Waking Up to NPR

Is usually one of life's simple pleasures. This morning, and I don't know whether this is due to a particularly curmudgeonly disposition on my part, but the stories I heard caused me to walk to school completely oblivious to the first tentative flakes of winter's precipitation tip-toeing around me. I try not to be too political on this blog. It really isn't my area of expertise. That being said, thinking like a Christian is fast becoming my area of professional expertise SO. . .

1) Pat Robertson of 700 Club fame has finally endorsed his candidate for the '08 election. . .(drum roll please). . . RUDY GIULIANI. What the flying. . .??? Rudy Giuliani - thrice divorce, pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage but, gosh darnitall, the man is tough on terror -- and he's promised us some conservative judges. PA-AT!!! YOU'VE GOT SOME 'SPLAININ' TO DO!!!

Now, to my readers who are evangelical block voters (and I know you're out there, stopping by for your daily dose of masochism at my liberal cockamamie hands) help me understand. You know, when your platform was anti-abortion I applauded you. When your platform turned to gay marriage bans, I rolled my eyes but at least understood how you came to your political views. But now I'm completely befuddled as to what particular moral high ground you are voting from. Seriously, I want to know, what makes your vote a "Christian" vote? It's not a vote against the ending of life in abortion, its not a vote in favor of the family (b/c the nuclear family is irrefutably the core of Christ's teaching, right?) its not a vote in favor of justice and peace and, the good Lord knows, you aren't voting for further financing of programs that care for the poor. So, seriously, I want to know, on what grounds can you claim your vote as a distinctively "Christian" vote?

And, of course, there are those who won't be supporting Rudy Guiliani, despite Pope Pat's endorsement. Sen. Brownback has thrown his hat in the ring with John McCain (not the worst republican candidate and, certainly, more consistent on the issues that, at least, used to matter to evangelical voters.) It appears that Bob Jones III is right around the corner from pitching his support to Mitt Romney. (A mormon. Yes, that makes sense. Its not like there are any congregationalists or baptists running for president -- at least not on the right side of the aisle.)

I'm not sure who I'm voting for yet but, it seems to me, the candidates who have done the most invigorating, most compelling thinking about faith and politics are sitting on the other side of the aisle. Folks, once Pat Robertson endorses Rudy Guiliani, any claim Evangelical block voters may claim to the moral high ground are gone. Wiped out in a tsunami of political party loyalty that betrays the fact that Jesus Christ came to take away our sins, not our minds.

2) And, as if that wasn't enough, the next story on NPR was about the release of 500 Iraqi detainees from American concentration camps (oh, don't get mad at me. Internment camps. Is that better?) The US government has decided that these people are "no longer" a terrorist threat. Hmm, pardon me but by "no longer" do you mean "never were"? Whoopsies! But, I'm sure these 500 men can have no ill-will against America now. After all, we brought in a military band to play music, we lined up folding chairs in a row, we even brought in a special speaker for their graduation from detainment camp. Yes, I'm sure there was much frivolity and caps being thrown into the wind. Much rejoicing and reminiscing about the good ol' days. "Remember the time we were hazed in the shower room before gym class. Golly, that Sergeant sure was a corker." "Man, I can't believe detainment camp is over. It seems only 4 short years ago, we showed up bewildered, got thrown in some lockers, forced to eat Western cafeteria food and those tests, boy, I can't even believe we passed them -- and by passed them, I mean we were caused to pass out from the waterboarding. Look at all we've accomplished since then. Boy, I'm sure I won't forget the good ol' days of Guantanamo Bay."

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the last, the Beginning and the End. . .Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.