Mike Huckabee, the GOP candidate for president, now a front runner among the republican candidates recently said this: “Jesus was too smart to run for public office”. He made the statement in response to a question about evolution during a CNN/YouTube Debate featuring other GOP presidential contenders. What would Jesus do about evolution was the question all the GOP candidates scrambled to answer.
Rudy Guliani, a fellow republican, also trying to claim the GOP ticket, when the cameras turned on him during Huckbee’s response, was seen cheering and smiling as was the audience that felt excited about the comment from Mr. Huckabee. It seemed a smart response from the man who political analysts now think is the GOP’s best chance in the November 2008 US Presidential race. Huckabee, a former Baptist minister, has received strong endorsement from other Baptist ministers around America. Now, if you believe the polls, the conservative movement is also said to be rallying behind him as their man for the primaries.
But as we celebrate Christmas, the challenge many have is to figure out the role of religion in dealing with social issues like Abortion, Immigration, poverty and much more. Akin to this, as in previous election cycles, remains the issue about the separation of Church and State, a tenet enshrined in America’s constitution. Is Huckabee now going to wear his “religiosity” on his sleeves and act like Jesus when he becomes President? That is the question that political bloggers are muscling from left and right.
Also, the talk in America is how the so called "anti-Christ" movement is employing Machiavellian machinations to strip Jesus Christ out of Christmas. We all have heard it and perhaps practice it too; advertently or inadvertently. Instead of wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas”, critics say, we now prefer “Happy Holidays” in order not to offend non Christians. The big question is, “who are these non Christians that we don’t want to offend?” Everyone is scratching their heads. As they say, “America is a free country and everyone is welcome to do or say whatever they like, so long as it fits within the bounds of US laws” Everyone, including CNN, now running a Christmas special called "What would Jesus really do", has gotten into the debate.
Now that it has been announced that President Bush plans another trip to Africa in 2008 as he finishes eights in the white house, i like to shift the focus from Jesus in America to Jesus in Africa. With this, a new set of questions arises. What would Jesus do about Africa?
What would He do about poverty and debt relief in Africa? Would Jesus live in a place like Zimbabwe where there is 1000% inflation, according to recent press reports? Would Jesus help raise funds for anti-retro viral drugs for Aids patients all over Africa? Would Jesus attend an African Union conference to debate the expansion of the African Union to a 21st century style European Union? Or, would He rather say "we should adopt African solutions to African problems and not copy western style capitalism?"
Would Jesus mediate in the Bakassi Peninsular dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria? Would Jesus even think about letting an African president be in power any longer than eight years? Or would He say “for the sake of peace, I rather have one person be in charge until we can find someone qualified enough to take over?
Or, would Jesus say, “forget that a British teacher came close to being flocked or killed in Sudan because she allowed one of her students to name a teddy bear Mohammed” Would Jesus say “forget that there is genocide taking place in Darfur for which the Sudanese government has been called the most brutal regime in recent memory”
Would Jesus rather not focus on the Bad and Ugly about Africa and pay more attention to a democratic revolution taking place since most African nations gained independence in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Would he say “I don’t care what everyone is saying about Africa and that Africa has a better chance at development if Africans stop talking and blaming their governments for their failures and start listening and acting to the ideas being proposed as solutions to problems in the continent?
What would Jesus do about thousands of Africans who have fled Africa and are now living in America and enjoying the American dream? Would Jesus say that such a move is good or bad for Africa?
Would Jesus focus on the “Good, Better and Best” of today’s African leaders and use them as shinning examples for the rest of Africa and the world? What would Jesus really say about Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu? Would Jesus make a comment about the trial of Charles Taylor or about the Tanzanian stock Exchange?
Would Jesus encourage Africans to learn leadership better skills and prepare their younger generation who would take over leadership of the continent ten years from now? Or would Jesus say, “I am too smart to run for public office”, or “I rather stay home because I am too tired of Africans who talk too much and do nothing about their problems”
Would Jesus say, “I don’t want to be called all kinds of names, so I am going to take a pass on this African thing” What would He do for Africa?
How about one last question, “When will the debate about Jesus ever end?” I really don’t know because I am not a religious nut, nor am I interested in liberal or conservative bashing. All I know is how to ask these questions.
Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas!
George Bamu
