Here we go again
The GOP have no imagination. Sure, when it comes to manipulating and pushing the limits of the law to their advantage, whether gerrymandering, voting rights, gun rights, or the right to choose, they are effective engineers of evil. But when it comes to a platform and messaging, they have a handful of interchangeable messages to maintain control of their base, be it anti-Muslim, anti-abortion, or their new favorite, anti-vaccine. Previously attributed to left, the anti-vax fearmongering movement has completely taken over the right.
But now, here we are, circling back to anti-Muslim propaganda. Enter Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO, 3rd Dist), attacking Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN, 5th Dist) with dangerous, false anti-Muslim accusations. Boebert claims to be Christian – in September, she declared that the US government needs to be taking orders from the Christian church – all while spreading hate. When will Christians have had enough?
There is a new documentary called “Amen-Amen-Amen” about the groundbreaking religious fraternity in the United Arab Emirates. It began when Pope Francis signed the landmark document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, in February 2019. The film chronicles the construction of three stunning houses of worship – a mosque, a synagogue and a church – on the same site in Abu Dhabi.
One of the more uplifting observations by documentarian Tom Gallagher was the cooperation between Pope Francis and other religious leaders on the urgent issue of climate change. One of the more disheartening observations was the backlash from conservative Catholics, and that relations between Jews and Muslims have been better than relations between Christians and Jews, and Christians and Muslims. No comparable backlash has happened in the Jewish or Arab world. That is shameful but sadly not surprising.
The cultural landmark “Abrahamic Family House” representing understanding and peaceful coexistence in Abu Dhabi is set to open in 2022. Christians could learn a lot from Jews and Muslims.
Chicago native Lorraine Evanoff earned her degree in French from DePaul University then became a Certified Financial Manager. She worked as a finance exec in film production for seven years in Paris, then in Silicon Valley during the dot-com era, and later for various Hollywood production companies, notably as CFO of National Lampoon. She is currently living in Los Angeles with her husband.