Immigration & The Bible – Leviticus comes back to haunt Conservatives

These days, religion and politics seem to be one in the same. The line has been blurred so much that I sure as hell don’t see a line any more. Most issues are constantly debated in terms of the Bible, whether its abortion (“life is sacred and granted by God”) or even the war in Iraq (“end of days” anyone?). As evangelicals have hijacked the GOP, they’ve installed a religious litmus test for candidacy: only the most pious may win. And the Democrats? Don’t vote for them, they’re a bunch of godless, druggie, homosexual, Mexican lovers. The GOP evangelicals often quote Bible passages to argue their points, the most obvious which is their stance on homosexuality. “Leviticus! Leviticus!” is the only evidence they use to argue that homosexuality is sin. Well, if we’re working under the assumption that the Bible is the law of the land, what about the part regarding immigrants, another hot-ticket wedge issue pimped by the GOP? Let us consult our trusty virtual Bible to find out…

Leviticus 19.33-34: When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Or, the modern translation:

Leviticus 19.33-34: When the Mexicans are living in the USA, treat them with respect. Treat them as if they are an US citizen. You used to be an illegal alien too, you know. I’m the man!

Seems pretty obvious to me. If evangelicals followed the Bible as well as they claim, they’d be all about amnesty and helping out immigrants. Instead, we see the opposite: xenophobia, hatred, and racism. And yet the pundits still wonder why the GOP is bankrupt in more ways than one.

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I hope it is Rohrabacher’s family that suffers the consequences of illegal torture.

So Rep Rohrabacher says it’s ok to torture innocents for the greater good and that if we don’t support his view, he hopes our families suffer the consequences of a terrorist attack. Lets turn the tables around for a bit: I hope it is Rohrabacher’s family that suffers the consequences of illegal torture. Mr. Rohrabacher, I’d just like to ask if you’d be willing to submit your family to torture in order to prevent a terrorist attack? No? Why not? A true patriot indeed…

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Snoopgate: Freedom vs. Security

What do I think about recent revelations that president Bush authorized a secret domestic spying program?

I think Benjamin Franklin said it best:

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Conservative apologist talking points seem to revolve around the idea that this sort of erosion of civil liberties is somehow an essential trade off in protecting ourselves from a terrorist attack. I ask them this: Who needs the terrorists to disrupt our way of life and destroy the founding principles of this nation when our own government seems perfectly willing and able to do it for them? With friends like these, who needs enemies?

The terrorists have taken some lives and some expensive real estate. It’s starting to look like my government has taken a lot more.

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