Straight Talk

Politics and Religion don't mix.

   That's a truism spoken for years by many observers. The reality, however, is that it doesn't stop many aspiring leaders from trying to do just that -- play on religious biases for political advantage.
   Religious leaders whose churches are the target of discrimination and bias, however, are often the first to endorse separation of church and state. Members of the dominant group see no problem -- not to say hypocrisy -- in demanding that their beliefs form the core of political and governmental activity.
   When Al Smith ran for President, and during John F. Kennedy's campaign, dire warnings were sounded that the Pope and his Roman Catholic minions would descend on Washington to run the government. Yet Fundamentalist Protestant groups still see no problem or conflict with their continuing demands that principles central to their religious teachings be incorporated into civil law.
   This includes such things as gay marriage and homosexuality as a "lifestyle choice," and a sinful perversion.

   Here's a question: Given the extent of bias, bigotry, discrimination and raw violence against gay people, why would anyone choose that as a "lifestyle"?