Yesterday, Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern caused a big stir and a media frenzy (49,100 results on 7/3!) with her offensive and blatantly factually inaccurate Oklahoma Citizens’ Proclamation for Morality. First of all, let me say that (surprising as this statement may be to those who are familiar with many of my political and social views) I am an unapologetic Christian (Methodist, baby!). I believe that Jesus died for my sins (and for yours) and came to redeem the world from sin, suffering, and death. I also believe that it is all Christians’ job in the world first and foremost to promote justice and to alleviate suffering throughout the world while spreading the gospel (Mother Teresa style)… NOT to go around condemning people. Didn’t Jesus himself say something about how the person who is without sin should throw the first stone? You can go ahead and label me a crazy fundamentalist now for being a Christian.
As a believer, as a human being, and as an American, I am horribly offended and repulsed by some of the claims made by Mrs. Kern in this proclamation. I do not agree with the ACLU on a great many things, but I do agree with the ACLU of Oklahoma wholeheartedly on the following:
The proclamation blames the economic downturn we are currently experiencing on abortion, pornography, divorce, and same sex marriage, among other things. Kern does not mention the greed of Wall Street elitists or the inability of our government to effectively regulate questionable financial practices that might be the true cause of our nation’s economic difficulties. Her proclamation is silent to meaningful solutions to address the very issues she blames for the “downturn of morality.” Kern’s proclamation, which amounts to a hate-filled diatribe, is full of inaccuracies. This proclamation alienates thousands of Oklahomans who are adherents to minority faiths or who practice no faith. It is unfortunate that she and others would promote such a divisive manifesto at a time when Oklahomans need to pull together to weather this current crisis.
Well said. I would have been at the state capitol myself protesting the signing of the proclamation, if I had not had to work yesterday afternoon.
For other eloquent refutations of Mrs. Kern’s vile proclamation for “morality,” see Rep. Al McAffrey’s blog entry and Rep. Ryan Kiesel’s speech. Mr. McAffrey and Mr. Kiesel are both Christians, too, by the way (I added this point not because I think it adds to their credibility – their points would stand as solid and well-reasoned regardless of religious belief – but only to illustrate that not all “Christians” are of the extreme right-wing Kern/Coulter/Limbaugh variety).
One other “God and Country” tidbit. The ridiculous GET MOTIVATED seminar was held in Oklahoma City a few days ago. I did not attend this event and have nothing to say about it… but I highly recommend Two-Headed Blog’s wonderful commentary regarding said event. One of their authors had the “honor” of attending. It’s a great read: Motivate This
On a personal note, the 4th of July is tomorrow and I’m off to a much needed vacation in Florida with my extended family. Fortunately these are people with whom I usually can avoid political and religious related conflict (because I agree with most of them on the most sensitive issues and can just use avoidance tactics with the others). I’ll be sipping on frosty beverages and watching the fireworks on the beach tomorrow night. This trip is much needed. I have become so upset by close-to-home political goings on in the past few weeks (and by political discussions I have had with people I know), that getting 1500 miles away from Oklahoma should do me a lot of good.
My laptop is coming on vacation with me, but it’s very unlikely that I will post anything for the next week or so. I also may not be able to moderate comments or reply to comments while I’m gone. Suburban Kitsch will likely be silent for a little while. Being a loudmouth is taking its toll on me – not that I post anything too terribly contentious on this blog (the worst of my soapbox speeches are usually displayed on other people’s blogs and comment pages).
Have a wonderful 4th.
July 3, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Kern’s proclamation is so completely absurd, and demonstrates nothing except her ability to misinterpret and mischaracterize historical quotations. She’s right up there with Falwell and others, in blaming disastrous events (9/11, Katrina, economic recession) on Teh Gays and Teh Abortionists. It would be too ridiculous to even get upset about, if only I didn’t know so many people around here agree with her.
One question I have on a comment you made in your post, though. You said:
For other eloquent refutations of Mrs. Kern’s vile proclamation for “morality,” see Rep. Al McAffrey’s blog entry and Rep. Ryan Kiesel’s speech (Mr. Kiesel is a Christian, too, by the way).
Would it have made a difference if Rep. Kiesel wasn’t a Christian? Perhaps I’m just overly sensitive, but every time I hear someone say something like this, I wonder if they might attribute less value to similar comments made by non-Christians. I’m sure that wasn’t your intent…I was just hoping for some clarification.
Have a wonderful vacation!!!
July 3, 2009 at 10:22 pm
“Would it have made a difference if Rep. Kiesel wasn’t a Christian?”
Good question! No, not at ALL. Truth is truth, regardless of the speaker. His statement would have still carried the same gravity if he were an atheist, a Muslim, or a Raëlian. I only threw that statement in there to appeal to other Christians who might be reading my blog. I wanted to show that you don’t have to be a far right wing nut-job to be a Christian. Even in Oklahoma.
July 4, 2009 at 7:17 am
Word.
Dwight mentioned that at the protest, there were a few protesters who were openly praying during Kern’s proclamation. I thought it was cool that there was such a diverse group of people that came out to protest…it wasn’t only gays and atheists.
July 4, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Juicing the Fruits
by James Nimmo
(OKLAHOMA CITY) I’m sure the sham of appearing at the Capitol and giving the impression this is a legislative procedure is exactly what was intended when GOPer Sally Kern and Krew planned their morality proclamation ceremony on July 2 in Oklahoma City.
If she were interested in promoting only morality and not instead, introducing her personal religious restrictions, why isn’t she using her own church, Olivett Baptist, as her backdrop?
As always with the mentally unbalanced words and actions are morphed into absurd definitions and shapes. Lies to support other lies are always invented, regardless of how holy the intent of the lies is supposed to be.
She speaks of divorce as contributing to national decline. How short her memory is for anything except bible verses.
Kern’s patron saint, Ronald Reagan, was divorced, as is Newt Gingrich and Rumbaugh twice each. Sen. Vitter of LA likes diaper sex with paid escorts and Gov. Sandford of SC abandons his family and state duties to amorize in Argentina. Gov. Palin of AK can’t teach her eldest daughter to say simple words like, “No”.
When you don’t set yourself up on a high soap box in the first place and then mistake it for a psychiatrist’s office you don’t have to fall so inevitably far when you come up short in your own life.
Kern should spend more time looking at the fruit falling close to her family tree ( http://tinyurl.com/krahr9 ) before she tries to juice the private lives of others.
July 6, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Talking about justice made me remember that I’d wanted to tell you about an organization I heard about recently. The founder, Gary Haugen, spoke at a church we visited.
He’s a D.C. Lawyer whose organization, International Justice Mission, works to rescue people (mostly children) out of human/sex trafficking. IJM employs hundreds of legal professionals and works all over the world.
http://www.ijm.org/
December 15, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Thanks for the well-written article, bookmarked and rss subscribed…