…. Even at the New York Times.… And it’s amazing when it happens… such as today, with Ross Douthat [1]
It may seem strange that anyone could look around the pornography-saturated, fertility-challenged, family-breakdown-plagued West and see a society menaced by a repressive puritanism. But it’s clear that this perspective is widely and sincerely held.
It would be refreshing, though, if it were expressed honestly, without the “of course we respect religious freedom” facade.
If you want to fine Catholic hospitals for following Catholic teaching, or prevent Jewish parents from circumcising their sons, or ban Chick-fil-A in Boston, then don’t tell religious people that you respect our freedoms. Say what you really think: that the exercise of our religion threatens all that’s good and decent, and that you’re going to use the levers of power to bend us to your will.
There, didn’t that feel better? Now we can get on with the fight.
I’m amazed, frankly that something that hits so close to hokme made it to print in the Times. I can’t imagine the Calling-out carpet isn’t going to get used by the time most of you read this comment.
That said, however, let’s consider; Can anyone imagine the kind of disrespect for one’s religious beliefs being tolerated by the Times, and other leftist outlets as we’ve seen, as well as by the Democrats in the various cities, were the Chc-fil-A places being run by a Muslim?
Oh, and as an aside, I find this laughable:
I cannot improve upon the way the first lady of the United States explained this issue, speaking recently to a conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. “Our faith journey [2] isn’t just about showing up on Sunday,” Michelle Obama said. “It’s about what we do Monday through Saturday as well … Jesus didn’t limit his ministry to the four walls of the church. He was out there fighting injustice and speaking truth to power every single day.”
But Mrs. Obama’s words notwithstanding, there seems to be a great deal of confusion about this point in the Western leadership class today.
Hey, Ross, ol’ buddy, of COURSE they’re confused. Remember, Ross, this is the same woman who sat in Jerimiah Wright’s church for 30 years and claimed to have never heard the racist, socialist and just downright hateful crap he coughs up every time he opens his mouth, seemingly.
And the confusion is deeper than that, as well, since Obama and his wife apparently do not recognize that they themselves are the power so bereft of truth.