Hypocrisy in Ohio extends to Christmas

Setting aside the self-indulgent billboards that assign to Jesus words he never spoke, or the “What Would Jesus Do? bumper stickers, there can be no doubt about His reaction to state-sponsored gambling in Ohio on His birthday.

Yes, dear money changers, the Ohio Lottery will be drawing numbers on Christmas Day — the first time in its 34-year history, according to long-time lottery agents. This, in a state that has allowed its politics to be unduly influenced by Christian conservatives.

The holy rollers persuaded simple-minded Ohioans to support a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman — by warning that homosexuals in legal unions would demand the same rights as traditional couples; they have kept casino-style gambling out of the state; and recently turned strip clubs into one giant “Do not touch the merchandise” zone.

And yet, these same architects of Ohio’s theocracy continue to remain silent about the state lottery.

The fact that there will be drawings on Tuesday, Christmas Day, spotlights the hypocrisy that defines the state’s elected officials, especially Republicans. The GOP in Ohio is captive of the right-wing Christian movement, as evidenced by last year’s nomination of J. Kenneth Blackwell for governor, and it can be expected to use religion in next year’s presidential election.

Republican leaders have already taken issue with Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann’s reference to Good Friday in an e-mail to a member of his staff. Dann is Jewish.

Executive order

But there’s still time for Ohio to avoid national ridicule: Gov. Ted Strickland, an ordained Methodist minister, can let it be known that having the lottery on the day of Christ’s birth is an affront to all Christians.

Strickland, a former Democratic congressman from Lisbon, has shown a willingness to use his position as governor to take on controversial issues.

Last month, he ordered the Shawnee State Park in Scioto County in southern Ohio and Malabar Farm in Richland County in north-central Ohio to restore Nativity displays, depicting the birth of Christ in a stable, that had been taken down following a complaint.

According to the Associated Press, a Shawnee visitor had argued that large figures representing the Hindu and Zoroastrian religions should be displayed, too.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources sided with the visitor based on the principle of separation of church and state by banning the creches.

Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey responded at the time by saying the governor decided the Nativity scenes should be restored to the state parks because they’re appropriate and traditional.

“Gov. Strickland believes that Nativity scenes are an established and appropriate part of our holiday season. If someone locally suggests a symbol for Zoroastrianism, for example, be included, the governor disagrees. He thinks we need to approach this with as much common sense as we can.”

Dailey was also quoted as saying, “A Nativity scene is perfectly appropriate in terms of a holiday display, as would be Christmas trees and reindeer, or Frosty the Snowman.”

WWJS?

As for what Jesus’ reaction would be to straitlaced Ohio having the lottery on his birthday, grab your Bible and turn to Matthew 21:12:

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.”

On the other hand, the holy rollers can do what they’ve done for years: Ignore the hypocrisy of opposing casino-style gambling, while making no move to end the state-sanctioned lottery — with its many, many games and numerous instant scratch-off tickets, including two kinds for $20 a piece.

So, if the Ohio Lottery does have drawings on Tuesday, what’s the bet there’ll be a lot of people playing 1225?

On the other hand, there’s always the risk of “666” coming up.

Now that would be blasphemous.