"Ya Gotta Believe in Something"

"Ya gotta believe in something", that's what I was told yesterday is I entered into a political discussion with one of the novices I work with. The issue of believing in something came up as we were having a discussion, albeit a frustrating one, about the presidential race and who we were voting for. The woman I was discussing this with started repeating like a parrot all of the platitudes that FOX tv likes to propagate about Barack Obama.  

One that came up, in particular, was the comment about Obama being Muslim and his apparent unwillingness to put his hand on the bible. I"m not aware of the bible one, but I"m fully aware that Obama's opponents like to cast him as a Muslim due to his name, and his short experience as a student of a Muslim school in Indonesia. I'm so tired of hearing this one that it brings me to the point of pure anger towards those who repeat these lies which are simply veiled racism. For those who have a problem with his middle name, I have this to say, you are a narrow-minded racist, plain and simple. What's wrong with his middle name you ask? Well it sounds Muslim right? and what's wrong with Muslims? Well they hate America and they aren't Christian right? Well if you follow this line of reasoning, which some of Obama's opponents do, then it naturally should lead to some self-realization of one's own racism. However, it doesn't because nobody in America is racist right? And certainly not those who have a problem with Obama's middle name, or the fact that he has Muslim roots. 

I think it's purely sad that people still think like this. They vote values, not policy or which candidate will do the most for them. Strange twist of irony that some of those who profess to have their values are selfish, calculating, and only looking out for their own interests? Furthermore, the religious always like to describe themselves as peace loving, accepting individuals, yet they hate those who are unlike them, and yes, this is hate when you shun someone for not looking like you, not having a name like you, or for not being monocultural like you. We hate what we don't understand right? And I think that this woman that I was talking to, and other like her, simply don't understand the world on a broad scope. 

So after refuting her notion that Obama is a Muslim, he's actually a self-proclaimed Christian, I then turned to the notion of why is this even important. I responded that I could not care less what Obama's religion is, and that I was an Atheist. I then asked her am I a bad person because I don't believe in a god? She was noticeably shocked and struggling for words. Then she says, "well, uh, you gotta believe in something." You're right, I do, well said, but that doesn't mean I have to believe in a fiction. I learn valuable lessons from movies, tv, and literature that are works of fiction, but I know they aren't real, they're stories. I didn't say this to her, but I always think it when this topic gets brought up. What I did tell her was basically that I believe in treating human beings with respect and dignity simply because of their intrinsic worth as people, not because a god tells me I should. She was still shocked at this proposition. 

What  I find in all of this, and people who think like this woman, is a bunch of hypocrisy, narrow-mindedness, and self proclamations of superiority. And what this all equals to me, is sadness and disappointment that people actually think like this. I'm not saying all of this simply because I'm an Obama supporter, I'm an Atheist, I don't hold it against Obama, or McCain, that they are religious. So the difference comes down to how I think they will treat the multicultural and multiple class composition of American society. Unfortunately there are those in our society who are still full of ignorance so they hate those that are unlike them. They vote how they select their acquaintances, which is to say that they select people who look and think like they do, carefully nesting themselves in a social grouping that will never challenge their ideas. 

What makes this even more disconcerting is that in politics, somebody with a broad perspective is needed to run a national government, since after all, we are a very diverse nation. Unfortunately this woman will vote for a man who represents a small portion of American society, and will disregard the rest. She will fall for the dirty tricks that keep rich, white men in power. The wolf in sheep's clothing. 

So yes, you should always believe in something, but one should not be dictatorial about one's opinions. And when it comes to politics, one should be concerned with practical issues, tangible results, not some incorporeal value that doesn't always project itself onto the job an elected official does.  This woman is perfectly entitled to practice and believe what she does, but she should choose to use her mind to reach whatever conclusions she reaches. And she should stop being narrow minded and as arrogant to think that everyone thinks like she does, or that everyone who thinks like she does will do what is best for her in government. I know plenty of Christians that are corrupt, and I know plenty of Atheists who don't lie, cheat, and kill. So what's more important? Believing in common values like honesty, respect, and tolerance, or believing in a certain religion? Is it more important that someone profess to be a Christian? or actually practice a morally sound lifestyle?