Focus on the Family

The National Republican convention will be held in Minnesota in 2008 and Focus on the Family held a big rally in St. Paul last night. Conservative politicians are racing to Minnesota to push their agenda by dividing people through fear. With increasing frequency, I find myself wondering what the hell is happening here. I am angry and tired and, sometimes, I will admit that I am scared.

Last night, while James Dobson talked about the threat of "gay families", do you know what my very dangerous family was doing? We were at Miguel's soccer practice. We were cheering for our son and pushing our daughter on the swings. We were talking with friends and other parents about the weather and how the team was coming along. As Dobson's rally was ending, we were reading books to our children, singing them songs and tucking them into bed. I think this country has bigger problems than a couple of lesbians reading "Goodnight Moon" and singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

I fear for the future of this country also but, clearly, for different reasons than the Christian fundamentalists. I worry about the war and our international reputation. I worry because we can no longer trust our leaders to tell us the truth. I worry about the state of our education system and our ability to prepare our children for the future. I worry about the growing problems of poverty and affordable housing. I worry about the fact that many people can't afford basic health care. I worry because we are treating the Earth with such disrespect that the damage may not be surmountable. I worry about the political and culturals chasms that are opening in this country, chasms created by divisive politicians, fear and hateful rhetoric. I worry about all these things but I am most frightened by the fact that half of the country doesn't seem concerned about these things at all. These issues are the real threats to families and, yet, the focus is being directed elsewhere.

There are no easy answers to this country's problems. I can only hope that, someday, people are going to realize that and stop listening to the politicians telling them that there is always someone else to blame.