The Slight-of-Hand Which Blinds the Faithful

A friend of mine, (whom I agree with) recently voiced their shock and frustration with the fact that many in the audience during a recent GOP / Tea Party candidate debate, voiced their desire to avoid providing Health Care to those in need.

My friend's thoughts and their posted link:
"We could not believe our ears last night during the Tea Party debate when the crowd screamed, "let him die", really? Hardly the party for life

.Audience at tea party debate cheers leaving uninsured to die

If you're uninsured and on the brink of death, that's apparently a laughing matter to some audience members at last night's tea party Republican presidential debate. Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a doctor, was asked a hypothetical question by CNN host Wolf Blitzer about how society should respond if a health..."

My responce:
Quite frankly, it is in keeping with the biggest applause garnered during the previous week's Republican contender debate; when it was mentioned Gov Perry had the lead in executions, with over 230! To say the GOP is "Pro Life" is just a typical, slight-of-hand, brain washing for the sake of swaying Protestant votes.

** WARNING: A "how I really feel" moment, coming on...

Witnessing momentum from groups such as The Tea Party or the GOP within the South / South West / a.k.a. "Bible Belt" is a real shame to me.

A real shame to me when it seems so many of my fellow Christ followers, have just become "followers" of causes well outside of their faith; simply for the presumed sake of being loyal and following. So few seem to be questioning the facts and actual moralities of what they are seeing demonstrated within the very bodies they are choosing to support. That whole desire within a completely free Nation to imagine one is under persecution, can certainly be a bit contagious; and unfortunately, VERY misdirected towards so many of the wrong things! This apparent desire to "withstand persecution" is about the only thing I can assume is continuing to influencing the miss-directed loyalties of the Bible Belt / Christ Centered votes towards the GOP. It sure isn't the "facts" which are having an influence.

Such easy pray, has proven to be quite the easy voter conversions for decades within the GOP political machine. Brilliant marketing! And rather embarrassing for all of us Texan's; since no group has proven to be more susceptible than those within our apparent, peer pressured, peer susceptible, scared to think outside our box, "Bible Belt" followers. "Conservative thinking" is all most can relate to, perform or know. And unfortunately someone has convinced many that "conservative" (a.k.a. stalled, FROZEN, blindly loyal or paralyzed) thinking and being scared to call a spade a spade within their own previously aligned party factions, is the more "moral" way to be. It has become a religion in and of itself.
(One that has actually convinced many, that caring for the poor and sick is the cause of our debts! And that ignoring the TRILLIONS spent every decade on war is a normal or "moral" way to think! It has become an insanity! And my local, Christian, Brothers and Sisters can't seem to pull themselves free. They are actually joining movements to the contrary!)

However, such ignorance and naivety is as productive as denying scientific facts; so why not just throw in economics, biology, sociology, political science and humanities in the denial pool while your at it. We've already tossed physics, micro-biology, genetics and geology right out the window. This way the Christian community need not maintain any educated positions on ANYTHING significant. I've often said, "think goodness my more conservative Christian friends, don't believe Genesis addressed micro-processors or medicine."
- I Digress!

Life is lived well beyond the womb. To be Pro-War, Pro-Guns, Anti- Heath Care, Pro-Record Setting Death Penalties, etc... yet also claim you're "Pro Life" is just insane! It is like being Pro-Christ and Anti-Grace! Which is a another typical irony of the GOP! It is like being Christian and being Pro-GOP! Very ironic - isn't it??

I can't find any respect for these false divisions and false pretenses of morality any longer. Christ would have no part of such hypocrisy! Far to blatant to simply be ignored anymore. It is like trying to pretend "liberal thinking" isn't at the heart of this country's foundation and our most inspiring examples of progress!

Where would The Civil Right Movement,The Deceleration of Independence, Our Constitutional Amendments, Our Entrepreneurs, or any significant inventions, technological leaps or even our Faith be without Liberal Thinking?!?! The Tea Party will give birth to NOTHING! Nothing but animosity and a longer term rut!
(Try this: Name someone of significant influence to your Faith or our country's history, and research their own personal persuasion on such matters of thought. Edison, Thomas Jefferson, the Write Brothers, 99% of our Founding Fathers, Jesus Christ, you name it! ALL, THOUGHT AND PERSEVERED WELL OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT ZONES. None, followed the pack, or were easily influenced by groups as lame as the GOP.)

If Christians continue to think their role is to fit into boxes and follow the masses or influence within their own tiny local communities, they will only serve to exacerbate this countries issues and the corruption of the political scene. Not impressive! A waste of one's faith and a waste of one's freedom to vote as individuals within a democracy; versus the brain dead reality of being so easily influenced by blind peers.

But I write all of this knowing full well the "backfire effect" will certainly play it's part in preventing anything mentioned here of having any influence on much of anything. :-)
http://youarenotsosmart.com/2011/06/10/the-backfire-effect/
** The Back Fire Effect:
"The Misconception: When your beliefs are challenged with facts, you alter your opinions and incorporate the new information into your thinking.

The Truth: When your deepest convictions are challenged by contradictory evidence, your beliefs get stronger."

The Slight-of-Hand Which Blinds the Faithful