In the wake of the Glenn Beck “Restoring Honor” rally, talk of repealing the 14th Amendment and the demonstrations to prevent an Islamic Cultural Center from being built in lower Manhattan, it is time to recognize that America is swiftly heading for a cultural crisis of epic proportions.
The warning signs are evident, as a new “us vs. them” mentality begins to take shape in the American mainstream. The “us” in the equation are white, evangelical social conservatives who feel that their civil rights are being violated because our country now has an African-American president and a liberal, Democrat-controlled Congress. The “them” in the equation are people of color who are not necessarily Republican, conservative or Christian.
Our country has come a long way since the time of our Founding Fathers who fled religious persecution in England to champion the cause of religious freedom, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In the aftermath of September 11th, a new religious bigotry has begun to take shape against Muslims.
With freedom of religion being the rule in American government, it is amazing how governmental leaders are being criticized for their levels of Christian faith and that citizens (and troops) who are not Christians are viewed as not being real Americans. There is a saying that asks “What would Jesus Do?” and I wonder if Jesus would get on a platform and spew hateful rhetoric at those who do not believe as he does. I’m sure the answer would be no as the Bible says that Christians should love their neighbors.
In an effort to deport illegal immigrants from this nation, certain groups would like to repeal the 14th Amendment, which guarantees that all persons born in the United States are considered citizens. This would be done to expel illegal immigrants and their children who are born in the U.S. It is strange for a group to view themselves as pro-life and yet be interested in denying the citizenship rights of children.
Somehow our country’s attitude toward government has changed because social conservatives have been voted out of power in our nation’s capital. Because they did not win, they want to continue to fight against our elected president and Congress instead of accepting their leadership and trying to help fix the economy and other issues that we now face. The president who was elected in a democratic process is now publicly deemed a “socialist” and not American.
Those who are not aware should pay attention to this new social conservative movement that is heavily-laced with racism and outright bigotry. Beck’s “Restoring Honor” movement is really about taking back the hard-won civil rights of other races, religions and creeds. During the rally, Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy was desecrated by a niece who stated that King was a Republican who would believe in the ideals of Glenn Beck and social conservatives. In his lifetime, King was criticized by conservatives as being a communist agitator for seeking racial cooperation and a better way of life for African Americans. This is very similar to the trials that President Obama is now facing as MLK’s true heir to the Civil Rights Movement.
It is important to question whether those who are “Restoring Honor” are more interested in restoring racism, hatred and bigotry. During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans and others joined together to fight against discrimination and defenders of the status quo who believed that they were an entitled class who should remain separate from others. Today, the enemies of change are circling and trying to turn the clock back on our hard-won civil rights. It is up to each and every one of us to ensure that this does not happen.
Buford is president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.