By Edwin Cooney
I could be wrong, but I was under the
impression that the Republican party, now that it has obtained national favor,
was determined to demonstrate its ability to govern. Recently, however, it seems more inclined to
take on tasks over which it has little or no control. Even worse, it is apparently at war with
itself!
First the GOP’s strategy to inhibit the
president’s plan for immigration reform by threatening the funding of the homeland
security agency fell flat.
Next, by inviting Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the House and Senate in joint session
without first consulting President Obama, the GOP seemed to believe that it
could sufficiently embarrass the president and the negotiators of Britain, France,
Germany, and Russia as they earnestly sought to come to terms with Iran. These
negotiations could be a key factor in the prevention of war in the Middle East. How, do you suppose, the GOP’s actions could be
described as governing?
Now it appears that there exists a tug
of war within the GOP which could severely damage it as a useful tool in 2016
to prevent the election of one Hillary Rodham Clinton to be the 45th President
of the United States.
Of course, all political parties have
factions supported by conflicting economic and social interests. However, today’s Republican Party appears to
be infected by the worst possible faction — an angry and resentful religious
faction with scores to settle and people who do them no harm to be damned.
Religious faith far more often than not
inspires those “better angels of our nature.” However, history clearly demonstrates
that, when mixed with politics, religious doctrine is too often destructive,
deadly, and at times downright immoral! (The Salem witch trials in Puritan
Massachusetts, the wholesale murder of Mormons in the Midwest during the 1830s
and 1840s, and the advent of the Nativist party of the 1850s are just three examples
in American history.)
In three states, North Carolina,
Arkansas and Indiana – all with Republican legislatures and governors -- efforts
have been made to pass “Religious Freedom Restoration laws.” These laws are aimed primarily at the rights
of gay and lesbian Americans to receive goods and services from some businesses
if they dare to marry.
The situation in Indiana is especially
interesting. A week ago, Governor Mike
Pence refused to say whether or not he would sign the Religious Freedom
Restoration Act his legislature was about to hand him. This act was designed to allow men and women
of faith to freely utilize their individual religious-inspired judgments of
others, not merely in their hearts, but in the public marketplace. Then, two
days later, it was handed to him.
Simultaneously from all over the nation there came a firestorm of
protests from businesses and boards which bring billions of dollars into
Indianapolis on an annual basis. They
included the NFL, the NCAA, offices of the Olympics, conventioneers from all
over America, and, finally, from two of America’s mightiest corporations: Walmart
and Apple. You can be sure that many of
these protestors are solid citizens, born and bred Republicans!
Insisting that he has never favored discriminating
against anyone, Governor Pence sent the completed legislation back to the
Indiana legislature insisting that they get it right this time. So, they did.
They passed an anti-discrimination addendum to the original bill
outlawing the right to discriminate, even against gays and lesbians. Apparently they didn’t really mean to
discriminate, they only meant to bloviate.
Wow! What governing!
Still, at least two GOP presidential
candidates, Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush to be precise, have openly praised Indiana
for having the courage to defy government which has spread homosexual wedded
bliss throughout 37 states of our gallant union. By so doing, Messrs. Cruz
and Bush appear to believe that they will benefit more from people’s unease
regarding the wisdom or morality of gay marriage than from any effort on their
part to encourage people to support others in reaping the delights of
individual liberty.
No one, regardless of their political
or religious faith, likes to be told by absolutely anyone how to behave — and especially
by the government. However, our
prerogatives are ultimately determined by our tolerance of others. Whom you marry is your own business. If your marriage affects my marriage, then there’s
something wrong with my marriage not yours.
Government, at its best, is a consensus of tolerance and unity,
constructed not out of mere comfort but out of the knowledge that we’re
strongest in our individuality when we’re united.
Meanwhile, I’m going to enjoy this GOP
tug of war. Let the American religious right
wallow with pride in its own sense of moral superiority! Let the Republicans reinforce their
frustrations, grudges and resentments amongst themselves.
I’ll just watch Lady Hillary count her
electoral votes!
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY
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