In the United States, when talking about politics, the Right refers to conservative views. The Republican Party is considered the party of the Right.
There are parts of the Rightists’ message that resonate with me. Concern for morality. Emphasis on the family. De-emphasis of the role of government.
So why can’t I support the Right? Here are some reasons:
Stance toward immigrants and refugees. Yes, this is a personal list, and this topic is of special interest to me personally. I live in a state where the Right uses the question of immigration as its principal fear-mongering tool. As I’ve said before, I favor efforts to secure the southern border of the United States. But I oppose any reasoning which places the blame on immigrants or seeks to characterize them as criminals and/or terrorists. The language of the Right on this issue should be offensive to every Christian. We are called to compassion for those less fortunate, not contempt.
Emphasis on violence as a solution. For many, the answer to most foreign policy questions is violence. They seek to impose the will of the United States on other nations, intimidating them by economic and military force. Violence is also the answer for many domestic issues. As a Christian, I can’t support such. I don’t feel that being Pro-Life ends when a baby is born. Christians speak up for life over death at every level.
American exceptionalism. I reject the idea that the United States is inherently greater than other nations. I reject the notion that our system is inherently better than that of others. I cannot support policies based on preserving the United States’ position of dominance in the world. (There also tends to be a strong patriotic emphasis by those on the Right, though the Left would lay claim to the same patriotism. I’m very patriotic… but my patria is not the United States. It’s the Kingdom of God.)
Disregard for the environment. I feel that Christians have a responsibility to stand up for the good of God’s creation. The Right can favor the economy over ecology. Christians on the Right find themselves in untenable positions, such as denying climate change in the face of all evidence. I admit that radical environmentalism can be harmful, but that doesn’t free us from the responsibility to be good stewards of what God has made.
There are other issues. These are just some major ones that stand out for me.
Does that mean I support the Left? Far from it. Please read the companion post: Why I Can’t Support the Left
And no, I don’t believe in choosing the lesser of two evils. You still end up choosing an evil. That’s not for me.
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No one has commented on this article. At least there was one comment on the former one. Mine will relate to both. I’ve been in both areas and could be classified as a mug-wump fence straddler. When on the right I felt a growing exclusivism –in that I was growing in my contentedness and quiet assurance of being absolutely “right”. When on the left I felt graciously tolerant of those who had such a limited vision as I had once embraced. Maybe there is a lot of both on each side. Sadly, my attitudes limited by ability to consider other viewpoints than my own. I think that I am more in a middle position–in that I can at least listen more openly. There is a good deal of disenchantment inside over a frustrating process.