Combining religious beliefs with public policy has always been a rotten idea, especially for a country that expressly prohibits it in our founding document. And yet, here we are, living in the dark shadow of the Supreme Court’s recent anti-abortion ruling.

This is a blatant example of what is often called Christian nationalism, and make no mistake, it is a threat to American democracy. 

There is a famous quote, often but incorrectly attributed to Sinclair Lewis, “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” Let the book nerds argue about who actually said that, but one thing Lewis did say, in his book “It Can’t Happen Here,” is that the real fascists would disown the word fascism, but would preach enslavement using the Constitution as a weapon.

And that is exactly what is happening, right here and right now. 

Locally, the Christian nationalist movement is best represented by Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate for governor in Pennsylvania.  Mastriano believes in a total ban on abortion, in all cases, without exception for rape or incest, or even when the life of the mother is in danger. (Republican gubernatorial debate, April 27, 2022.) Recently he gloated that “Roe v. Wade belongs on the ash heap of history.”  

This is just more hatred from a man who specializes in it; this movement is deeply connected to the rise of white supremacy, anti-Semitism, homophobia and misogyny, and hearing these platforms in our current political candidates is shocking, and no less so because fewer voters seem to be actually shocked.  

Simply put, the overturning of Roe v. Wade is an assault on American freedom. Regulating agency over the human body is the height of authoritarian control over the individual by the government. Abortion bans are an attack on human rights. This is about a fundamental right to privacy.  

Recent laws such as the one passed in Texas—which allow ordinary citizens to sue healthcare providers and other citizens for aiding and abetting abortion—are already spreading across the nation. Are we supposed to spy on each other to make sure we toe the Christian nationalist line? This is considered by some as the “legal stage of fascism,” an increasing tendency toward enforced conformity and authoritarianism.

Abortion is not the end of the road for these radical extremists, it is only the beginning.  What’s next? Gay marriage? Contraception? The right to read what you want to read? Not everyone has to be for everything, but everyone should be allowed to live freely. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—that is what America is all about. Freedom means freedom over our own bodies and minds. It means freedom from hate, and freedom to love whom we love.

There is a solution to the polarization that we see across America. I like to call it “radical empathy.” 

Empathy is the ability to understand each other’s position and perspectives. Radical empathy would be to allow for a diversity of thought and beliefs, without legislation or litigation against one another.  Radical empathy requires a basic understanding that while we are all equal in the eyes of God, we are all different as individuals, as different as every grain of sand or star in the sky, but that we all deserve respect. 

There is an important social contract to “mind our own business,” and allow others to live their lives and make their own decisions, even as we are bound together as good neighbors to help each other out when it’s the right thing to do, and to work together to keep our communities safe.    

One thing I have learned from living here is that there is a great diversity of thought among my neighbors. I know that the guy who lives next door didn’t vote for the same guy I did—I know this from the sign on his lawn—but I also know that if my house were on fire, he would be the first one here to help me. And there is nothing I wouldn’t do for him if he were in trouble. 

That is the America I want to live in, but sadly, people like Doug Mastriano would rather see us hate each other.  I feel sorry for him. Someone should tell him that love is always the answer. 

Christine Martin is a resident of the Town of Highland and works part-time at the River Reporter. 

The views expressed here are personal and not those of the River Reporter.