Rick Perry

Texas Governor (and Republican Presidential hopeful) Rick Perry has a television commercial currently running in which he proclaims his Christian beliefs. More exactly, he proclaims his homophobic fears of gays; and decries the lack of public prayer in schools.
The good Governor and I share a “growing up” background. Both of us were raised in small towns, both were involved in Methodist churches in our youth. Here is where we split, if you will.

The Christ I learned about was one of compassion, love, forgiveness, kindness. My Jesus believed all people to be created with an ability to look past the outer shell and find the person within, a person who had battled his own devils and triumphed; a person who believed in good in all people. The Jesus I grew up with did not mock those of different persuasions; he opened his cloak to all, and said, come unto me.

I live, by choice, in a state where I am not of the dominate faith. I understand well the ease to dictate prayers, symbols and attitudes when you are in a position of domination. I also understand that this country was founded on a reliance on a Supreme Being; and it is our choice in this country what we call this Supreme Being, and how we choose to worship. I do not believe that the government has the right, privilege, or duty to dictate prayer or worship of any deity, be it in school, business, or government entity.

This discussion is one Governor Perry will not have with me, or with you. Governor Perry is casting down a gauntlet, in effect; saying you either hate someone for their love and beliefs, and side with him; or you are not a Christian; and with that statement, he puts those whose lives are outside his realm of comprehension into a place of sin.

America! My country, has been and will continue to be, a melting pot of the best and the brightest. It is a country, free and wild, founded on multitudes of freedoms. A country where you can walk down the street, openly, without regard or concern as to which section of town you are in; where your religion or your ancestry matters not. America is, at her best, a place where individuals can succeed beyond their wildest dreams; create, innovate, and profit from their dreams; building a better future for themselves and their families, however those families are structured. America, our country, was founded with the belief in representation from all sectors and beliefs, a place where good overcomes evil, and the basic interests of all are well served.

Governor Perry is certainly entitled to his opinions, and I do not take his right to voice those opinions away from him. It is my opinion, however, that a person with so narrow a view on life does not deserve the nomination of the Republican Party, or accession into the high office he craves.