A Trump voter from Pennsylvania who recently went on a trip to New Mexico says he’s furious that his vacation was ruined by a group of “radical feminists, angry Indians and illegal Mexicans.”…. William Strong of Oil City, Pa. recently wrote an angry letter to the editor at the Albuquerque Journal complaining about all the horrible, undesirable people who lived in New Mexico…. “[New Mexico] is a land filled with radical feminists, angry Indians and illegal Mexicans”…. “We were verbally attacked twice in Santa Fe simply because we are Christian conservatives and hold a different political point of view. We were forced to ‘keep our mouths shut’ for fear of physical reprisals. In Taos, we both got a massage. I told the masseuse about our encounters in Santa Fe and that we would support Trump. Her exact words to me were to keep our mouths shut because we would be physically attacked.”
I know; I get it. The term “Christian Conservative” need not be considered evidence that a person is ipso facto an angry, hateful, intolerant bigot who claims “PERSECUTION!!” when people push back against his views…but it’s very often true. As is frequently the case, Mr. Strong has demonstrated once again that “Christian Conservatives” are very often neither. Their Christianity certainly is in no way based on the teachings of Jesus Christ…but it’s certainly firmly rooted in hatred and prejudice of those not like them. As for Conservatism in the classical sense…well, it’s about government governing best when it governs least. That means minimal regulation and allowing people the freedom to be who they are without government interference and/or oppression- the exact opposite of good Christians like Strong advocate for.
There’s little doubt but that Strong and his fellow “Christian Conservatives” who support Donald Trump are supporting a candidate who’s a Christian in the same way Josef Stalin was a pacifist. They’re Conservatives in the same way Timothy McVeigh was all about nonviolent conflict resolution. They know nothing of the true mean of Christianity OR Conservatism; what they’re about is fear, prejudice, intolerance, and hatred. Never mind that the Jesus Christ they purport to revere preached about love, tolerance, acceptance, and inclusion- things Strong and his ilk couldn’t model if Christ himself showed up with an instruction manual (what you might know as a “Bible”).
The Strongs are certainly free to their opinions and to vote as their conscience dictates. That said, if you’re going to support a candidate known for his hatred and bigotry, you can’t credibly take offense at being accused of that same hatred and bigotry. You also don’t get to claim to be a “Christian Conservative” when your prejudice and intolerance reveal you to be neither.
Beyond that, no one gets to be a visitor in a place that values tolerance and acceptance of people’s differences and complain when residents call you out for your intolerance and hypocrisy. Despite what Strong may think, he’s not entitled to unquestioned acceptance and a free pass. If your beliefs are rooted in hatred and hypocrisy, don’t be surprised when you get called out for not living the faith and belief you’ve laid claim to.
