All we need is a Christian candidate
Letter to the Editor
First of all, I must admit that I have been one of the many quietly complacent students here. However, things I have seen recently in The Observer have finally brought me to action in writing. I have two purposes within this letter.
The first is to set a few things straight with Mike Marchand. I was first incensed when I read his March 6 column decrying gun control. I was close to writing, but again, my complacency got the better of me. Luckily, the March 9 issue included a very good refutation for Marchand's arguments. Ryan Davis took the words out of my mouth ( Marchand, why in the heck not have "smart guns" which could take over where human error and innocent irresponsibility take over? If only one life is saved, it is more than enough to justify the law.)
Marchand's arguments remind me of a friend of mine back home who would support the right at all times (his family believed George W. too liberal). On the subject of George W. Marchand wrote another column which requires an answer. For one thing, I wonder how someone as politically savvy as George W. could not know about BJU's "racism and anti-Catholicism," even after past Republicans have visited the place in previous years. I'm not saying that GW is a racist, but I am just saddened if he is really willing to sell out on Catholics to court the far right (and equally so if the Democrats do the same thing.)
Maybe he genuinely didn't know about BJU, but if he did, he shouldn't have identified his party with it. Mr. Marchand's assertion that Bush has the support of Catholics in the "millions of Hispanic Catholics" in Texas is simply wrong. As a Hispanic Catholic from San Antonio, I know this is certainly not the case. As the GOP goes, he is making significant headway with some Hispanics, but he is a far cry from the support that Marchand implies. To a very large extent, Mexican-Americans identify themselves with the Democratic party, even to this day. His winning Texas was not due to the Hispanics, but due to the state's strong GOP base.
This brings me to my second point, a point which I share with A.J. Boyd (as seen in "Inside Column," on March 28), that I find "offensive ... those who replace "Catholic" in their personal philosophies with ideas like `conservative' or `uniformity' and think the difference is negligible." His words have finally lulled me out of my complacency to write (I would first like to make clear that I do not categorize Marchand in this group; it would be unfair of me to as I do not fully know all of his political stances).
I think it is absolutely sickening to see a Catholic sacrifice his or her beliefs in favor of a party or ideology. A case in point was the Democratic U.S. Representative primary two years ago in my home district. The primary, of course, was essentially the election because, in my largely Hispanic district, the GOP hardly stands a chance. Both Democratic candidates were visible and prominent Hispanic Catholics. However, both were ardently "pro-choice." How can any Catholic run on such a platform? Similarly, how can any Catholic support capital punishment as the GOP does?
The sadder thing is that, even in largely Hispanic Catholic districts, the voters don't seem to care that they are electing a Catholic whose platforms directly contradict one of the absolute most sacred teachings of faith, or they are faced with electing a lesser of two evils. It is sad when people let ideology shape what they believe, when Christians are expected to put their faith above all else.
I think it is kind of interesting that Father Bill Seetch put in an article on March 28 also trying to give us a wake up call. I remember talking with him a few months back expressing my political frustration. I told him that I could not be a Republican because of their positions on gun control (or lack thereof) and on capital punishment (i.e. "the way we do things in Texas"). However, I could not consider myself a Democrat because of the party's official disregard for life's sanctity in abortion. He told me that he agreed with me, and was very helpful.
I wonder why there can't be a politician (maybe even a president?) who puts his or her Christian beliefs above the party and political arena, when applicable (for instance in issues of abortion, debt relief and capital punishment). Why can't there be a politician who will not sell out to BJU or to racism in Al Sharpton (if what is said about him is true?) I think that there must be somebody out there reading this who is called into politics and who also is strong in faith.
I personally don't know if I am, but be assured that I must and intend to answer whatever calling I receive. I hope that more people in the church, laity and clergy will encourage its members to seek politics as a way to set things right, in accord with the universal ideals found in Christianity, and in reality, all faiths ( respect for life, helping others almost to a socialistic point and safeguarding peace, to name a few).
I hope that someone will answer this call to be a true good servant of this country, but a first servant of God and all people. That way, we won't have to choose between the less repulsive of the platforms. I heard Father Seetch say this once, and I hope other priests may echo this, "get your rear end into politics!" if you are so called. Do not neglect your vocation.
Jason Villarreal
Freshman
Keenan Hall
March 29, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Thursday, March 30, 2000
