The attacks on our freedoms from the Obama Administration have recently become relentless, occurring with alarming regularity. The rich - defined as individuals who earn more than $200,000 per year - may be taxed at a special higher rate than many of us. After all, it's only fair - fat cat bankers, wealthy industrialists and all that. Demonize the rich, demonize the successful, demonize hard work, ambition and risk-taking.
Last week, an assault on religion was launched, first with an over-the-top pronouncement that Catholic schools and hospitals would have to pay for their employees' abortions (don't you just love the euphemism "abortifacients?" - reminds me of the "newspeak" in the novel "1984.")and contraceptives.
Then, after the predictable uproar, the Obama administration did an "accommodation" with religious groups, but when our pastor read a letter last night in church that O's accommodation was not satisfactory, and that the Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Detroit would continue to stand up for their first amendment rights, I almost stood up in front of the congregation and applauded.
So what? You may say. I'm not wealthy, and I'm not into organized religion. Why should I care?
I remember reading long ago the text of an address by Martin Niemoller, a German Protestant Pastor, to the United Nations in 1968. I tried to remember it last week, because it reminds me of the slippery slope we've begun to ride.
I'm currently reading a book about Hitler's rise to power in Germany in the 1930's - it's always puzzled me how it could happen. The brief poem below speaks volumes about one of the reasons:
"They came for the Communists, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Jew;
Then they came for me - And there was no one left to object."
When the freedom of some is abridged, even for contemporary pariahs like the one percent or a faith community, you had better watch out. Because you may be next. And there may be no one left to defend you.
Here's the problem I have, Jerry: Political language that is so hyperbolic it's absurd. Where has tempered, reasonable dialogue gone among reasonable decent people? I suspect you and I agree on the recent rule concerning contraception and Catholic institutions, but once you call it an "assault on religion," you lose me. In the book you're reading on Hitler, I'm sure they talk about kristalnacht. Now THAT was an assault on religion. Language that is inherently inflammatory isn't really much more than propaganda -- on either side of the political spectrum. I so wish the political dialogue in America would become less apocalyptic and begin employing language that invited an exchange of ideas rather than simply inciting fear. But I do appreciate you writing this as a reflection of your concern.
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