At the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, I recently had the pleasure of meeting Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Senator Wicker filled the seat vacated by the now retired Trent Lott.
Senator Wicker and his wife are devout Christians, and like many devout Christians, have a deep love for Israel and the Jewish people.
No, the Senator did not try to convert me. He did not need to. I am already a republican.
Before bringing the remarks of the Senator, I just want to say that for those people that have never been to Mississippi, I strongly recommend that they visit.
The entire stretch of land from Louisiana to Mississippi contains the best food in the nation, and the best music outside of Chicago.
I visited Gulfport, Mississippi in 1999. It was a town that had very little except beautiful greenery and even more lovely people.
The next year was a new millennium, and Gulfport had changed overnight. It was now a mecca of riverboat gambling, the midpoint between Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
Mississippi had some lean years, but popular Governor Haley Barbour has turned the state around. Mississippi is on the rise.
One thing that has not changed is the friendliness and decency of the people.
This decency is very well reflected in Senator Roger Wicker.
His words are below.
“We have an opportunity for historic gains.”
“If you have not spent all your paychecks on gasoline, please donate to my candidacy.”
“My wife Gayle and I are both Southern Baptists. We skipped Church to be here tonight.”
“Mississippi has other Christians as well. We have Episcopalians and Presbyterians. Mississippi also has Pentacoastals who run up and down the aisles.”
“The majority of our Christians feel that Jews are God’s chosen people.”
“Israel has had a right to exist for 60 years.”
“Support means being for a strong national defense, understanding the threat of Islamic terrorism, and supporting the Iran Sanctions Act.”
“We must the Israel foreign aid bill.”
“I was in Israel 2 to 3 years ago as a Congressman. I also went to Lebanon. A United States ID was helpful in Lebanon.”
“On a map, there was Syria to the North, and Palestine to the South of Lebanon. The Lebanese government supplied that map. That is unacceptable. I suggested in a letter that it is wrong for the USA to give a briefing using a map that does not recognize reality.”
“If moderate neighbors like Lebanon don’t get it, then we have a hill to climb.”
“It will be an honor to work with you in the future.”
“If Reagan were here, he would sing along to ‘America the Beautiful.'”
“The Star Spangled Banner begins and ends with questions. Francis Scott Key wondered…would we still be here? That question has been answered in the affirmative for generations. It will continue to be answered in the affirmative.”
I spoke to Senator Wicker on 2 or 3 occasions that night.
“Senator, I just wanted you to know that when me and my republican Jewish friends are concerned, it is because we worry about Osama Bin Laden carrying a bomb, not Pat Robertson holding a book.”
The Senator laughed heartily, and said, “I am glad you feel that way, because Pat Robertson is one of your best friends.”
I agreed with him and continued.
“Senator, the problem with Christianity is that it has radical ideas that frighten people. Can you imagine what could happen to society if children were taught dangerous beliefs such as ‘love thy neighbor’?”
The Senator laughed again and said, “Oh no, we can’t have that. That could lead to peace.”
When I think of the phrase “Judeo-Christian values,” I think of Senator Wicker. He and I have completely different theologies, but his kindness and goodness of spirit transcends religious faiths.
Perhaps one day it will transcend politics as well. It would be nice to hear more liberal democrats offering such ringing defenses of Israel, Judaism, and Christianity.
I wish a long, healthy, and happy life for Senator Roger and Mrs. Gayle Wicker.
eric
“The entire stretch of land from Louisiana to Mississippi contains the best food in the nation”
Yes, so I’ve heard.
One of my goals in life has been to go there and eat myself silly.
Do you guys know the history of Southern Baptists and Jews?
I’d watch your back with friends like Roger Wicker.
JMJ
Well, if credit can be given to the supposed change in demeocrats since they were slave drivers I see no reason not to give credit to the Baptist regardless of history.
Fair enough ?
Micky, it’s a fundamental part of Baptist theology. As far as Baptists are concerned – ALL Baptists – the Jews are unsaved, unredeemable unless converted: that God does “not hear their prayers.” This isn’t a political position. This is a fundamental article of their faith. This isn’t as the Catholics, for example, see the Jews today.
Remember, as an even greater article of their faith is the reunifcation of Judea and Samaria, regardless of the greater political implications, whether realistic or not, and whether it’s in the best interest of the Jews.
If I were Jewish, I wouldn’t trust a Baptist any farther than I could throw them, especially as far as Israel is concerned. Very foolish.
JMJ
Well, even though you say todays democratic party is not the same party it was 200 years ago I still wouldnt trust them any further than I could throw them. Even though Dems claim that there fundamentals beliefs have changed from that time ?
Fair enough ?
The man said’
“The majority of our Christians feel that Jews are God’s chosen people.”
“Israel has had a right to exist for 60 years.”
“We must the Israel foreign aid bill.”
“I was in Israel 2 to 3 years ago as a Congressman. I also went to Lebanon. A United States ID was helpful in Lebanon.”
“On a map, there was Syria to the North, and Palestine to the South of Lebanon. The Lebanese government supplied that map. That is unacceptable. I suggested in a letter that it is wrong for the USA to give a briefing using a map that does not recognize reality.”
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Now, seeing as how you are going by atheist partisan beliefs and Eric has actually met the man and spoke with him at length I would suspect that anyone with any common sense would see that if Eric is not worried about it your worries are hardly to be taken seriously.
Liberals never cease to amaze me when it comes to the subject of religion and religious people. The will espouse all sorts of racial bigotry related to Christians (or in this case Baptists) but will jump to the defense of Muslims if anything negative is said about Islam. similarly they will constantly misquote the first amendment regarding its “separation of church and state” in concentrating the establishment of religion clause while ignoring the free exercise thereof clause.
Like any other group there are good and bad within the group and most are just people somewhere in the middle.
I stand by what I said. I think conservative Jews are making very dangerous bedfellows these days. They’re best interest is not what fundamentalist protestant Christians really have in mind.
This isn’t a matter of politics or groups – this is a mtter of foundational beliefs held by religious people in religious institutions. If I was a Jew, I wouldn’t trust fundy Christians AT ALL.
JMJ
I would trust that I could trust either one to treat the Jews better than the democrats will today. No matter how reformed the party says it is.
Of course its typical of a lib to tell someone that they have no idea what they’re getting into and that they should just listen to the reason of the left. Because right wingers like Eric and myself arent able to see things for what they are and make up their own minds.
If you were a Jew ?
Test