A casual observer reading the title of this essay might conclude that it is a religious essay. But that is not the case at all. I believe that upon further examination, the contents of this essay will be revealed to be totally political. I have nothing against doing religious essays, but in this case it is my intent to deal with political matters. Specifically, I have in mind two aspirants to the Republican Presidential nomination. They are, of course, Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry.
Until Rick Perry checked into the race a week ago Saturday, Representative Bachmann had the ecumenical field to herself. Then Mr. Perry had a prayer meeting in Houston that launched him on his bid to be President of this country. If we have Mrs. Bachmann and Mr. Perry on board to make their religious pronouncements, I do not see any way that any deity will be against us.
As I said, Mrs. Bachmann had the religious field to herself before Governor Perry entered the race. Now, as it turns out, Mrs. Bachmann is married to a fellow who does what is called “reparative therapy.” Reparative therapy is all about turning gays into heterosexuals. I will make it clear how it works. Let us suppose that a man concludes that he is gay. If he places himself under the care of Mrs. Bachmann’s husband, the reparative therapy begins to take place. The best that I can determine, “reparative therapy” consists of nothing more than praying to God or some other supernatural creature who will turn the gay person into a straight person.
My thoughts on the subject of being gay have been expressed on numerous occasions. I find nothing wrong with being gay. If, as the religious claim, God made us in His image, it is obvious that therapy is attempting to reverse what God has ordained. It is my contention that being homosexual should be of no great concern. I have known many homosexual persons and tend to find them delightful. Can anyone on the political scene denigrate Barney Frank of Massachusetts and his accomplishments?
But reparative therapy is intended to alter God’s work. If anyone in this case could stand prayers, it would be the person in charge of reparative therapy.
Curiously, all of the attention has been directed toward male homosexuals without regard to lesbians. As far as I can determine, reparative therapy does not apply to the female gender. I believe this is a case of discrimination against women.
Mrs. Bachmann also has a peculiarity of getting things twisted. Recently the anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley was celebrated. Somehow Mrs. Bachmann came to believe that this was the anniversary of Presley’s birth, not of his death. So she led a few of her followers in some song about “Happy Birthday, Elvis Presley.” If Mrs. Bachmann ever becomes the Republican nominee and seems to have a chance of winning the election, I will begin to apply for Canadian, Mexican or Australian citizenship.
Now the case of Rick Perry has some interest. In the one week that he has been exposed to the national media, he has jammed his foot in his mouth repeatedly. That seems to bother Rick Perry not at all. There was the instance when Governor Perry said that if the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, created more money, he would consider that a case of treason. As a matter of fact, creating the supply of money is Mr. Bernacke’s foremost duty. And I don’t know whether anybody has explained to Rick Perry that treason is a capital offense.
It is Eric Holder’s job to call anyone to account who threatens a public person from doing his job. The fact of the matter is that Rick Perry can make such statements because the Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder, is as gutless as his boss is.
But once again, if Rick Perry were ever to succeed to the Republican nomination and show signs that he would prevail, you might find me in front of the Canadian, Mexican or Australian embassies with the intent to change my nationality.
I realize that the chances of Mrs. Bachmann or Rick Perry ever succeeding to the Republican nomination or the Presidency in the year 2012 are remote. But on the other hand, the current President of the United States has ratings so low that anything can happen.
Now ordinarily I do not take sides in a Republican matter. But in this case, I believe that I will contribute to Mrs. Bachmann’s campaign in the hope that she becomes the Republican nominee for the Presidency.
Furthermore, I will call the attention of Barack Obama to the fact that a former non-believer has been converted to contributing to Mrs. Bachmann’s campaign. All of this of course is in the hope that she does become the Republican candidate for the Presidency and that Mr. Obama will finally gather the courage and guts to defeat her. On the last point of the courage and guts, we will have to await the campaign to find out. But you may mark me down as a contributor to Mrs. Bachmann’s campaign on the grounds that the power of prayer caused me to do such a monstrous thing.
E. E. CARR
August 22, 2011
Essay 574
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Kevin’s commentary: this one reminds me of the first essay posted to the site — God’s will. Basically the application here would be that God clearly intended for gay people to be gay, unless he either isn’t all powerful, didn’t create us, or is a tremendous jerk.
There are two more essays in this Power of Prayer series. View numbers two and three.