Wes' Blog Cabin

Rose-colored, Ketchup-filled glasses.

I'd like to answer some of Jonathan and Dawn Rundman's thoughts here. If you haven't read my last entry (and their comments) "A Bush in a Sea of Flowers," maybe start there and then pick it up here. If you've met the prerequisites, you're ready to move on. Congratulations.

First to Jonathan. Again, thanks for blogging with us. Stop by any time. You mentioned in your entry...

"The difficult thing (and Kerry is finding this out, as well) is that it's tough to explain the Democratic position on issues in a short media sound byte (or on a blog), because I believe many of these issues are excruciatingly complex and full of that n-word, 'nuance.'"

I find this very interesting. I've always considered the Democratic party the master of sound bites. It seems to me that the isolationist, personal-"freedoms"-at-any-cost mentality fits very nicely on bumper stickers and protest signs. Emotional buzz phrases like "wage peace" and "woman's right to choose" are so radically disconnected from their actual meaning, yet they've had a huge impact on a culture; a culture that would rather digest sound bites than feel the full weight of their personal and collective decisions. The truth is, it does matter what we do. However, it matters just as much what we don't do. When we don't make a stand against the elimination of millions of babies because we don't want to impose our views on others, we are, in fact, willfully doing nothing. We are allowing evil under the clever, slippery, sound bite-worthy veil of freedom. Likewise, when we don't stand up to tyranny, we are willfully doing nothing. We are, in a very real sense, taking part in the wrong.

The philosopher Edmund Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion. "

Naturally, many read this quote and think, "Ha. See? Someone has to stop that tyrant John Ashcroft."

I too think that the current administration is pushing the envelope, in regards to taking our freedoms from us. Freedom is inherently dangerous. The nature of being a free and open society exposes us to risk. We need to live with that and understand that. It's a price worth paying.

But what other evils are seeping through our culture? How can we look at the science of human conception and conclude that abortion is a viable option for others, if they so decide? I have never once heard someone say, "I truly think that a fetus is not a human. That's why I think abortion should be legal." Never. Not one single time. And, believe me, I've discussed it with many, many people. Instead, what I've heard from the pro-choice mind is this, "I personally believe the fetus is a human being, and therefore a wrong choice...for me. But I could never decide that for other people. That wouldn't be right." This is, of course, a completely indefensible stance. Nuanced? Yes. Reasonable? Not at all. In fact, it is a blatant admission that a human life is being snuffed out. AND a blatant admission that this individual is unwilling to do anything about it. We are, in every sense, standing by and watching evil. Well-meaning, nice...and even Christian...people (and, apparently denominations) are perfectly content and comfortable allowing what they believe are people to be killed. And why? Because the issue is complicated? Because it's nuanced? That's an amazingly bold thing to profess. It's a very small cheese cloth umbrella to hide under.

Dawn, likewise, thanks for giving your opinion here. I'm glad you're here, too. I'm glad you brought up the issue of children (and other neglected people in our society). This is obviously a huge issue. Major. I'll spare waxing about the obvious contradiction of supporting abortion rights under the guise of caring for children. I think that what is less obvious is the very subtle and dangerous defense of the defenseless that comes from the Democratic Party. It is extremely arrogant and, I think, racist. People of every race have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is a concept that I didn't make up but I'm a big fan of it, nonetheless.

The problem with the Democratic platform is that the ultimate savior for the down-trodden is the government. African American leadership has bought into this lie completely. And the consequences of taking that bait have been absolutely disastrous for the average African American in this country.

Star Parker is an African American single mom that grew up on welfare in Los Angeles. She is an amazing example of just how the welfare system is inadvertently designed to keep someone on welfare dependent on welfare for the rest of his or her life. She's also an incredible example of how to brake free from that system. She has written some amazing books. Check out her website to find out more about "Pimps, Whores, and Welfare Brats," her personal life story and "Uncle Sam's Plantation," her views on the role of government. Amazing. Through her organization Coalition on Urban Renewal & Education (CURE), she has done a lot to push for welfare reform and to give inner-city kids the right to have a decent education through the use of vouchers.

How is it that the Democrats can fight against school vouchers for poor urban kids? These vouchers would give all kids the chance to go to any school they wanted, giving them the best chance to get the best education; something every mom in America, single or otherwise, wants for her kids. The liberal ideals systematically eliminate the choices available to the poor, all in an effort to assist them.

But the real danger of the average wealthy American (of which I would count the Rundmans and myself) leaning on the government to take care of the poor, the sick and the needy is that we are able to completely detach from the very people we are so concerned about helping. If we leave it up to the government to meet the needs of the needy, 1.) the government will meet those needs in the most sterile, lifeless, and bureaucratic of ways and 2.) we can wash our hands of the whole affair. We end up thinking (consciously or unconsciously), "How nice for those people. It's nice that someone somewhere is doing something. And, luckily for me, I've really not felt any sacrifice or pain on my part. I'm still allowed to be a good consumer, amassing unprecedented amounts of possessions. The government takes a (not so) small portion of my income, those people are dealt with, and I can move on with life."

This, of course, is overstated. But the net result of the democratic platform is not too far from this. And it is inherently racist. It is also inherently not a Christian position. We are called to love our neighbors. We are called to make available to God all the things He has left in our stewardship.

Nica and I recently went to a Crossways seminar, led by it's founder, Harry Wendt. One of the things that he rightfully pounded into our heads was this; We do not own anything. Everything comes from God. We have been entrusted with much. Now what are we going to do with it? Are we going to pretend like we own our cars and homes and toys? Or are we going to listen to the Holy Spirit and give back to God what is already His, moment by moment, day by day?

This is a simple concept but one that would radically change our world if we lived like we believed this. If the uber-rich suburban Republican Christian world would live as though their possessions were not their own, our world would be radically changed. People would not feel compelled to fix our nation's woes with the helpful hand of the government. In fact, they might be inspired to get involved in helping others.

My Christian worldview would never allow me to align myself with the sterile, lifeless, passive-aggressive Democratic worldview. (How perfect is it that Kerry is married to a Ketchup baroness? Ketchup; America's addition to world cuisine.) But I don't want to become one of the people that intertwines the words "Republican" and "Christian," either. I want to daily assess what Nica and I are doing with what we have been given. We are, to be sure, not doing enough. We will continue, to be sure, to do what the Holy Spirit asks of us. We will continue to allow God to do amazing things through what He has given us and we will continue to get in His way with our own short-sighted selfishness. Therein is the tension that will always exist. It's complicated. It's nuanced. But I can live with that.

A Bush in a sea of flowers.

We reached a milestone as a family today, Nica and I. We put up a "Bush/Cheney '04" sign in our front garden. We're letting our colors fly here in South Minneapolis. Keep in mind that we live in the most liberal neighborhood in the most liberal city in the most liberal state in the U.S. Minnesota has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate every election since the invention of Democracy. Yes, even back in ancient Athens, Minnesota was voting for the DFL guy.

I hope a Peace Riot doesn't break out on our block because of our yard sign.

10.04.04 UPDATE: Upon our return from the "Grand Canyon Tour," I noticed our Bush/Cheney sign was stolen. But no rioting, as far as I can tell.

In a related note, us HFT folks were exiting an interstate in The Buckeye State, when we realized that traffic was being stopped by state troopers. We were right next to the Toledo International Airport. As we were asking each other what was going on, I noticed that there was only one plane on the runway. It had a powder blue stripe down the side. Yes, it was Air Force One.

Then I started thinking about the number of troopers flying past us, going the opposite direction, on the interstate we were just on. I realized there were no other cars on the other side, Just troopers. As I was telling the other kids about this, we notice a sea of flashing lights coming towards us from that direction. They take their exit and then fly right past us. It was George W. Bush and Friends on their Magical Media Tour. Mike had his crazy picture phone with him and got a great snap of me with the Prez. Mad Props, Mike. You can't tell from this picture but there were about 30 vehicles in the entourage. You can't see Air Force One, either. But trust me. It was there.

In the interest of starting the world's first-ever online Peace Riot right here, who are you kids voting for and why? What are the issues that are important to you? Let's see if we can have a nice discussion where we say nice things for the nice people. We can give our opinion without being abrasive, right?