Seeing what he wants to see

Father Jonathan

This dumbing-down of politics is both a consequence and cause of cultural decline. Democrats are now in the spotlight and we are watching.

On Wednesday, new House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi pointed to a painting behind her, hanging on the wall of the Library of Congress. She signaled a figure burning a scroll of learning and trampling on the Bible. The title of the painting was "Corrupt Government.” She explained: “It is a harsh image to see a Bible underfoot, but it makes a powerful point: corrupt government undermines our values. We come here today to support those values, and to lay out an agenda for a new era of honest, open, and transparent government.”

It would seem Nancy Pelosi is saying the values of America can be found in the Bible. I am impressed. Maybe she knows America was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs and plans on entering the battle to save the American soul. To do this, she will have to hold Democratic policy up to that very high standard. I'm not holding my breath.

If there is one thing to remember, it is this: culture, not politics alone, determines our national identity, and building culture is the responsibility of us all. We can do it in our homes, schools, and places of work, even as politicians fumble around on Capitol Hill. If you need a guidebook, ask Nancy Pelosi. She just might point to the Bible.

I haven't seen this particular painting, but I doubt Nancy Pelosi was endorsing the Bible as the ultimate compendium of American values. For one thing, the Bible endorses slavery and misogyny, two "values" I hope are no longer revered in America. I expect the Bible in the painting was symbolic, something Father Jonathan doesn't seem to grasp.

The somewhat condescending comment about holding up Democratic policy to the very high standard of Judeo-Christian beliefs is bizarre given the complete lack of moral standards exhibited by most of the outgoing 109th Congress, including all of the openly Christian Republican leadership. Was Father Jonathan not watching them when they were in the spotlight?