Good question, and one that was asked of me by a conservative veterinarian friend of mine last week. He is completely on board with conservative fiscal principles, (when applied), but he doesn’t understand WHY we on the “Religious Right” are still concerned about abortion, gay marriage, etc. “You need to drop it”, he said.
Let me try to explain why we don’t and why we shouldn’t. Those of us on the Religious Right, contrary to popular belief, are not interested in taking away rights from those who disagree with us. We’re just trying to maintain what rights we have left. We are not taking your territory; you’re taking ours.
Think about it: When I was a child in school, if Susie had two mommies, we sure didn’t hear about it at school, and my mother didn’t have to explain it at home. No one wants to see a child ostracized or bullied because their family structure is not traditional, and that should NOT be tolerated. But on the other hand, school is not the place for children to be exposed to the gay agenda, which wants to normalize gay relationships in the minds of young kids.
This was not happening when I was a child in school, and the religious right is merely pushing back on what they view as an unimaginable encroachment on their rights.
Religious parents aren’t stopping and questioning kids when they walk into school every morning about who does what in their home, so why should my child have to hear about it?
It’s a parent’s job to discuss social issues with their children, not the schools’. It’s a parent’s job to define what kind of relationships are acceptable, not the schools’. Sadly, too many parents have completely abdicated their roles, giving the schools more influence than ever before in our children’s lives. Heck, I’d be happy if the kids could at least SPELL “influence”.
When it comes to the abortion issue, sure it’s settled law for now, and the pro life folks are doing the best they can to prevent abortions through education, offering alternatives etc. No one is showing up with pitchforks and torches on the doorsteps of pregnant women, demanding that they carry a baby to term.
But the abortion rights crowd is doing that to US. They are demanding that we PAY for abortions, regardless of our feelings on the subject. THEY are taking ground, and WE are just trying to hold it. You already have the legal right to have an abortion, but you’re not satisfied with that. You are taking away MY right to disagree, by forcing ME to pay for it.
Most religious conservatives don’t care who uses birth control, but the Sandra Fluke crowd thinks I should pay for hers. Let me get this straight: you want me “out of your bedroom”, but you want me to stock your nightstand?
It’s very simple. We are commanded in Ephesians to “stand firm”. The Roman army had a principle for victory: hold your six feet of ground. You don’t need to take the enemy’s ground, but don’t give up yours. I am not coming across your lawn to tell you how to live, but I won’t allow you to cross mine.
So, no, we on the “Religious Right” are not trying to run anyone’s lives or take anyone’s rights. We are merely trying to hold that ground we used to take for granted.