de

del

The American Taliban

In your own language
Foto: Afp

The American far-right often accuse American Muslims, even federal legislators and former President Obama himself, of wanting to import sharia law to the United State.

None of them have. 

But the far right and their Republican partners appear to be attempting to implement their own version of Sharia law in the United States.

Aided and abetted by Qanon and their promoters at FOX News, they are now the most aggressive political machine in the United States.

Events over the past few years would appear to indicate that the Republican Party and their allies in the U.S. have adopted many of the goals of the Taliban.

Despite the separation of Church and State contained in the first amendment of the constitution, the Republican Right seeks to create a Christian America based on their warped view of the Bible and perversion of the teachings of Jesus Christ. 

They may succeed as they now control dozens of state legislatures and governorships, as well as the Supreme Court.

Indeed, the far-right coalition won yet another victory in its quest for domination of the United States. The leaked information that the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn Roe vs Wade underscores the degree of influence and power which may lead to a further blurring of the lines between church and state and an erosion of civil rights, such as LGBTQ and African American rights, in the United States. Through the Supreme Court, Conservatives are now able to take the country back to when white Protestants were in control and towards a version of their country where their interpretation of the Bible rules. 

Yet, in my cursory review of the teachings of Jesus, he never spoke against homosexuality, same sex or interracial marriage, nor abortion. He never spoke against science. He never questioned knowledge or expertise as being non-Christian. He never disdained the poor or the sick. 

Jesus’s message was clear and simple – love each other. His message was the unity of humankind, not its division into “us and them”. His respect for women was absolute. His sense of inclusion manifest in whom he chose as disciples and followers. 

He had not an ounce of hatred or division in his bones. Yet those American right-wing Christians who claim to follow Him are governed by hatred of others. They are misogynistic, antisemitic, anti-black, anti-gay islamophobes who rail against those who don’t conform to their vision of “America”. 

Are these real Christians? Or a power-hungry group intent of establishing a theocratic “Christian” state in which no dissenting voices will be tolerated and no “truth” accepted except their own?

Am I exaggerating? 

Republicans are leading in the primaries for the November partial elections, and former President Trump looks as if he can win in 2024 according to polls.

Governors in a number of states have already curtailed the availability of abortions and many are passing anti-gay and anti-Black legislation and trying to avoid teaching their children about past injustices. Alabama has introduced legislation that will ensure that women who abort are charged with murder. A number of other states have similar legislation in the works. They are also legislating murder charges against women who use the morning after pill.

States like Florida and Texas have embarked on a wholesale banning of books in schools that don’t fit their vision. These books deal with sexuality, American history that speaks to the injustices committed towards African Americans and indigenous peoples and undermine the worldview that the Christian right seeks to implant in the mind of younger generations. Students will be all the poorer since they will be deprived of knowledge and experiencing the lives of others who may be different. 

If the idea behind the ban on abortions were the sanctity of life and of babies, then the right, in power in many states, would be legislating to secure the health and education of newborns after birth. Instead, they legislate against universal health care, day care, and good public education. The right to life in their view ends at birth. 

As well, they support the unrestricted ownership of military caliber guns despite the thousands of children murdered in school shootings over the past few years, and the killing of tens of thousands killed in public shootings that have become part of our daily news feed. In their “Christian” view, the rights to own guns trump the rights to protect children. 

So, in many ways, these are the American Taliban –religious extremists who seek to bind us to their view of life and deprive Americans of their liberty and democracy. 

They are a clear and present danger to the United States and all of us who believe in science, progress, freedom, and justice, and the rights of individuals to equality before the law and the right to follow their hearts rather than someone else’s creed and beliefs.

To fight them, Democrats must realize than the perfect is the enemy of the good. Seeking to implement extremist policies that don’t have a majority consensus will not get them elected. Dividing the party will not result in electoral victories. And ignoring the importance of state and local elections will continue to provide Republicans with the political base and institutions  that set electoral districts that affect minority voters as well as skew the education system towards their values.

Absolutist and extreme policy proposals sound good, but they will never allow the party to unite around a common set of policies and messages and a leader who can attract the center-right voters. 

Americans must go out and vote in droves for those who respect their fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms and save their liberal democracy. To motivate them, Democrats must select a matrix of policies that appeal to a broad swathe of moderate voters and select a leader who can deliver the message and galvanize them.

If not, the United States seriously risks becoming a theocracy under their own home-grown Taliban.

 

Keep reading: Culture Wars

[email protected]

 

Edición: Laura Espejo


Lo más reciente

Por primera vez en 27 años, EU modifica clasificaciones de raza y etnia para las personas

Permitirá que residente se identifiquen como hispanos, de Medio Oriente y herencia norteafricana

Ap

Por primera vez en 27 años, EU modifica clasificaciones de raza y etnia para las personas

Ataque israelí mata a 36 soldados sirios cerca de Alepo: ONG

El objetivo eran los depósitos de misiles del movimiento libanés Hezbolá

Afp

Ataque israelí mata a 36 soldados sirios cerca de Alepo: ONG

Así es cómo la inteligencia Artificial predice el sabor y calidad de la cerveza

Los modelos pueden predecir qué compuestos agregarle para mejorarla

Europa Press

Así es cómo la inteligencia Artificial predice el sabor y calidad de la cerveza

Green Day encabezará concierto climático global respaldado por la ONU en San Francisco

La entradas estarán disponibles desde este viernes en Ticketmaster

Ap

Green Day encabezará concierto climático global respaldado por la ONU en San Francisco