Resounding Gongs and Clanging Cymbals
So when I first read the news report about American Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s unfortunate remarks about AIDS, I was annoyed. Saying in 1992 (and standing by those words in 2007) that AIDS patients should be isolated/quarantined because we don’t know how AIDS spreads is a bit out there. Perhaps if it had been 1982, it would have been vaguely understandable. But 1992, that’s just sad.
I don’t mean to pick on Huckabee. He isn’t my top choice among the candidates, but he isn’t my absolute last choice either. His statement was stupid and unbelievable, but it was just a mere blip on the sensational news radar. What I think made it continue to bug me is the underlying attitude of rejection of the Other that it conveys.
The messages of the culture I inhabit and the belief I follow teach me to be inclusive of the Other. Values of tolerance and respect are assumed in the postmodern climate of this globalized world. My faith encourages me to love my neighbor and my enemy, treating them as I myself would desire to be treated. I read stories of Jesus hanging out with the lepers and of him promoting the actions of a good Samaritan who helped out a bleeding and dying man. In essence loving people no matter what was wrong with them. Embracing the Other out of the command to love them instead of rejecting them out of fear because they are different.
So to hear politicians and those who claim to be Christian saying that people who are different or ill need to be isolated away from normal people (and for false reasons at that) doesn’t make much sense to me. Sure I understand safety and medical issues, but I don’t understand the mindset of rejection. Huckabee’s words were foolish and misguided, but they also departed from the type of lifestyle of love Christ calls us to live. And that is what makes those words most dangerous.
Tags:
julieclawson(at)gmail(dot)com 
Over on this side of the pond, I hadn’t picked up on this. I absolutely agree with you that the Christian response should be one of love – first, foremost and last. Examples of this kind of love would include Mother Teresa.
Nevertheless, I am left wondering if I am guilty of a similar attitude to Huckabee at times – by passing quickly and quietly by on the other side of the street! Although I would hope that when i become aware of my shortcomings I wouldn’t repeat them.
It’s scary, but given the amount of misinformation floating about concerning HIV/AIDS it’s not utterly shocking that he first uttered those words. Anyone who has defended those with HIV/AIDS in conversation has come across similar mentalities. His reassertion of that statement on the other hand is very unnerving.
Is is possible he’s made it this far in his career/life to not be confronted directly with someone who has been personally affected by this pandemic?
It seems the more Huckabee gets in the public eye, the more ignorant he becomes. I’ve found some of his statements very insightful, compassionate, even funny. Then you hear something like this and think, “And THIS could be our president some day?”
The scary thing is that among the current GOP crop Huckabee probably stands the best shot of winning the general election if he gets the nomination. Mitt, McCain and Romney just have too many negatives going for them. Hopefully the Republicans won’t realize that in time though. I’m still crossing my fingers and hoping that the Democrats realize in time what a miserable chance Hillary has of winning the general election.
(Not that I’m a huge fan of the Dems either most of the time. I’m just scared to death to think of what another 4-8 years of neo-conservative policies will do to our country and our world. And so far most of the GOP candidates seem to be trying to out-Bush Bush.)
I’m thinking that was a harsh cut and paste of comments he made when questioned about 1992. Here is a link to his statement on AIDS funding and response to the criticism. http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Newsroom.PressRelease&ID=413
Pete – I agree. There are things about Huckabee I admire, this is just scary.
Bryan – the full comments don’t do much to lessen the effect of his words. A lot was known about AIDS in the early 90’s. It was non-scientist religious figures that were spreading the confusion, much like is still occuring today with global warming.