DeLaying Consistency and Morality

Ok, back to my political ranting for a minute: Tom DeLay was off on a tear about embryonic stem cell research. According to Mr. DeLay, "'Embryonic stem cell research is 'a scientific exploration into the benefits of killing human beings... This bill tramples on the moral convictions of an awful lot of people who don't want their tax dollars to be spent for killing innocent human life,' DeLay said." The President has also vowed to veto the bill that would lift funding restriction on this type of research. ( cnn article )

This fills me with hope! I am going to contact the Representative's office immediately to have him sponsor a new bill banning war and the death penalty. In war, we accept the killing of innocent civilians, including a disproportionate number of children, as collatoral damage that is a necessary evil for making political progress (choke, cough, Iraq! ). We know that war kills some innocent human life in the hope of saving other innocent human life, and that can't be right. After all, we have proof that those civilians, even the ones that aren't Americans, are unique, individual human beings.Unlike issues surrounding the unborn, we can all agree on that, right?

We also know that at least a few innocent people have been executed under various death penalty laws. While I applaud the persuit of justice, it can't be right to sacrifice those innocent lives in order to meet out justice against the truly guilty. After all, as Mr. DeLay so helpfully points out, it is unnacceptable to kill innocent persons to save innocent persons. It's also helpful to keep in mind that Jesus told us "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." [Luke 15:7] Who are we to short circuit the possibility of God's redemption reaching the guilty? Many criminals repent, some even go on to lead productive lives. Also, millions of Americans oppose the death penalty, mostly on moral grounds. It wouldn't be right to spend their tax dollars on the killing of their fellow human beings.

As a Christian, I oppose war, the death penalty, and the unnecessary destruction of unborn life. It is my hope that, with allies like Mr. DeLay and President Bush, we will quickly outlaw all of these unChristian acts and create a shining city on a hill; a light to the world.

Either that, or I hope that the public finally realizes that Mr. DeLay, Mr. Bush, and their friends on the "religious" right are all playing polticial games with human lives, at every level, from the unborn, to the born, from the innocent, to the guilty, within and without our borders; and possibly worse, they are playing games with the word of God, using Him as an excuse to help build political power.

BTW - Amnesty International just released it's human rights report, which addresses what a wonderful "light" we are to the world. ( cnn article -- Amnesty International ) Do I even need to say how I feel about my tax dollars funding the torture of my fellow human beings?