THIS SUNDAY, THERE’S A HOLIDAY art show and recital at the Cornerstone Music Conservatory, but first I have to vent about the recent YouTube Republican debate. A questioner, who looked like David Koresh, shook a Bible at the camera, “Do you believe in every word of this book?” The candidates practically arm-wrestled each other to prove who was the more devout Christian.
When the debate escalated into whether Jonah lived in the body of the whale, I began to wonder if this was 2007 or 1607. (And where exactly in the whale would Jonah have lived?) Please don’t get me wrong. If religion comforts someone or makes them a better person, that’s wonderful. But what’s religion doing in a political debate? I thought we already had the Scopes trial... in 1925!
The consensus winner that night was Baptist minister Mike Huckabee, who doesn’t believe in evolution and whose name sounds like a Jonathan Winters character. Naturally, Huckabee is popular with evangelicals, some of whom say dinosaur bones are just Satan’s trick. (Heaven help us.) To listen to Huckabee, you’d think he’s chosen Jesus as his running mate. Coming in second was Mitt Romney, a Mormon, whose real name is Willard. (Another Jonathan Winters character?) What’s with Republican names? Scooter, Buzzy, Cookie, Newt and Mitt. (As a kid, I owned a mitt, but I never knew anyone named Mitt.) Cookie Krongard is the Inspector General investigating Iraq war profiteering. The only problem is brother Buzzy is on the board of Blackwater. Before Congress, Cookie vehemently denied it and acted insulted. But during the lunch break, he evidently called Buzzy and, when testimony resumed, Cookie sheepishly admitted his brother is on Blackwater’s board. Oops.
Back to religion, evidently some Christians consider Mormonism a cult. (Maybe it’s the magic underpants?) In this Sunday’s NY Times op-ed, Huckabee writes that he wonders if Mormons don’t believe Jesus and the devil are brothers. Ouch. (C’mon, Huckabee went to divinity school and doesn’t know?) To answer his critics, Willard gave a big speech saying that he’s as Christian as the next guy. (Being Jewish, I confess I felt a little left out.) Willard was also pretty rough on atheists. He doesn’t think they should hold high office. Sure enough, in the history of Congress since 1793, there’s only been one atheist, Pete Stark, a Democrat from California’s 13th District. (God bless ya, Pete.) To me, the truly sad commentary is, in 1968 when George Romney, Willard’s dad, ran for the presidency, his religion was hardly mentioned.
If Willard becomes president, I don’t think there’ll be a Muslim in his cabinet either. Of course, Mormons are only 2 percent of the country, whereas atheists are 7 percent. (Under the age of 30, it’s 25 percent.) With religious wars all over the world, it’s like everyone is saying, “My God is real and if you don’t agree you’re going to burn in hell. But have a nice day.” What happened to tolerance? My friend Jane Broida Drake, in her book “Of Promises and Previews,” says tolerance hasn’t worked and only an enlarged understanding of God will, which I’m afraid is over my head. I know this, all of the following men were pious and look what happened: Mark Foley (House page scandal), Sen. Larry Craig (wide stance in the men’s room), Sen. David Vitter (prostitutes) and Reverends Ted Haggard (drugs from a male prostitute) and Pat Robertson (let’s assassinate Hugo Chavez).
Perhaps religious views ought to once again be private, personal and respected, and not a litmus test of who would be the most competent president? If the last seven years taught us anything, it should have taught us that. (And that we don’t torture, or if we do, we just destroy the tapes, a lesson Nixon could have benefited from.) Now that I’m probably in hot water, let’s switch back to the big holiday event this Sunday at the Cornerstone Music Conservatory at 1237 Fourth St. (between Arizona and Wilshire.) The art show will run from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will feature the work of the renowned, professional Emeritus artists. The artists, many in their 80s, have been getting rave reviews at venues around town, including the Miramar Hotel. (I’m not in my 80s and I’m getting so-so reviews.) Following the art, Cornerstone will host two student/faculty recitals, one at 2 p.m. and one at 4 p.m. and will include their annual “Nutcracker Sweet” (sic) featuring the new Westside Community Youth Orchestra. Cornerstone will be moving soon to the Fields Piano building on Pico and Bundy, so Sunday’s show will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy art, music and holiday cheer.
And, hopefully, no debate about politics or religion.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 14, 2007. Read the original PDF.