True Blue, through and through

By Debra LoGuercio

©Copyright 2004, Debra LoGuercio, all rights reserved

So. This election was about moral values, was it. Ergo, moral values are the sole property of Red America. That’s what they’d like you to believe, anyway.

I keep trying to wrap my brain around Red moral values, and all I can come up with is they oppose abortion and don’t want gays marrying. They are vehemently pro-life, but their concern for life ends as soon as the umbilical cord is cut. They fret and fuss over the sanctity of marriage, yet spend their energy preventing certain people from marrying rather than preventing others from divorcing.

Their “morality” is an obsession with controlling other people’s personal decisions. They aren’t content to mind their own business and let people be responsible for their own choices. Sure, Jesus said “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” but what did he know. We’re talking Christian values here.

Right Makes Might. That what this election taught us. Me, I’m not so interested in making might. Maybe that’s why I lean left. I have less than zero interest in controlling others as long as they’re not harming anyone else.

Why else am I True Blue? I pondered that question following this election, and finally figured it out. There’s an underlying philosophical difference between Republicans and Democrats. The Reds ask, “What’s in it for me?” Blues ask, “What’s in it for us?”

Bingo. I’m more of a “what’s in it for us” kinda gal. Voting Democrat offers absolutely no personal financial gain. That’s A-OK with me. Accumulating mass personal wealth was never my goal. I’m more interested in making a positive impact on the world than padding my wallet.

“The love of money is the root of all evil.” I take that to heart. But Paul. Dude. They aren’t listening to you either. They have their own agenda. Go sit over there with Jesus.

The older I get, the more I appreciate Paul’s wisdom about money and greed. So naturally, a party that lusts after wealth, and boasts tax cuts at the expense of services to the poor and sick is unattractive to me. I’d rather give up a few dollars for “us” than hoard them in my pocket for “me.” Here’s why:

“And Jesus said: ‘For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. Naked, and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me… Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, my brethren, you have done it to me.’”

That’s the foundation of my moral values. My True Blue, Left Wing, bleeding heart Liberal moral values. And I’m proud of them. Very proud. And I won’t stand quietly by while the Red Right declares ownership of moral values and Christianity. God help Jesus when he comes back, because I fear some of these so-called Christians will crucify him all over again. They wouldn’t know Jesus if he was staring them in the face. That’s why me -- a (surprise) former Sunday School teacher -- no longer participates in organized religion. I’ve discovered that the farther I get from church, the closer I get to God.

There’s the other reason I lean to the left. Our Constitution allows me to stay as far away from church as I want. It does not dictate how (or if) I must worship. It also allows you to attend church seven days a week if you wish. Knock yourself out. If that makes you feel closer to God, I completely respect that. Each of us is free to choose his or her own spiritual path, thanks to our Constitution.

The Constitution compels us to protect our freedoms, not limit them. It is the foundation upon which this country was built. Ironically, Red America seeks to limit freedoms, from marriage to civil rights to freedom of speech and freedom of the press, while declaring itself to be the party of not only morality but patriotism as well.

A patriot no more thumbs his or her nose at the Constitution than a Christian thumbs his or her nose at Jesus. I see Red America doing both. That’s why I’m True Blue, through and through. Morality and Christianity do not belong to Republicans. Nor does patriotism. So I’ll declare my Liberal beliefs loudly and freely whenever I can, because Jesus said I should. And the Constitution says I can.