“We’re on a mission from God.”

 
Yes, this is one of Dan Akroyd’s quotes in the film The Blues Brothers.  Sadly, what I am actually referring to is the sentiment of Republican vice presidential nominee, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.  Gov. Palin said last week, in a speech to her former church, the Wasilla Assembly of God, that “Our national leaders are sending them [U.S. troops] out on a task that is from God… That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God’s plan.” 

She also urged students to pray for another aspect of what she called “God’s will,” which is drilling for and building a $30 billion natural gas pipeline in Alaska.  According to Gov. Palin, “God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that.” After a decade of building, this will open up Alaska’s natural gas resources to us.  Sure, this will ease our dependence on foreign oil for a short while, but only in 10 years and only until Alaska’s resources are used up, and then we’re back at square one.  Then what?  This pipeline seems like putting a bandaid on a disarticulated head– 10 years late.  I guess it’s also God’s will for us to destroy even more of the planet and perhaps finally drive the polar bear into extinction. 

Gov. Palin has vowed to implement God’s will from the governor’s office, and she said something like developing natural resources and paving roads “…doesn’t do any good if the people of Alaska’s heart isn’t right with God.”  So,  is my heart not right with God if I don’t support big oil companies and I want to protect endangered species on the Alaskan wildlife reserves that will surely be adversely affected by building a pipeline?  Is my heart not right with God if I believe we need to seek alternative energy sources sooner rather than later? 

The big question is:  does it even matter if my ”heart isn’t right with God”?  The answer is no.    

Whatever happened to separation of church and state?  It seems the Republican party touts its closeness with God and promises to enforce His will so that it can appeal to the lowest common denominator of uneducated, religious extremist voters in America.  Unfortunately, there is a growing number of these people in our country.  We have historically seen this during times of war– growing numbers of religious zealots, not the uneducated.  Just look at World War II.  People became more religiously aware then, too, because it offered them comfort and some kind of explanation for the hardships they endured.  This isn’t just limited to the American experience, but rather is a common occurrence in all human society.  The ancient Egyptians became more religious during hard times of droughts and famine, only they referred to the deity as Ra.  Our country is going through this phase yet again with this war.  I know this is nothing new to the Republican party.  Why else would they even bring God into the campaign?  This goes hand in hand with the cheap trick of choosing a woman vice presidential candidate.  It isn’t because she has all this experience the Republicans say is necessary for the new White House (she has quite the contrary; it is arguable that she is less experienced than Barack Obama).  No, it is because she is a female, plain and simple.  It is surprising to me how many white female voters who were in the Hillary camp are now backing John McCain because of Sarah Palin.  They say she is relatable.  She’s a religious zealot who supports mass hysteria in the name of God (like the kind of hysteria of speaking in tongues and rolling in the aisles in her former church.  Have you ever attended a church service like this?  I have, and I can confidently say that I would never vote one of these people into public office if they think God is talking to them and forcing them to throw themselves around the room while swaying and swooning and shouting jibberish.  “Sha-na-na-josenufra shemon!  Vote for me!”).  Sarah Palin is a former beauty pageant contestant with big hair who wishes to deny the reproductive rights of women.  How is that relatable to Hillary supporters?  The only similarity I see here is that we all have vaginas. 

I’ll tell you who can relate to Sarah Palin:  Jake and Elwood Blues.  Like Jake says in The Blues Brothers, “Ya see, me and the Lord have an understanding.”  Jake further says, “YES! YES! JESUS H. TAP-DANCING CHRIST… I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT!”  Sound familiar?  Perhaps Governor Palin should don a black suit, hat and sunglasses.  She can even pose on the Bluesmobile in the swimsuit she wore in the Miss Wasilla pageant, clutching an American flag and propping her Down’s syndrome child– wearing a tunic embossed with the cross of the Crusaders– on her knee for added sympathy points.   

I really don’t see anything wrong with a former beauty queen being the vice president of our country, and I think it does give her a perceived sensitivity towards healthcare needs since she has a disabled child, and I am honestly sorry that her little baby has Down’s syndrome.  What I do see wrong is the unabashed and constant dropping of God’s name and claiming to be part of some divine scheme.  Stick to the political issues, please, and don’t insult my intelligence with this religious mumbo jumbo.  And as far as calling the war in Iraq God’s will– well, I remember the last time Christians invaded the Middle East in God’s name.  It was back in 1095 and was called the Crusades.  No war should be waged in the name of a deity.  Not only is it morally objectionable to impose one’s religious beliefs on other groups of people, but it is just absurd.  What about people who don’t believe in a deity?  How do they justify a war waged on behalf of an invisible man in the sky who can see everything we do and read our minds and who controls the weather and apparently has deep conversations with Republican politicians?

Unfortunately, there are a lot of good old fashioned dumbasses in the US populace, and these people are going to elect John McCain president and Sarah Palin vice president.  What are they going to do when McCain drops dead from old age?  I know I don’t want Sarah Palin as the president of this country I love so dearly.  For the record, I’d rather have Elwood Blues.

Tags: Alaskan pipeline, Blues Brothers, God's will, religion in government, Sarah Palin, separation of church and state, Wasilla Assembly of God