Difficult to Forget

Why are Bush, the Christian Coalition and the Religious Right, in general, frightening to many?

Simple. It is easy to make a connection between the mentality of those whose racism was legal up until the 60's and their descendants (Bush, the Christian Coalition and the Right). These descendants may no longer be racists, but they certainly still evidence the same authoritarian rigidness and unwillingness to yield to the forces of change as their ancestors did so blatantly. Too often today the Far Right says or does something strongly reminiscent of the past - a time transcribed and televised for all to remember. This, I believe, is what engenders such revulsion in some, including me.

What otherwise mainstream Americans did without remorse, shame or unease during the civil rights movement has not been forgotten no matter how much the Right thinks it ought to be. Those who stood up to defend racism so willingly - predominantly white protestant southerners - are difficult to forget. Pro-segregation arguments made then by congressmen of education and power or even men of the cloth are difficult to forget. The impulses and fears that drove otherwise mainstream citizens to defend with violence such outlandishly unjust policies are difficult to forget. The Right's willingness in time's past to show an unadulterated hatred towards anyone who would dare to challenge their status quo are difficult memories to forget.

But then, as they were the majority in the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, they had little incentive to change. This is human. It was as it probably always has been and will be. But thankfully this country is blessed with a constitution amenable to change - even change the founding fathers could not foresee. And thankfully this country is blessed with a system of law that accounts for the tyranny of the majority by way of checks and balances.

Thankfully, despite all its flaws, our system works. For instance, no one religion shall easily usurp our government for we are not a theocracy. No matter how often it is said, we are a diverse people and growing ever more diverse. We are evolving as our understanding of what it means to be human evolves.

However, the religious right deserve their place at the table, no doubt, but no longer will they be allowed to exclude others under any pretense or subterfuge. Their ghastly table manners from the recent past have simply not yet been forgotten and the rest of us are not soon to let them forget. :)