A Little too Strong?

Every once in awhile,  I lose all hope in humanity.  It is almost always caused by some event of such extreme ignorance that I cannot help but feel the candle of hope blow out in the strong wind of stupidity.  I would be lying if I denied that I had felt something similar to this when I saw Rick Perry‘s “Strong” ad campaign.

The moment the ad came across my television, I prepared to be embarrassed.  However, this could not have readied me for the blatant unconstitutional criticisms, religious superiority, and sheer oddity that was displayed in this advert.  The Texas governor first appears on screen saying “I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a Christian” he goes on to say “but you don’t need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there’s something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school.”

I don’t exactly know why Perry thought that the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell‘ meant that separation of church and state, a founding ideal of this country, should also be repealed.  Some have argued that Perry was merely suggesting that all religions should have the right to share faiths in school, however, the last time I checked, Christians were the only religion to celebrate Christmas, (it’s in the name, Perry, I’m sure you’d have gotten it on multiple choice).

“As President, I’ll end Obama‘s war on religion. And I’ll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage.” said Perry, smiling.  I, for one, didn’t know that Obama had been fighting a war on religions, but I’d been suspecting it for a long time.  As for the liberals, they have been plotting against religion to bring it down from the inside.  I’d like to point out, here, that Perry never actually uses the word “Christianity” kudos there, being vague is a good way to stay out of trouble, except when you offend someone.  Although he never specifies which religion, I highly doubt that he would support a lot of diversity in his institutionalized prayer.  Which, on that idea, I would like to point out is unconstitutional I think there’s a little part about not establishing religions, making any laws to enforce a religion, or to prohibit any religions.

Perry finishes with “Faith made America strong. It can make her strong again.”  Aside from the fact that the economy is in shambles, we are involved in a couple of wars that don’t seem to be going well, and the American Congress approval rating of had a little trip below 10% recently, what America needs is an institutionalized religion.  As near as I can tell, it is not forbidden in schools to talk about religion, but it is considered bad form to go around evangelizing your English class.

All in all, Perry doesn’t seem to go any longer without an unhealthy amount of racism and ignorance regardless of if he’s having the lines fed to him.  That takes a big lack of knowledge and skills, and so now I say to you, Mr. Perry, please keep trying.  If only for comic effect.  Perhaps there may even be a joke in your honor “Is your refrigerator running?” “No, but Rick Perry still seems to be!”