Black Christian politicians

We seem to be moving decidedly past the race issue in the US, and we are greatly relieved to the degree that we are moving that way. But policies that enforce discrimination of another sort are now at issue in a more urgent way.

In the UK, Black Christian politicians are calling on citizens to “Judge Obama by his policies, not his race.”

In a letter to the Guardian, six black Christian politicians say Barack Obama’s election heralds a breakthrough for politicians of colour in Britain, but add that no-one should go “dewy-eyed” over President Obama’s actions in office.

What prompted the letter was this:

…Barak Obama’s transition chief, John Podesta, “singled out restrictions applied by George Bush, in 2001, on federal funding of stem cell research” as an area where swift repeal action may be taken by the new President.

Congratulations and commendations are pouring in from around the world. And along with admiration, some like this one are staying on message, that the ethic of universal human rights must be consistent.

Barack Obama is now the most prominent black politician ever seen in democratic history. But the greatest black politician the world may YET see – or the greatest black scientist, greatest black artist or the greatest black sportsperson – could under Obama’s presidency never have the chance to be seen – because Barack Obama would have had them aborted before they ever had the chance to be born.

The election of an African-American as President of the United States is a symbolic validation of the American Dream that none can deny. We rejoice in this. It says something noble and fine about a country with as tragic a racial past as America. It is an inspiration for black politicians everywhere. We pray it will provoke a greater engagement in British politics especially among members of the black majority churches in the UK.

But let us not be deluded by Barack Obama’s fine words about a new kind of politics and a bi-partisan approach. Within days of the election, his welcome statements on energy, unemployment and the credit crunch are already making way for the vicious anti-life agenda of Washington’s abortionist elite.

After the long, historically wrenching struggle against slavery and discrimination, we find ourselves in this stunning turn of events. It seems so clear to those who see the disconnect. We already have these early warnings that the new president will follow an aggressively anti-life agenda. But until he takes office, here’s hoping he sees more clearly what the consequences of those plans would be.