My New Year's resolution was not to remain silent. 

November 15, 2004-I was very despondent over the election results.  I decided that I had to respond to all of the hype about how moral values was the deciding factor for 22% of the electorate.  I was beginning to feel that those of us who view the world through a different lens are less American, less patriotic, less...

God is Neither a Democrat nor a Republican- sent to the Skyline View, Skyline College newspaper

I first voted in the election of 1968. I registered as a Liberal. I choose this affiliation because I passionately believed in the definition of the word. I still do, more so now than ever. The word liberal means free from bigotry, open to new ideas for progress, tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others. Liberal means that one is not limited to established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas. Call me an idealist, but I still believe with great vim and vigor the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. I share with many that utopian vision that America can do wonderful things - we've proven it time and time again. Yet, I can honestly say that I have never felt so despondent and fearful for my country as I feel today.

I am fearful for so many reasons. Today, sixteen words have created a new battleground. Debate rages about what our Founding Fathers meant when they wrote, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...". It is a known fact that the two philosophers who had the greatest impact on the people who wrote the U.S. Constitution were John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu. Both wrote extensively in support of a separation between religion and the state. Men like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were deists, they believed in the existence of God on purely rational grounds, without any reliance on religious authority. Throughout history, American leaders have made it clear that religion should be a private matter between a man and his God and that it has no place in state matters.

I am fearful because Jerry Falwell has launched The Faith and Values Coalition. He said in an interview on November 9th, that..."30 million evangelical Christians went to the polls on Nov. 2nd and voted their moral convictions. The Coalition's new agenda is a three-fold platform: (1) the confirmation of pro-life U.S. Supreme Court justices and other federal judges; (2) the passage of a constitutional Federal Marriage Amendment; and (3) the election of another socially and politically-conservative president in 2008, along with other state and national candidates. This agenda sounds like a "jihad" to me. It sounds like Jerry Falwell and his followers are out to hijack my country.

Moral values. Are moral values a myth? No, I do not think that moral values are some absurd myth that Republicans conjured up. Nor do I believe that only Republicans can connect with moral values. The last time I looked God did not register as a Republican or Democrat. As far as I'm concerned neither party has a corner on religious devotion or observance, church attendance, nor faith.
I particularly like how some Christians practice "selective morality". The question is whether it is ok to ignore some moral values while others get shouted from the rooftop? Do God's directives only apply in some cases but others? I don't understand why many advocate for the placement of the Ten Commandments in our schools, businesses, government buildings. Do they constantly need reminding about how they're supposed to live their life? For example, love thy neighbor-but not if they are gay, or pro-choice, or anti the Iraqi war...? How about the Sixth Commandment? Thou shall not kill-but are civilian Iraqi's infidels okay? I know my Bible-what ever happened to "blessed are the peacemakers"? How about "blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill"? Help the poor-but only some of them-because they are "our poor"? How about greed, corporate lying and stealing? How about the 45 million uninsured people in this country? Are these moral values? Jesus knew what he was doing when he chased the moneylenders out of the temple - greed and love of material possessions was not something he advocated. Yet, I don't hear many Christians complaining about this - no, the two issues which are the talking points for Christians are abortion and gay-marriage.

There are many of us out here (50% of the population) that passionately believe that poverty-caring for the poor and vulnerable-is a moral issue. We believe that human rights-treating every person as you yourself would like to be treated- is a moral issue. We believe that caring for the environment-caring for God's earth- is a moral issue. We believe that telling the truth is a moral issue. We believe that war-particularly ones which are unjustifiable-is a moral issue. In my opinion, this is the meaning of moral values.

Rosemary Bell