TIM WILKINS,EDITOR

I have to give props to one of our dear readers for this week’s column.

A very nice lady called me last week and told me all about one of her pet peeves — she’s angry about what she sees as the hypocrisy of politicians who, on the one hand, do their best to enforce and tighten the laws on separation of church and state in this nation, yet, when it’s election time, these same politicos go running to the nearest church quicker than Carl Lewis on amphetamines to impart their message.

While all politicians are guilty, Hillary Clinton seems to be the worst offender. When she visited First Baptist Church in Selma, Ala., two weeks ago, she appealed to the masses there in a fake, deep Southern drawl that would have made Prissy from “Gone With the Wind” blush. The only thing missing from her serial pandering to the largely African-American audience was a dab of blackface on her otherwise fishbelly white countenance.

How can African-Americans possibly vote for someone who hijacks their culture for the length of a church sermon, only to return to her posh New York residence after the preachin’s finished to discuss politics over tea and crumpets with her socialite friends, reverting back to the perfect diction learned at the exclusive — and almost all-white all-the-time — Wellesley College?

Hillary has about as much in common with the average black voter as a gecko does with a dinosaur.

Flavor of the week candidate Barack Obama has also made a habit of visiting churches to spread his gospel, as has North Carolina’s own John Edwards. Can you really take seriously two men praying in church on Sunday who will spend the rest of the week — if elected to this nation’s highest office — keeping prayer out of public schools and nativity scenes off courthouse lawns?

Whatever your feelings about him — and I am sorely disappointed in his reign — at least you got the feeling that when George W. went down on his knees in church for a photo op during his first presidential campaign, he really meant it. In fact, I get the impression that if W. had his way, he’d staple a crucifix to the forehead of every fourth-grader and pistol whip every abortionist within arm’s reach.

While I don’t advocate W.’s particular brand of fanaticism, I do believe there is still room for religion in our society and our government.

What’s wrong with a manger on public property? If a Jewish gentleman expresses outrage, let him place a menorah by the Baby Jesus’ side. I won’t be offended. If a Muslim screams at the sight of a pubic crche, allow him to place a prayer mat facing Mecca next to the Virgin Mary’s feet. Knock yourself out and may Allah be with you ... I personally don’t care.

Faith ... any faith ... is vital to a culture’s existence. The Romans forsook Christianity for bread and circuses and look what happened to them. You have to have something more to believe in than the cold hard facts of science and the whacko philosophy of Tom Cruise and L. Ron Hubbard.

While I’m not offended by other religions, the Judeo-Christian faith just happens to be the foundation faith upon which this nation was built, and continues to be built. And all you folks screaming for separation of church and state? You better look out — almost all those immigrants of Latino heritage flooding across our borders are DEVOUT — with a capital “D” — Catholics. And as their numbers grow, so will the influence of the pope and the papal state.

I guess Hillary better stay up late praying the rosary and watching old Ricardo Montalban movies so she can get that accent down.

— Tim Wilkins is the editor/general manager of the Bladen Journal. He can be reached at 862-4163, or via e-mail at editor@bladenjournal.com.