FORCED STARVATION and FORCED FEEDING
The Congress in its infinite wisdom saw fit to personally intervene in the Terry Schiavo case. Many of its members (but not all) believed that they should exercise its influence in stopping what they judged was the inexcusable starvation of this tragic women - {getting mixed up in a 'political eating disorder'.
Whereas many Americans applauded the Congress' unusual intervention as only fulfilling their high ethical obligation, many others did not. The dissenting group concluded that the Congress had over stepped its boundaries.
Now the Congress is being called upon to once again "provide oversite" in a case of what might be diagnosed as another instance of a theme and variation of 'political eating disorder'.
However this time the sickness has spread from one person to an entire institution and there is no doubt about the authority of the Congress to intervene.
I am referring to the brave appearance of Chaplin Melinda Morton on Night Line commenting on her resignation today as Chaplin at the Air Force Academy.
The essence of her resignation was motivated by her strong conviction -backed up what appears to be solid facts - that the Air Force Academy is actively sanctioning Evangelical Christianity to be forced down the throats of the cadets even though this is a clear violation of the Constitution.
Perhaps she is accurate, perhaps not. What is certain is that the Congress has a mandated opportunity and constitutional and ethical responsibility to personally intervene in this case.
I look forward to the Congress once again exercising its collective wisdom to do whatever they feel is necessary to contribute to healing this "sick" situation.
How about an 'up and down' roll call public discussion so we Americans can get a good look at what ethics, and high moral principles, are really all about?
I hope the President and Vice President and any other of the major leaders of our country will also give we Amercians their wise and considered counsel concerning this very important matter.
Curing this illness will not be easy. There are packs of 'wolves in sheeps clothing' masquerading as the truest "Christians" who in actuality are behaving like the worst of the fanatic crusaders convinced their way is the only way. Discrepancies between stated lofty principles and actual lowly actions are denied and, or, brushed over. The following quotation is representative of this mind set:
Focus on the Family, an evangelical ministry in Colorado Springs that had called criticism of the academy unjustified, said in a statement, "We fervently hope that this rediculous bias of a few against the religion of majority - Christianity - will now cease." {New York Times, 06/23/05}
The words of Montaigne penetrates to the essence of this gross perversion of the true Christian spirit: "Supercelestial throughts breed subterranean conduct."
Very good point!
Posted by: MJ | June 23, 2005 at 09:42 AM
Very good point!
Posted by: MJ | June 23, 2005 at 09:42 AM