For a party so outspoken about moving forward, the Democrats sure do seem reluctant to change.
In a convention full of equivocating, excuse-making and generally Democratic behavior, there was one aspect of the Democrats’ platform that made me smile.
They had removed all references to God.
It showed a fearlessness and commitment to policy that has been missing from the party for years, replaced by meekness and a “sorry we’re liberal” attitude.
Then, as soon as conservative media sources began asking questions about the change, Democrats jammed their tails between their legs and rushed a voice vote to add a reference to the “God-given potential” of working people.
It was a spineless move by the Democrats – one that shows just how deep the disenfranchisement of nonreligious people in this country runs. It was a slap in the face to the thousands of liberal nonbelievers who have no choice but to align themselves with the Democrats.
The Democratic Party is supposed to be the party of inclusion, where everyone is welcome and oppression is fought. Instead, the Democrats oppressed a large portion of their own base by impressing their beliefs upon them.
By ignoring the cries from their delegates, the Democrats have alienated and disappointed many potential voters.
Joseph Green, media director for LSU College Democrats, said he shared these sentiments.
“I would like the Democratic Party to move and allow nontheists into the platform,” Green said. “There’s a large chunk of nontheists or nonreligious people in the Democratic Party, and I’d like to see them [the party] embrace them.”
Not only has the Democratic Party betrayed a large portion of the population and its ideology, it has also shot itself in the foot politically.
Nonbelievers are a large and growing part of the population – one that also trends extremely liberal. Like it or not, nonbelievers will be the Democratic base in the future.
Green also said he thinks the bloc of nonbelievers will grow, and the party will not be able to ignore it for very long.
Atheists, agnostics and other nonreligious people made up almost 15 percent of the adult population in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That number has been on the rise for years, increasing from 8 percent in 1990.
And yet, there are a grand total of zero nonbelievers in Congress. Nearly every speech at the convention ended in “God bless America.” Both political parties are so tied to their Christian bases that they are willing to ignore a substantial portion of the population.
It’s ridiculous that nonbelief in God is still taboo in this country. We were founded on freedom of religion, and that freedom extends to those who choose to reject religion.
To put it simply, religion is an entirely personal matter and has no place in national policy-making. It’s fine for politicians to allow their moral compasses to be guided by their religions – as long as they remember their constituency has differing beliefs.
There is no room in a national political platform, especially one that touts itself as liberal, for an endorsement of any religion.
I don’t believe God gave me my potential, and there are many angry Democrats who agree with me.
Gordon Brillon is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from Lincoln, R.I.
