A new low in politics...until tomorrow, that is
We reach new lows in political discourse almost daily now, so this really shouldn't come as a surprise. Nonetheless, after last week's vote in the House to override President Bush's ban on embryonic stem cell research (a rare, bold vote from this President-whipped Congress), the American Family Association put out an editorial condemning Republican Senator Arlen Specter for supporting embryonic stem cell research. The editorial, Arlen Specter - Poster Child, wouldn't be that significant, save for the fact that it mocks Sen. Specter's cancer.
For those who don't know, Sen. Specter was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease earlier this year. He's since undergone chemotherapy, suffering the dibilitating side effects that treatment causes. He supports embryonic stem cell research largely because he knows that research on embryonic stem cells could eventually be used to beat diseases like Hodgkin's disease (not to mention diabetes, alzheimer's and more).
"I look in the mirror every day," says Specter, "barely recognize myself. And not to have the availability of the best of medical care is simply atrocious."
Enter the right-wing propaganda machine. The American Family Association eviscerated Specter, saying his life wasn't as valuable as the two dozen children that frolicked on White House carpet with President Bush this past week, wearing T-shirts that cleverly said "Former Embryo." This amazes me, and reaffirms my thought that there is no length that the right-wing won't go in shoving their agenda down people's throats. Yesterday it was making fun of HIV/AIDS patients, today it's mocking someone's cancer, tomorrow it's saying people bring alzheimer's or Parkinson's on themselves.
I don't know what it will take to show this country that embyronic stem cell research could actually enhance the 'culture of life' so many seek to build, by ending disease and terminal illness. What I do know is that whenever I see an organization with the name "Family" in their title, it's time to get skeptical.
I had an 11th garde U.S. history teacher who once said that, nine times out of ten if you see the word "republic" in a country's name, you can bet that it's not a republic, but Communist or a dictatorship (i.e. North Korea, the former U.S.S.R, China). I'm starting to think the same of the word family - i.e. Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council, or the American Family Association. These organizations aren't committed to promoting a better world for families. They're committed to prostyletizing a harsh and oppressive version of Christianity that seeks to destroy rather than foster dialogue. And if they can justify making fun of someone's cancer, I'm sure they'll justify any means to promote their narrow agenda.
For those who don't know, Sen. Specter was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease earlier this year. He's since undergone chemotherapy, suffering the dibilitating side effects that treatment causes. He supports embryonic stem cell research largely because he knows that research on embryonic stem cells could eventually be used to beat diseases like Hodgkin's disease (not to mention diabetes, alzheimer's and more).
"I look in the mirror every day," says Specter, "barely recognize myself. And not to have the availability of the best of medical care is simply atrocious."
Enter the right-wing propaganda machine. The American Family Association eviscerated Specter, saying his life wasn't as valuable as the two dozen children that frolicked on White House carpet with President Bush this past week, wearing T-shirts that cleverly said "Former Embryo." This amazes me, and reaffirms my thought that there is no length that the right-wing won't go in shoving their agenda down people's throats. Yesterday it was making fun of HIV/AIDS patients, today it's mocking someone's cancer, tomorrow it's saying people bring alzheimer's or Parkinson's on themselves.
I don't know what it will take to show this country that embyronic stem cell research could actually enhance the 'culture of life' so many seek to build, by ending disease and terminal illness. What I do know is that whenever I see an organization with the name "Family" in their title, it's time to get skeptical.
I had an 11th garde U.S. history teacher who once said that, nine times out of ten if you see the word "republic" in a country's name, you can bet that it's not a republic, but Communist or a dictatorship (i.e. North Korea, the former U.S.S.R, China). I'm starting to think the same of the word family - i.e. Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council, or the American Family Association. These organizations aren't committed to promoting a better world for families. They're committed to prostyletizing a harsh and oppressive version of Christianity that seeks to destroy rather than foster dialogue. And if they can justify making fun of someone's cancer, I'm sure they'll justify any means to promote their narrow agenda.
posted by MikeJ at
3:50 PM
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