A former schoolmate of mine, a Catholic youth group leader, has this posted on her Facebook Wall:
"Dear Lord, this year you took my favorite actor, Patrick Swayzie (sic). You took my favorite actress, Farah Fawcett. You took my favorite singer, Michael Jackson. I just wanted to let you know, my favorite President is Barack Obama. Amen."
My stomach tightened and twisted, reading this. It is ungodly to wish for harm on anyone else! It is terrifying to think that this might happen to our national leader! It is illegal to threaten the President of the United States! And it is absolutely immoral to act as a religious teacher and spew this garbage. What is this teaching the children of our country?! I took a few breaths and then wrote to her:
I clicked on your page to 'check in' and I hope that you're well. I was shocked, though. I have to tell you how deeply disturbing your joke - or prayer - is to me. Even if I disagree with you or anyone else, I would never ever wish death. It's not funny; it's offensive and dangerous and (using the language of a Christian) sinful. I am absolutely shocked that you or anyone else would find this worthy of reposting on your wall. I believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, whether I agree or disagree with them.
It's one thing to use the democratic, constitutional processes to 'vote out' or even criminally try a governmental leader. It's another thing to joke about assassination of another human being, our democratically-elected president.
