Christian right's compassion deficit
More than 100,000 dead in south Asia, but it's business as usual at the web sites of America's Christian right organizations
It took President Bush three days to ready himself to go before the television cameras and make a public statement about Sunday's devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck southern Asia. Even though he was late, and much more money will be needed, the president pledged at least $35 million in aid to the victims of the disaster. But, as of December 30, some of the president's major family-values constituents have yet to be heard from: It's business as usual at the web sites of the American Family Association, the Family Research Council, the Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America, and the Coral Ridge Ministries.
These powerful and well-funded political Christian fundamentalist organizations appear to be suffering from a compassion deficit. Organizations which are amazingly quick to organize to fight against same-sex marriage, a woman's right to choose, and embryonic stem cell research are missing in action when it comes to responding to the disaster in southern Asia. None of their web sites are actively soliciting aid for the victims of the earthquake/tsunami.
In fact, there is no mention of the giant earthquake and tsunami that devastated southern Asia. There are no headlines about the dead, injured or the tremendous damage; there are no urgent appeals for donations; there are no phone numbers to call; there are no links to organizations collecting money and providing aid for the victims.
You pretty much can't go online these days with out being asked to help the poor folks in South Asia. apple.com's front page is bumped by an appeal, even one of my printing vendors is soliciting and then matching donations. All in all it seems the entire civilized and compassionate world is rushing to the challenge, except for these pious, holier-than-thou assholes on the religious right. The "American Family Association" is apparently far more worked up about "Gay Ski Week" in Telluride, Colorado.
Events like the death and destruction in South Asia pretty much affirm my lack of belief in what most define as "God." And if I'm wrong, and he exists, I have no shame in saying, "Fine, if this is the way you treat people, I'm glad not to be a party to it." As far as the jackasses who line up behind a God that would do this, could they at least pretend to care? Like our phony-ass President, all the talk of values and morals is a mere tool towards their goals.
Do I need any more reasons to completely reject organized religion?
[UPDATE: Rude Pundit on the [lack of] reaction from the President. And here is the transcript from his idiotic press conference.]
[FURTHER UPDATE: Which Party was the Party of values and "compassionate conservatism"? RNC site vs. DNC site.]
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