Comments on: DPO Faith Caucus http://wandreilagh.org/2007/02/dpo-faith-caucus.html The verbal ramblings of Gavin White. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:31:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Christine http://wandreilagh.org/2007/02/dpo-faith-caucus.html#comment-69 Christine Thu, 22 Feb 2007 04:06:12 +0000 http://wandreilagh.org/2007/02/dpo-faith-caucus.html#comment-69 One of the comments Kari quotes that is not included in your post here is the following: "I see no reason why the Democratic Party has to accomodate right-to-lifers, homophobes, and all the other bigots evangelicals and fundamentalists welcome and encourage to their ranks." In some ways, it's not worthy of reposting--and I wouldn't, were it not for the fact that I have seen similar, if more eloquent and better-spelled, sentiment espoused by self-declared "tolerant" liberals. While I don't in any way believe that the far, far, FAR right (or any of the closer-in right) should be taking over the Democratic party, I do believe that we can set better standards for dialog with that element. In particular, we can show that we take tolerance and respect seriously--no need to out-Herod Herod at the insults game. The crass way in which the current administration has manipulated conservative voters into supporting policies and candidates that directly oppose core values of a variety of faiths--peace, love, compassion for the poor and weak--ultimately may provide a great opportunity for building new and unexpected connections. The Faith Caucus seems like the right thing at the right time. One of the comments Kari quotes that is not included in your post here is the following: “I see no reason why the Democratic Party has to accomodate right-to-lifers, homophobes, and all the other bigots evangelicals and fundamentalists welcome and encourage to their ranks.”

In some ways, it’s not worthy of reposting–and I wouldn’t, were it not for the fact that I have seen similar, if more eloquent and better-spelled, sentiment espoused by self-declared “tolerant” liberals. While I don’t in any way believe that the far, far, FAR right (or any of the closer-in right) should be taking over the Democratic party, I do believe that we can set better standards for dialog with that element. In particular, we can show that we take tolerance and respect seriously–no need to out-Herod Herod at the insults game.

The crass way in which the current administration has manipulated conservative voters into supporting policies and candidates that directly oppose core values of a variety of faiths–peace, love, compassion for the poor and weak–ultimately may provide a great opportunity for building new and unexpected connections. The Faith Caucus seems like the right thing at the right time.

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