So, how's your post-election hangover? Not the usual kind of hangover, I'm talking about the too many commercials, too many yard signs and way, way too many attack ads kind of hangover. I was beginning to worry that Morgan and Morgan might have a hard time getting ad time. Some races are settled, others will be back for an encore in November. But hopefully, we all get a breather for at least a brief spell before it all starts up again.
I wonder about the aftermath of campaigns, especially the ones that grew vicious over the course of the campaign. The winners and sometimes the losers are faced with dealing with their opponents in the course of their service on public boards. How effective can they be when a few short days ago they were pointing fingers and calling each other liars. I'm pretty sure that they can all put on a happy face and play nice in public, but there can't be much trust or respect, which would go a long way to effective governance. And you have to appreciate the humor of politics. Right after last week's primary win, Republican nominee for governor, Rick Scott, who treated us to some of the most vicious attack ads, stated that he had spoken to the Democratic nominee, Alex Sink, and they agreed that their campaigns would be "about the issues", which is code for no mud-slinging. Let's see how long that pledge lasts. I won't be holding my breath.
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And now, politics is out of the way for a bit, let's talk religion, or the practice thereof. Lot of press lately about the proposed building of a Muslim community center and mosque near ground zero in New York City. This has raised the hackles of a lot of people and filled a lot of bandwidth, airtime and column inches. This page does not offer enough space to thoroughly analyze the issue, but my general thoughts are that the Constitution has to be applied to everyone, even those you may not like much. Whether its fair to hold everyone who subscribes to the Muslim faith responsible for 9/11 is yet another question. As soon as I read widely that Christians are taking responsibility for every nutcase who blows up an abortion clinic or shoots a doctor I'll be more likely to lay 9/11 blame at the feet of our Muslim neighbors in our country. Or the Crusades? Am I responsible for that particular bloodshed since I am a Christian? How about some critical thinking on this issue and less emotion?
In the meantime, there was a story in a local paper about Lee County mosques opening their doors during their holy month of Ramadan. They want to try to dispel misunderstanding by inviting non-Muslims into their places of worship. I applaud their efforts. Shining light on a subject is always good. One of the less desirable human tendencies is to hate and fear that which we do not understand. So, throwing open their doors to educate and welcome those with questions or the just curious is a great move. After reading the story, I made the mistake of looking at the comments section, the anonymous comment section. It was filled with the most hateful, ignorant comments that I've read in quite a while. Wow! If this is the reception that local Muslims get from the general public, I'm in awe of their willingness to throw open the doors to their places of worship. The Muslim families in Lee County did not blow up the towers on 9/11. Yet they seem to be an easy target for those who want an easy solution to life's complicated problems.
The readiness of those who would wear the label Christian to attack Muslims simply for their adherence to their faith is equally disturbing. Anyone who has spent time with the Bible, recognizes that there is plenty of violence to be found there, especially the Old Testament. Virtually every religion has been used as a springboard for violence against non-believers. Christianity included.
For example, just days after the aforementioned article ran, some Lee County residents woke up to find Aryan Nations fliers on their lawns. The Aryan Nations are a white, nationalist neo-Nazi organization that claims to be preparing for a "Racial, Holy War". They proudly claim to be "Christians" and spew hate and venom on Jews, Blacks, immigrants, gays, "race-mixers" and anyone who doesn't agree with them. I won't be claiming anything in common with these "Christian" hate-mongers at any point, nor will I feel responsible for their actions as self proclaimed "Christians."
Sad to think that Lee County is viewed as fertile ground for recruitment for this hate fueled group. I think we're smarter than that. Here's hoping that they find a chilly reception.
Missy Layfield
Editor