A correspondent writes me, regarding today’s Federal Marriage Amendment shenanigans:
It’s a fun day at work today…
The real ‘muricans are in an up-roar today over the stupid amendment. First they were upset over the fact that the Democrats aren’t supporting the president 100%. Then they were angry over the fact that the GOPer’s are changing the amendment to try and get a few more votes.
They are going to have a prayer session today and tomorrow, and are not so jokingly proposing a “strangle a democrat” day tomorrow. Good times.
The head real ‘murican just wants to round up all the traitors and kill them.
And they are red-faced angry.
Lovely.
While I’m generally reluctant to comment on anyone’s patriotism or adherence to American values (since most such commentary is itself unpatriotic and un-American), I’m willing to go out on a limb here and say the “real ‘muricans” described above are dolts, and woefully ignorant of fundamental American values.
I have plenty of criticism for the Democrats, and for the Left. That doesn’t mean I don’t have criticism (often analogous) for Republicans and the Right, too. Like, I suspect, most Americans do, toward both ideological extremes.
Those unnamed ‘mericans are not even representative of those who proposed the FMA. Note the recent story where a gay intern of Wayne Allard is confused by Allard presenting a scholarship to him for being an excellent intern. It is dangerous sport to impute motivations for those both for and against this. And for those of us who call ourselves Christian, it is sin to do so (Commandment 8 or 9, depending on how you number it).
Hmmm. Is it “bearing false witness against your neighbor” to impute motivations? I suppose it is, though it’s a difficult thing to avoid. Still, it’s also dangerous in civil discourse to do so; it’s easier and safer to describe (condemn/support) the act than describe the actor’s motivations.
That’s the exegesis done by the Westminster Larger Catechism. The prooftext used is Neh. 6. Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem and there was a letter imputing his motives for doing it.