By TULSA WORLD
Added: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:00:00 UTC

Reposted from:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=61&articleid=20090702_61_A12_Itappe431227

It appears that the people of the state of Oklahoma aren't a big enough flock for state Rep. Sally Kern. Now she wants to take her message of hellfire and brimstone all across the land, possibly even to the halls of Congress and maybe even the Oval Office.

Kern, best known for asserting that homosexuality is a greater threat than terrorism, plans to circulate for signatures the "Oklahoma Citizen's Proclamation for Morality," a document that would "acknowledge the need for a national awakening of righteousness."

Certainly we're all in favor of righteousness, though there's liable to be considerable disagreement over exactly how to define it.

More on that later. First let's get to Kern's new economic theory which, if proven accurate, could win her a Nobel Prize, or at least a chapter in economics textbooks:

"We believe our economic woes are consequences of our greater national moral crisis," a draft of her proclamation states.

The Oklahoma City Republican isn't the first to float that theory, but so far no adherents have been able to satisfactorily flesh it out. Maybe she's referring to financial greed and corruption. We'll anxiously await further details.

Apparently President Barack Obama's proclamation declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month was among factors motivating Kern to come up with her own, which, if it advances, would have no real official weight.

The draft version says signers are alarmed that the U.S. government is "forsaking the rich Christian heritage upon which this nation was built.

It also states signers are upset by Obama's disregard for "the biblical admonitions to live clean and pure lives by proclaiming an entire month to an immoral behavior."

Kern is entitled to her views, of course, just as the rest of us are. And while Kern and others hold that the Bible condemns homosexuality, many other equally spiritual Americans believe otherwise.

It would appear Kern and her ilk don't embrace an American tradition cherished by most citizens: tolerance of other people's beliefs and faith traditions. That precious freedom — to follow the religious tradition of one's choice — is a hard-won objective that is an underpinning of the American way of life. Apparently that's lost on Kern and company.

Also see:
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=10597685

TAGGED: MORALITY, POLITICS, RELIGION