Letter: Insulting our values
Terrorists, warlords and despots know that one way of terrorizing a population into submission is with rape. We might not be surprised if one of them had said, “Even when life begins in that . . . situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”
Except this was said by an American – a Republican candidate for Senate, Richard Mourdock, from Indiana. His entire statement reads, “I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.” Even without the omission of the word “horrible,” the statement still rings of terror.
As of the writing of this letter, the Romney campaign has confirmed that it still supports Mourdock. If you are undecided as to which party will lead this country, ask yourself, “Which party has more humanity?” Personally, I would quickly abandon any party that so insulted my values.
If you are a Republican, please consider what this and similar statements say about your party. If Republicans cannot denounce this heinous statement, what else might they let slip by? What other issues will they compromise on when it comes to a basic human need for safety? What else will they deny women and girls?
Making political choices are often difficult. Issues are complicated. But in the case of rape, the choice is simple: the perpetrator is guilty. Don’t put that one on God. Anyone who cannot publicly denounce, “God intended [the rape] to happen,” is a coward.
If you can’t vote for a Democrat, then please consider not voting. And then after the election, work hard to align the Republican Party with your values.
DEBORAH BRUSS
Concord
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