Via Right Wing Watch comes this report of a Christian wingnut named Rick Wiles, who has a radio program called Trunews. While I am sure I have heard of him before, nothing he said stuck in my memory. Well, I will certainly remember him now.
On his program, Wiles said "Now this Ebola epidemic can become a global pandemic and that’s another name for plague. It may be the great attitude adjustment that I believe is coming.” He then went on to say, among other things, “Ebola could solve America’s problems with atheism, homosexuality, sexual promiscuity, pornography and abortion.”
Normally, I would just shrug this kind of thing off as some nutty utterances by a fringe character. In this case though, shortly after uttering these comments, Wiles had on his program Frank Wolf, a veteran Republican congressman from Virginia.
I don't know if Congressman Wolf heard Wiles remarks before speaking with him. If he did, I would like to know why he still appeared on Wiles program. If he didn't hear the remarks, will he condemn them if brought to his attention?
I was sufficiently disgusted that I called Wolf's office and spoke to one of his staffers. I told her that Wolf appeared on Wiles program several days before, what Wiles had said, and asked her why the congressman would validate a radio show host who uttered such horrible things. She took down my address, but the tone of her voice had that "we'll be sure to give this the attention it is due" vibe to it. I won't hold my breath waiting for a letter in the mail from the congressman, though if by some chance I do, I will be sure to share it here.
I also wanted to follow up with an e-mail, but the e-mail form requires one to enter a zip code and informs you that only e-mails from constituents will be answered. As I am a New Yorker, that ruled out any chance of my getting a reply.
I just looked a moment ago on his website to see if perhaps there was a press release condemning Wiles remarks, but there was none.
It would be great if some of Wolf's constituents who are angered by Wiles comments were to contact Wolf to let him know that it is unacceptable and wrong to associate himself and legitimize Wiles.
But back to Wiles himself. While hateful, his remarks, along with those by other so-called Christians, are also rather revealing, not to mention pathetic. It's as though they are throwing up their hands and hoping that their imaginary friend will do their work for them and use plagues and natural disasters to wipe out the people and things they hate because they can't do it themselves. It also strikes me as very unchristian behavior. After all, Jesus implored his followers to love their enemies. Wiles doesn't seem to be expressing any love for me by hoping I die from Ebola for having the temerity to be an atheist in America. Furthermore, as a frequent blood donor, if I were to be killed by Wiles god, my community would no longer benefit from my generosity as a donor.
If by any chance you read this Rick Wiles, I don't want you to die from Ebola. Instead, I want you to reevaluate what you believe and make an effort to become a decent human being, if that is at all possible.
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