In contrast to the Easter of the aggrieved Christian nationalists
The double freakout stoked by Trump and circulated among his right wing Christian nationalist followers over Easter weekend was a marvel of inanity, hate, and misinformation. The calendric happenstance that Easter Sunday coincided this year with the long-designated date of March 31st as the “Day of Transgender Visibility” was one flashpoint for these folks. The other centered on the rules for a White House youth Easter egg art contest, which is part of the more than century old tradition of the White House Easter Egg Roll. Christian nationalists, being the dour, touchy folks that they are, couldn’t simply partake in the joy of the this traditional event sponsored (since 1977) by the American Egg Board. Instead, they accused President Biden and his administration of an “assault on the Christian faith” for contest rules (issued by the sponsoring Egg Board) that included (for years) that the egg decorations “must not include any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements” (among other rules). What these poor touchy complainers are really protesting is respect for the separation of church and state.
Of course, the campaign of Mr. Trump, hawker of proprietary Bibles who compares the agony of Christ on the cross to his own supposed persecution, chimed in with “We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only — the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Is Trump really so ignorant of the history and substance of Christianity that he is uncertain whether “Catholics” are “Christians?” Given his past that would hardly be surprising.
This whole ludicrous weekend eruption is covered in detail by Todd Beaton in a post “Why The Right Really Freaked Out Over Trans Day Of Visibility Falling On Easter, There is a dark Christian nationalist ideology underpinning the right’s Easter weekend outrage.” It is a good read if you have time to delve into the right wing outrage machine that relies on the gullibility of its followers.
At the end of Beaton’s post is a video (see below) that speaks in the terms of the Christianity in which I was brought up, Christianity that seeks to unite, not divide. This is a Christian message with which I can identify. Remember this Christian message as you consider what Christian nationalists are trying to sell us in the upcoming elections.
Keep to the high ground,
Jerry
Clicking the video link below starts you at 7:19 and runs for just two minutes. If you have a few more minutes I urge you to watch the clip from the beginning. It is well worth your time.
What is below is from the Todd Beaton post referenced above.
As is Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock—who is a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta—who put it quite eloquently in an appearance on CNN on Sunday, ripping Speaker Johnson and his ilk for their attacks over Biden’s Trans Day of Visibility proclamation
“Apparently, the speaker finds trans people abhorrent, and I think he ought to think about that.
“This is just one more instance of folks who do not know how to lead us trying to divide us. And this is the opposite of the Christian faith.
“Jesus centered the marginalized. He centered the poor. And in a moment like this, we need voices, particularly voices of faith, who would use our faith not as a weapon to beat other people down but as a bridge to bring all of us together.”