Words Less Spoken

It was inevitable sitting in the barber’s chair yesterday with CNN on the TV that the subject of politics would come up. I’m passionate about politics and love a good discussion, but I don’t even try with some people. My barber’s a nice guy I’ve known for years, but he’s a local pastor too, so I don’t go there with him if I can help it.

It was easy to find common ground on our hope that Hillary is soundly defeated. The Clinton’s have been the favored whipping post of the right for years. I, however, wouldn’t have a problem voting for Bill over John McCain any day. I liked Bill. We all made money when he was in the White House. The Republicans passed more of the conservative agenda under his watch than they have under W. I have some ingrained reticence about Hillary in the White House. My wife doesn’t want any woman as President, but I would vote for any other qualified woman with no reservations. So it was easy to talk about our problems with Hillary.

To my surprise my barber said that he thought the Democrats should keep their eye on Obama because he was “one to watch,” as opposed to voting for Hillary. I thought, “Wow, maybe he’s developing an open mind. Maybe Obama’s connecting with more people than I realize.” Then he said that no matter how he felt about McCain at the end of the day he had to vote pro-life and could never vote for anybody that wants to support gays and lesbians. That pissed me off.

I told him that my oldest would be 18 in twelve more years. If McCain had one or even two terms in office, it was very likely that we’d still be embroiled in a war in Iraq and Iran by that time, and I don’t want my boys going over to get killed in a war that is pointless. His reply was, “Now, now, brother. You know the Word says not to worry about tomorrow and things that our out of your control.” What the hell?!  “I can do something about it. I can vote!” I snapped back. That ended of our discussion of politics.

This whole conversation underlies an observation of mine regarding the pro-life Christian right. They are not pro-life. They are anti-abortion, and there is a big difference. Don’t the lives of our servicemen and women count for something? Don’t the lives of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan count for something? What happened to being pro-life? The logic is baffling. You’ll vote for candidates who oppose abortion but support the death penalty and protracted senseless war?  I just don’t get it. Furthermore, what about the lives of gays and lesbians? Should we discard them from society because we don’t understand or approve of their behavior?

I think abortion is horrible. I would hope that the number of abortions would be reduced dramatically, but I believe that it should be safe and legal. Being anti-abortion is not pro-life. What about the life of a young girl whose future is about to be forfeited? the life of a girl who is raped by her father? the life of a baby whose mother cannot possibly care for it?

I think it’s past time we move beyond single issue politics or, to borrow from Obama, red vs. blue, left vs. right, and black vs. white politics. I think it’s past time for all of us to be pro-life in every sense of the word and stop allowing politicians and pundits to pigeon hole us into ideological boxes and political camps.