Bush's religious agenda

This is an article I wrote for the school newspaper; criticism, comments, advice - welcomed!


Bush's Religious Agenda

----It's been three months since the re-election, and the pain still burns.
---- Week after week, it seems there is a new story coming out providing more amo for those of us against Bush. Last month alone, the third case of a journalist being paid to promote Bush's ideas was released, as well as the official declaration of no WMDs in Iraq and $40 million was spent on his second inauguration only weeks after a natural disaster, and in the midsts of a violent war (which Bush requested another $80 billion for in January, as well). Yet still people support him! I must have missed the memo, because I can see no reason for anyone to be behind such a deceitful character.
---- So, after four years, and then some, of being baffled at this phenomenon of seemingly blind commitment to a man who has lied his way through two elections, I'm pretty sure I've come to the conclusion. You see, a wonderful aspect of Bush is the support he offers for those who are like-minded. Bush is the kind of leader that will do, has done actually, everything he can to exclude those who are different, while wrapping his peers in a soft blanket of security. While I am sure there is a lot of bribery going on to help fixate this, what I am referring to in this article is religion.
---- Bush is very openly Christian. So is around 80% of America. The only problem with this comes with Bush's abuse of the constitutional right, Separation of Church and State. It's very hard to convince people that he involves religion in politics, because most of those people are Christians as well. This adds a lot of bias and double standards towards the issue, that those of different faith do not experience. If you're not convinced Bush has a religious agenda, then consider that in 2003 alone, Bush spent over $1 billion funding religious-based organizations. If that's not pushing religion, I don't know what is.
---- The issue that I am discussing is the mixture of church and state. If you are rolling your eyes at me, which is expected, then bare with me a few more sentences and consider this: If you are a supporter of Bush and see no problem with him involving religion in his decisions, and his using America's tax dollars to go towards religious funds, then imagine that Bush wasn't Christian. Let's say he was Hindu. Now he still involves Hinduism as much as he currently involves Christianity, and the same amount of your money goes towards Hindu-based organizations. Do you feel the same way, or do you now see the problem with the convergence of church and state? It's doubtful that you feel the same support, simply because it's fact that we are very selfish in our personal beliefs. It's okay if the decisions he makes are based on the morals taught in the same religion you believe in, though if you were to replace that blanket of familiarity with a different belief system, chances are you'd have a problem with decisions that you don't agree with effecting your life.
---- How do you imagine non-Christians feel? In the U.S. today, especially here in the center of the Bible Belt, it's hard to see views outside of the dominant faith, which just so happens to be the very one Bush practices. When 80% of the country follows morals and ideals derived from a single faith, and the president himself does the same, it's very easy to over look the problem. But that doesn't mean it's not in existence, and it doesn't mean it's not worth while.
---- Statistics have shown that Bush was re-elected not on popularity per-say, but on his moral agenda. John Kerry was loathed by the religious right and conservatives. Why do you think that was? Kerry is Catholic, and just as religious as Bush. What was so different between Bush and Kerry? Kerry, unlike Bush, understood that in order to represent this country and the Constitution, you have to put personal opinions aside and focus on the good of the people; not what you think is the eternal truth. Kerry agreed with Bush on the majority of issues personally, but his political side didn't allow those personal beliefs to interfere. He understood separation of church and state. Yet, this is one of the main reasons he lost support. What does that tell you about this country? We're arrogant, biased, and unwilling to accept beliefs other than our own. This is something that I think needs to change soon, or else it will put is in more danger than it already has. Religious differences have been the cause of a deadly war already, and it leads to resentment among political parties.
---- It's very hard to step out of our normal element and truly look at others with a welcome heart. Oklahoma is right in the middle of conservative country, and it's very hard to get people to understand the importance of religious tolerance. Tolerance isn't just accepting that others believe differently, but it is being able to put our own faith aside to see the damage that has been done, even if you do agree whole-heartedly with the one doing it. The mere mention here at MCHS of someone who's not a Christian gets such a negative reaction that it's frightening. There is a lot of assumptions about things a lot of us are ignorant on, and so if you gain anything from this article, let it be the ability to keep an open mind about others. Don't follow blindly because your beliefs may be supported, but go on the facts. If after doing so, you're still in the same spot you were in the first place, then by all means continue. Perhaps a more accepting attitude in America is just what we need in order to practice our freedom to it's full extent. Just perhaps