Glad the ad's are over, but the news cycle reminds us that this is just the beginning. Today we see the ugliness at its best with a Super Pac presenting an ad that appeals to the fears and shallow-mindedness by painting Jon Huntsman with suspicion over his connection with China.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZeVqj-t1U0&feature=player_embedded
In an age of Super Pac's, we don't know for sure who submitted this ad, but all should speak loudly denouncing such a message.
I am not making a statement about Mr. Huntsman, but rather a culture that presents multiculturalism, multilingual, diversity, and education in a negative way. Why is intelligence presented as elitism, and scholarship viewed with suspicion, and diversity painted as un-American? Everything this video tries to present with suspicion are qualities that we should admire. This is only symptomatic of how many candidates try to present themselves as having a monopoly on faith and values. We are not seeking a pastor-in-chief, or theologian of the United States, but someone that exemplifies leadership. This does not require "Christian" in the title.
From my experience, I have worked closely with a Muslim friend who exemplified tremendous leadership and happened to be Muslim. To share another experience, a family member of mine has a friend who leads a brownie troop. Many in the community do not allow their children to participate because this leader happens to be atheist, but happens to be an excellent mom and positive leader for the many children that do participate. Further, this kind of thinking has led many of the children to ask this leader's children at school if they knew they were going to hell? Really? Is this what we are teaching our children? Is this the kind of faith that transforms, or is this one that is based on self-gain? This is faith that is motivated by saving ourselves with the fear of hell rather than a faith that transforms. Are we called to live separately in this melting pot, or can we live with religious differences together and maybe learn from each other. Wouldn't our faith provide a better witness from loving and participating together with those of different faith traditions?
As many candidates try to present a monopoly as the candidate of Christian values, are they being motivated by faith, or are they manipulating religion for self-gain? I would propose the latter and hold off on judgment based on religious traditions. Pascal says this best when stating, "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." Let us love one another in our differences and seek the best in each other rather than taking something beautiful...such as faith, and making it such an ugly thing that divides rather than unites.
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