Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

Progressives who are Christians have been advocating this concept of stewardship for years, but the fact that Cizik, an undeniable social conservative, has taken such a strong leadership role in Creation Care is heartening.  I have long held, as have many others, that while we have real and deep divisions on important issues, the vast majority of Americans have much more in common than we do differences (for better or worse).  This is a prime opportunity for progressives and conscientious conservative Christians to find fertile common ground, and finding that is the first and most important step to setting the conditions that we can begin to have constructive dialogue about our differences.  

It is through finding common ground that we discover how much we have in common.  It is through finding common ground that we discover how human our 'adversaries' are.  It is through common ground that we can find real solutions.  And it is through common ground that we can unite - despite our differences - and restore our country to its historical path towards fulfilling the promise of self-evident truths.

It is also relevant that Cizik has found critics in folks like James Dobson.

Conservative critics of the document, including the Rev. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, say the global-warming science is inconclusive and the issue doesn't belong on the evangelists' agenda. "It's a distraction when families are falling apart and abortion continues as a great evil," says Tom Minnery, director of Dobson's political-action group.

No, Mr. Minnery. It's a threat to the power of the corporate masters whom your boss serves. And I personally couldn't be happier about that.  Arguing that the teachings of Jesus of Nazereth run directly counter to the Dobson version of Christianity is nothing new, but with groups such as Creation Care, the inherent division between conservative people of faith and manipulators such as Dobson is starkly shown.  

Bush the Divider and his allies have benefited for far too long from exploitation of our divisions.  Our disagreements over issues such as abortion and gay rights are real, and finding solutions won't be easy, but we must stop the increasing drive to widen the gulf between us.  It is not helping anybody - progressives or conservatives.  It's only helping politicians and their media sycophants who profit from our separation.

Now, I want to be extremely clear that I am not in any way, shape, or form, advocating backing off from any progressive position, or selling our goals short in the name of 'being nice'.  What I am saying is that through first focusing on what unites us, and then honestly discussing our differences, we can change the tone from dehumanizing 'us and them' sound bites, to one more resembling honest debate.  By seeking out and working with conservative leaders like Cizik, we have a hope to remind the country that we are all in this together.