Misplaced Faith (Why Ashcroft Frightens Me) (Super-size barf alert!)

The Washington Post ^ | 12/2/02 | William Raspberry

[BaghdadBarney]

I've been trying to figure out why people like Attorney General John Ashcroft frighten me. More accurately, I'm been trying to figure out how to say it in a way that makes sense. I think I know the source of my fear: the danger of an imposed theocracy.

To those who don't already agree with me, it won't seem fair to lump Ashcroft in with the religio-political right crowd that would shove its version of religious truth down our throats. There's nothing evil-appearing about Ashcroft; he seems only to have the strength of his convictions -- including his deeply held religious convictions. He doesn't rail at us, doesn't preach fire and brimstone. He's mild-mannered and earnest.

[BaghdadBarney]

"and I don't mean to impute this belief to Ashcroft..."

Then why mention him? Why write this column, Bill?

[wideawake]

Doesn't that urge, or something like it, drive the religious zealotry that, ultimately, justifies much international terrorism?

Ah, no, Assberry.

Islam drives the religious zealotry that, ultimately, justifies much international terrorism.

Unless you can name a Presbyterian suicide bomber for us, or cite the last Episcopalian plane hijacking.

[Eric Esot]

By targeting John Ashcroft for his religion, the Left is
violating the spirit of Article VI, violating Thomas Jefferson's vision of religious freedom, and violating the very principles of pluralism and tolerance that the Left claims to revere. What a bunch of hypocrites!

[Grampa Dave]

Ho Hum! It must be open season for the left wing maggots like the Ra$$pberry and other left wing maggots to savage John Ashcroft in the left wing fish wraps like the Compost this week.

Like the ugly big mouthed Estrich, the little wh$re Ra$$berry is attacking John Ashcroft.

Jake Reno, the Wookie,it, from their side could barbeque an entire group of people and no one on their side said a damn thing. Jake could kidnap little Elain at gun point on Good Friday and Ra$$berry and Estrich said nothing.

Just another example of how the Compost and its so called writers are nothing but spreaders of the DNC Bravo Sierra posing an oped!

[hobbes1]

The genius of America -- what has made this polyglot, polycultural, polychromatic nation such a success -- is that it has managed to devise a civic religion, less doctrinally specific but no less devoutly held, that can co-exist with the gamut of our private religions.
Is civic religion in danger too?

There it is Folks. The First Left Wing admission, that Secular Humanism is the De-Facto State Sponsored, and Enforced religion. An admission that respecting an Establishment of Religion, is OK, as long as it is a Godless religion.

[Matchett-PI]

He might have some credibility if he had ever voiced any *fears* about The Left before they started imposing their Marxist religion on the rest of us in a big way for the past 60 years.

Oh wait!!! He IS a Leftist! Leftists are allowed to enforce their *religious beliefs* on us.

Get ready. This is the type of article that will be appearing more and more in the Leftist media outlets. They will enlist the help of more *enlightened* professing Christians on the Left to help them in their efforts. (Just like the one who asked the profound SUV question, "What would Jesus drive?")

The funny thing is, that if the Constitution and the Rule of Law that undergirds it is upheld, he has NOTHING to worry about. The useful idiots that he hopes to influence, should be made aware of that fact daily.

[Sparta]

What a bunch of self-rightous pricks! They said nothing about Clintoon's abuses of power, but they whine and bitch about anything Ashcroft does.

[Dimensio]

Secular Humanism is the De-Facto State Sponsored, and Enforced religion.

Well, er, Secular Humanism is not a religion...at least, not a 'recognized' religion (although some people seem to think that a US Supreme Court ruling states as much, they turn silent or simply ignore documentation that soundly refutes their claim)

[rj45mis]

Dear Bill,

The Words inspired by Yahweh (God) were written by many men and women, whom He obviously chose, to be documented in a book we know as the Bible. This Bible is the largest selling book ever in the history of mankind and has been instrumental in the positive changes of many an individual. Millions of testimonies have been given and life changes witnessed as a result of the power of God's words. Archaelogical evidences are unveiled continually affirming the historical and geographical references found in the Bible. Satanic forces have unsuccessfully attempted to remove every Bible from the face of the earth. These attempts were unsuccessful because God has preserved His Word and He holds the ultimate power. Like you said, Bill, Mr. Ashcroft has conviction in his faith in God, but he doesn't cram it down your throat. Why can't you leave it at that? Is this your subtle attempt to place doubt in your reader's minds about the honest efforts of a godly man to influence our nation in a positive way? If so, shame on you! If Mr. Ashcroft is wrong in his beliefs regarding God's Word, what has he lost? However, if you're wrong in your beliefs, you've lost your soul forever. Think about that.

[7thson]

Call me a conspiracy theorist and break out the tin-foil hats, but I see this as attacking President Bush through proxy. President Bush - the liberals hate that - always, always says God Bless America at the end of his speeches. Recently, he stated the Christian purpose - everyone should help everyone else. The left hate this but they cannot attack President Bush on this topic. So, they try to go around him and attack his AG. If they can get people to start thinking that religion in government is wrong, they hopefully can get President Bush to cease mentioning God at every opportunity. But, like everything else they have tried - it will not work.

[Mr. Mojo]

I've been trying to figure out why people like Attorney General John Ashcroft frighten me.

I had no trouble at all figuring out why ex-AG Janet Reno frightened me. Perhaps this is because my fear was based on reason and experience, and Raspberry's is based purely on emotion.

[Grampa Dave]

You nailed with your reply below, I would modify it to read:

What a bunch of self-rightous pricks! They said nothing about Clintoon's and Jake Reno's abuses of power, but they whine and bitch about anything Ashcroft does.

[rj45mis]

The Words inspired by Yahweh (God) were written by many men and women

Oops, books were written about women, but not by them. My bad :(

[KC_Conspirator]

Just like the American hating left - they can't stand Ashcroft because he is a Christian, but they give a free pass to murdering islamofascists who are killing their fellow citizens. And they wonder why they lost the elections on Nov. 5th?

[Grampa Dave]

Their focus survey groups are showing them that attacks on President Bush are backfiring big time.

So this week they have started the attacks on Ashcroft, Rove and soon we will see other members of the White House under these hate attacks by the immoral and lying mediots!

You are right on target. This is how they will attack President Bush by proxy or his cabinet.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Take the subject of what to teach our children about our origins. Evolution seems such an obvious truth, religious beliefs and scientific arguments notwithstanding, that it seems clear to me we ought to teach evolution -- perhaps with a mention that other people hold a different view.

This is a quote from his column. I direct your attention to this particular portion:

Evolution seems such an obvious truth, religious beliefs and scientific arguments notwithstanding

Did you see it? When a Person of Faith rejects scientific argument summarily with a statement of "an obvious truth" they are rightly chastized for ignoring fact in the face of their beliefs. But Raspberry, and indeed most of those on the left, do the exact same thing with impunity.

Here, Raspberry has said that he believes in evolution so much that even scientific arguements are not enough to have him question it. It isn't a matter of his rejection of the religous beliefs that disturb me, after all he is an anti-religionist, I expect that behavior. It is his blind devotion to evolution "scientific arguments notwithstanding" that is galling.

According to him, we must teach that what is scientifically questionable in order to appease what he, as a leading biologist, er.., newspaper columnist, finds as "such an obvious truth".

His dislike for all thing religious is not surprising, his lack of knowledge concerning evolution is not surprising, his disregard for the education of our children is not surprising, but his lumping "religious beliefs and scientific arguments" as reasons not worthy of examining his assumptions is rather surprising.

[Sparta]

I like your modifications better than my original post.

Liberalism is a mental illness.

[Grampa Dave]

Or Lunatic Libs as a short description!

[Cicero]

I've been trying to figure out why people like Attorney General John Ashcroft frighten me.

See a psychiatrist.

[muawiyah]

Raspberry is AME so it's not surprising to see him railing on about how "uncomfortable" a Pentecostal like Ashcroft makes him feel -