I ashamed to say that I wish you all knew what I've found in Christ since becoming Christian 6 years ago.
However, that's not my point here - that's just the background.
I'm truly sorry for what the religious right has done to our country. They have done some pretty despicable things in the name of Christ; things which I find appalling. The conservative right hijacked Christian Evangelicals in the 1980s and 1990s and created the GOP-machine that propelled the Bush election cycles. In some level, evangelicals have been used with wedge issues - such as abortion - to auto-vote Republican, even if other strong Christian values lie in Democratic principles.
But I have two things that I feel need to be said.
One, is that we cannot attack each other. Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, whatever you are - that is to be respected and not ridiculed. I may completely disagree with what you believe, and wish you believed as I did; but that gives me no right to ridicule or make fun of your beliefs, or you. You deserve your own right to choose what you believe in.
And so do they. Yes, the religious, conservative right. They deserve the right to choose to believe the things they do. I think they're wrong, but I dare not say they're fools, or disrespect them. They are humans, too.
So secondly, what I'm replying to is regards to the post I read earlier. Something that Barack Obama has inspired us all to believe is that unity really is possible. That we can all live together to make this a better America. Democrat, Republican, Independent. We are all Americans.
And so that must also be with our religious beliefs, as well. We must respect and love one another, treating each other with the respect we would like to be shown. The danger lies that we might fall into the same trap as the right did - ridiculing our enemies. The snare that caught them might catch us as well, and we cannot let that happen.
We have to forgive them. That is the higher calling to which we are called.
So I'm asking us to reconcile, to respect, and to listen. And I'm not alone. I know this community has it in itself to do that. I'm sure there's actually far more Christians that lurk on this site than this site probably knows.
And that brings me to my close. I've been following the Christian movement in America for the past 6 years. I was a Religious Studies major at the University of Texas, and specialized in Christianity - and in that time got to study the patterns of Christianity in American culture.
And what I can tell you is this: A large portion - nay, I even think maybe a majority - of the young Christian movement in America is trending Democratic. They've been inspired by Barack Obama's message of 'I am my brother's keeper'. By the activist mindset of the Democratic party. By the idea that we are all equal and deserve equal chances. Those are Christian beliefs, too. They've just gotten lost in the rancor of the right.
Obama has not only called the government to change. He's called us to change, as well. Let's do it, together. Thank you all.