Bush is national nightmare
As we begin a new year, I recall a significant little-noticed event of early December. Rev, Jim Wallis, the non-partisan Evangelical Christian leader of Sojourners and author of “God’s Politics,” delivered the weekly Democratic Party radio address. Invited by new U.S. Senate Leader Harry Reid, Rev. Wallis’ words were worth hearing: Americans need “a new vision of our life together,” we’ve “lost our commitment to the common good.” Money, power and corruption have “distorted our political decision-making and even our elections.” We must “challenge the increasing wealth gap between rich and poor.”
Good stewardship of our natural resources “is a religious and moral issue.”
Healthy families are necessary to raise children with strong values.
The “cost and consequences of a disastrous war are moral issues.”
And much more!
But more important was the symbolism of Rev. Wallis’ address – America’s best instincts are beginning to notice that our most imperfect Democratic Party is more attuned to real moral and religious issues than the fake Christian, fake Conservative “neocons” who’ve seized the Republican Party.
“Iraq,” Wallis said, “is a war based on lies, made worse by incompetence and pursued by sheer arrogance.”
“We need serious solutions,” he continued, “not scapegoating. Wouldn’t finding a common ground to reduce abortions be better than using it as an issue to divide us?”
“The path of partisan division is well worn, but a road of compassionate priorities and social justice will lead us to a new America. Building that road,” Rev. Wallis concluded, “will require greater moral leadership from Democrats, Republicans, and from each of us.”
In taking over from the Nixon administration, President Gerald Ford said “Our long national nightmare is over” – words that again bring hope as we begin extricating America from everyone’s worst nightmare, the George W. Bush administration.
“Truth and honesty,” Ford continued as he began the nation’s healing, “are the glue that holds government together.”
Well said words from two good and faithful servants.
Happy New Year!
Paul Politis
Greencastle