I’m not a political animal at all. It’s not that politics and politicians don’t interest me; they do. It’s that they usually frustrate and disgust me so much that I find myself needing to have some type of a ritual cleansing after having been around them (both “politics” and “politicians”).
However, there are times when moral limits are crossed (or, perhaps in this particular case, completely ignored) and I feel the need to express a few thoughts. Plus I was asked if I’d do a “review” of President Obama’s special thanks to Planned Parenthood.
It doesn’t take Mr. Obama long before he enters into “campaign year mode” by talking about those who would “deny women the care they rely on.” Really? I didn’t know we were taking away doctors and other medical professionals who offer these services from women.
“Let’s be clear here; women are not an interest group.” That turn of phrase is almost laughable considering this is a group the Obama campaign specifically targeted in 2008 (they held a 12% lead over McCain among American women; that’s a huge difference in the realm of politics and elections). Even by issuing this “word of thanks” to an organization like Planned Parenthood, he’s zeroing in on women as an interest group.
Within seconds he mentions that all these women are perfectly capable of making choices about their health. That might become even more a reality if the Supreme Court rules that the President’s health care act is unconstitutional (which was clearly the Obama administration’s way of saying, “You can’t be relied upon to know what you’re doing when it comes to your health so we, the government, are here to help you make that decision”).
The president’s thankful that PPFA gives women a “new lease on life because a mammogram caught her cancer.” Funny; I read just this morning that PPFA does not offer mammograms. The whole kerfuffle over the Komen Race for the Cure brought that to light. Oops.
Then there’s the “dear woman who can sleep easier at night because she can choose when to start a family because she can afford contraception.” I thought that’s what our government funded public school system was for. Oh wait, I forgot that dropouts and graduates probably no longer can show up at their local elementary school’s nurse’s office and ask for a free condom, so yes, they probably will lose sleep over that (and probably a lot of other things, if my guess is correct).
If this weren’t an election year, the barb against “professional politicians” might go unnoticed. Notwithstanding that Mr. Obama is a “professional politician” also, I’m sure he’s never “stood in the way” of something he opposed. I’m certain that he moved to the side and let “progress” move on ahead because it affected so many people as well.
“Eliminating the funding for preventive care that millions rely on” is about as close to saying the a-b-o-r-t-i-o-n word as he’ll get in this little speech. This is what abortion is, at its simplest: preventive medicine. “What? You’ve got a baby inside you? Come visit us; we can prevent that baby from ever being born.”
As he moves toward wrapping up, Mr. Obama says that “you shouldn’t play politics with a woman’s health.” To this I wholeheartedly agree. It’s just unfortunate that PPFA is one of the biggest and richest politic/medical groups around. But I’m sure they would never use that kind of clout to “play politics with a woman’s health.” Thanks to them for that, I guess.
Now obviously, most all of my comments thus far have been tongue-in-cheek, laden with cynicism and even a dose of sarcasm. This is why I’m not “into politics”; I’m not good at it. I’m not adept at wrestling with issues in order to turn them to my favor. I simply want a moral government with statesmen at the helm; not politicians, statesmen. We have very, very few of these around. Maybe we can get the president to put them on an endangered species list.
All kidding aside, as I draw this to a close, the taking of life is a serious issue. There’s no other way to describe abortion: it is the killing of another human being whose choices have all been stripped away for the sake of the pragmatic, self-centered, economic and psychological illogic of another. It is a moral issue, and yes, we can legislate morality. We see our government doing this quite frequently. If pressed, you wouldn’t want it any other way. Otherwise anti-slavery legislation or child labor laws would not be in place, would they?
Mr. Obama’s gratitude toward an organization that has as one of it’s many specialties the taking of life is vastly unfortunate. Should we campaign against him and his administration’s policies regarding this? Absolutely. I, for one, believe in “political litmus” tests. The sanctity of life, after all, is very precious, sacred and granted to us as a gift to bear and protect. If the leader of this land does not hold it in the same way, I cannot possibly trust him to care for the millions under his authority.
As a Christian, I am also called upon to pray for the head of our country. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.” Whether I agree or disagree with who our current president is, what he stands for or the policies he puts forth, he has been placed there by a far higher power than the American people. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
So, it is our responsibility to pray for the person who holds that office, as well as all those under him. Matthew Henry, a puritan pastor from many, many years ago, did a great service to the church by offering a pattern for praying that was saturated with Scripture. Under the category for intercession, he gives several Scriptural prayers for those who are in authority over us as our leaders. I offer these to you for your consideration, especially in light of what we’ve seen and heard in this video presentation:
Give our ruler your justice, O God, and your righteousness,Psalm 72:1(ESV) that he may defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor. Psalm 72:4(ESV)
Let his rule be established with righteousness, Proverbs 25:5(ESV) and upheld with steadfast love. Proverbs 20:28(ESV) Give him long life and length of days forever and ever, and let his glory be great through your salvation. Make him glad with the joy of your presence: through the steadfast love of the Most High let him not be moved. Psalm 21:4-7(ESV)
Clothe his enemies with shame, but let him shine; Psalm 132:18(ESV) and continue him long, very long, as a foster father to your Israel. Isaiah 49:23(ESV)
For the success of all endeavors for the reformation of manners, the suppression of vice and profaneness, the support of religion and virtue, and the bringing of them into reputation.
O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and establish the righteous – you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God. Psalm 7:9(ESV) Spirit many to rise up for you against the wicked and to stand up for you against evildoers. Psalm 94:16(ESV)
Let the Deliverer come to Zion and banish ungodliness from Jacob; Romans 11:26(ESV) and let the filth of Jerusalem be cleansed from its midst by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning. Isaiah 4:4(ESV)
Let all wickedness shut its mouth; Psalm 107:42(ESV) and let the infection of that plague be stayed by intervening judgment. Psalm 106:30(ESV)
Let those who are struggling against sin never grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:3-4(ESV)
Remove the spirit of uncleanness from the land, Zechariah 13:2(ESV) and change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that they may call upon the name of the LORD. Zephaniah 3:9(ESV)
Set us high above all nations in praise and in fame and in honor by making us a people holy to the LORD our God. Deuteronomy 26:19(ESV)