The 11th commandment | News | vcreporter.com – Ventura County Reporter

Religious freedom is a staple of the American experiment. How religious freedom is practiced is another story. While many Christians, since the Moral Majority movement under Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, have attempted to push Christian values into schools and the local and national laws, the aftermath has been a reversal of the desired outcome. Gay marriage is legal nationally. Marijuana is legal in many states. Singleness among young people is up. The country has moved less toward the right-wing Christian platform and more toward a liberal libertarian stance. People want to live their lives, and people want their neighbors to live their lives, too. In fact, despite the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade, Gallups 2022 poll stated that eight out of 10 Americans want abortion legal in some capacity. Yet, this still doesnt mean the right-wing politicians have changed their offense in the arena of religious discourse. With Texas leading the charge in framing the 2024 platform, expect the GOP to out Christian each other, as it is the 11th commandment in GOP politics.

In late May, Republicans in Texas attempted to pass a bill that would require the Ten Commandments to hang in every classroom. CNN reported, Senate Bill 1515 was effectively killed early Wednesday morning after House lawmakers did not meet a midnight deadline for a vote that would have advanced the bill for a third and final passage. [A bill that would have required Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments has failed, Ashley Killough and Tina Burnside, May 24, 2023.]

While this might be heartbreaking to many God-fearing citizens, the fact that it didnt pass in the end has a conspiracy cloud hovering over it. How could it get so far but not pass? Unless the bill was Republican virtue signaling to begin with.

CNN described the heart of the bill: The bill, authored by Republican state Sen. Phil King, requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in a conspicuous place in each classroom in a size and typeface that is legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom.

While some might state this as a simple loss, I cannot help but wonder if the Ten Commandments debate was simply a way for Texas politicians to throw breadcrumbs to their constituents. Because while Im sure there are many authentic Christian men and women within the Texas Republican Senate, can anyone argue that Republicans are the party of religious values?

The Ten Commandments argue to have no god before the Jewish/Christian one, to not covet your neighbors wife or goods, to not steal, to not lie, etc. Is that really the face of Donald Trumps MAGA party? Are Gods commandments, passed on by Moses, really the values of capitalism and die-hard patriotism? One could argue the current GOP value system puts country before God like an idol. Heck, there was a literal golden statue of Trump at CPAC 2021. And for those who havent read their Old Testament lately, the Jewish people built a golden calf while Moses was being instructed by God on how the law should be lived out. Though I would argue Trump is more of a golden donkey.

This battle for the Ten Commandments in schools is an old one. I remember this fight in the 1990s when I was in school. So why bring it up again? Because the GOP has cloaked their awful anti-people policies in religious language for 40 years now. Youd think these Christians would step back from the Torah and look to Jesus words in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:11-12) to embrace mourning, mercy, meekness, purity, peace, persecution and the poor in spirit.

Just one problem. Those ideals dont fit in a party that fights against any that disagrees with them. But if the Texas lawmakers throw out an old battle and let it quietly go away, they can get their day in the papers but not actually have to abide by any of the commandments they want in plain sight. Are you really telling me they just let the vote slip past midnight after three previous votes? Smells about as fishy as the little boys sardine lunch Jesus used to feed 5,000 people.

As the 2024 election comes closer, expect more stunts like this. Just as President Joe Biden promised student loan forgiveness he knew would never pass as quickly as he attempted, each side throws out something to look like they care. Its the 11th commandment in politics: Thou shalt virtue signal to look like thy cares.

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The 11th commandment | News | vcreporter.com - Ventura County Reporter