(Letter to the Editor - Graphic Illustration/MetroCreativeConnection)

Last week, state Sen. Mike Azinger, wrote a hate-filled op-ed defaming people who are sexually different than he is. He writes as an expert on sexuality, medical treatment, and interpretation of scripture.

I am not sure which group he is following. Is it Michael Flynn’s ReAwaken America, which says they are trying to protect children but then attack trans kids? Is it Alliance Defending Freedom that states, “The homosexual agenda will destroy Christianity and society?” Or is it the Family Research Council’s, whose objective is “religious freedom” but insists that the Bible is the source for governing, which would pass laws like the West Virginia legislature did this past session? One of those laws prohibit any type of medical treatment for trans kids.

Where do I get my information? I get it from the Southern Poverty Law Center’s report for 2022: The Year in Hate and Extremism. The latest group to be identified by SPLC as a hate group is Moms for Liberty, which wants to make people fearful of people who are Black and LGBTQ. This group started in Florida and is actively working on book banning with a list of over 150 books.They certainly do not follow the founder of Christianity nor what the other religions teach.

The term White Christian Nationalism has been in the news lately because of what a U.S. Senator said about it. What I can glean from this group is that you must be white, Christian, control women, must exclude Black people, immigrants unless they are white, LGBTQ and trans people, and members of all other religions. When I was in school we talked about WASP, which some sociologists used to describe the American population as White Anglo-Saxon Protestant — excluding Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and all other religions, black and brown people, and of course LGBTQ and trans people. It seems that is where we are again.

America is not a Christian nation, nor is the United States chosen by God to lead the world. Christian Nationalism wants to seize and hold power. They claim the name is a liberal term. They do not believe in separation of church and state. Now they support the big lie that the election of 2020 was stolen.

Maya Angelou once said, “If I could give you one thought, it would be to lift someone up. Lift a stranger up — lift her up. I would ask you, mother and father, brother and sister, lovers, mother and daughter, father and son, lift someone. The very idea of lifting someone up will lift you, as well.”

I believe if some people read Matthew Chapter 25: 33-40, the world might be a better place. How can one say they are Christian and turn away the stranger, a person of a different creed or color or sexual identity?

Instead of trying to post the Ten Commandments in each class room or have the Bible taught in our schools, our legislators need to work to make sure the people in their district have a living wage, sufficient food, clothing, shelter, health care, education and freedom to live their lives without harassment.

In case anyone is interested in countering some of the above-mentioned groups there is Faithful America, Christians Against Christian Nationalism, The Witness: A Black Christian Collective.

These groups work to protect voting rights and equality for all, regardless of skin color, sexual orientation, political or religious affiliation, income and level of education.

Margaret Meeker

Williamstown