Governor Rick Perry Insults Entire Human Race
There has been some speculation that Gov. Rick Perry's promotion of and attendance at the prayer rally in Houston was a calculated move meant to win the support of Conservative Christian voters. [1] While it was realized long ago that religious proclamations could prove quite useful to the political figures who uttered them [2], such an observation does not allow us to logically reject the possibility of sincerity. Cynicism or sincerity? One is not necessarily better than the other.
If Gov. Rick Perry's assertions were merely a cynical ploy, we would have every reason to be offended at the deception. Such manipulation, while no doubt often employed, is unworthy of an elected official. Gov. Perry's history, on the other hand, points in the other direction.
Although I accept that the Texas Governor's behavior is a case of honestly held religious belief, his sincerity does nothing to comfort me...nor should it any reasonable person. He has exhorted his constituents to pray for rain during drought [3], supported the idea of teaching "Intelligent Design" alongside biological evolution [4], supported the idea of a Constitutional amendment which would make discrimination against gay couples legal [5], and most recently, used his Governor's office to promote an explicitly sectarian religious gathering organized by a group defined by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a "hate group". [6]
This history of Gov. Perry paints a grim portait. Having rejected science for superstition and reason for theology, I find his continued popularity within Texas a sad reflection of the quality of education in the state and of how its citizens must view humankind's ability to handle challenges. These activities clearly say that Gov. Rick Perry simply doesn't believe we can face our economic and political problems on our own. The Governor is obviously sincere enough in his beliefs to publicly proclaim that humankind is incompetent, that we are simply unable to handle those issues so important to us without crying out to mythological figures for assistance. The fact that he believes such an absurd activity will actually help is both laughable and insulting.
If Gov. Rick Perry wishes to place his hope in Bronze Age superstition, let him go into seclusion and pray until his mind is at ease and we have forgotten him. I will place my hope in humanity.
[1] While Dubbed Apolitical, All Eyes on Perry at 'The Response'; National Journal; Alex Roarty; Aug. 6 2011
Perry to Evangelicals: I'm One of You; Associated Press; April Castro, Thomas Beaumont; Aug. 7 2011
[2] Lucretius expressed this idea followed by Seneca the Younger just to name a few. - JF
[3] Texas Governor Declares Weekend of Prayer for Rain; Kate Galbraith; April 21 2011
[4] Casey: Governor Perry is My Kind of a Fraud; Houston Chronicle; Rick Casey; Feb. 5 2009
[5] Rick Perry backs Constitutional Limit on Marriage; USA Today; Catalina Camia; July 31 2011
[6] For Prayer Event, Perry Teams with Controversial Group; The Texas Tribune; Jay Root, Morgan Smith; June 7 2011
