“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” – Matthew 25:45

When the NCAA made its decision to pull seven championship game/matches out of North Carolina in response to the discriminatory nature of HB2, Kami Meuller, the spokesperson for the NCGOP released a rather unprofessional, seemingly inebriated, response meant to attack the NCAA for its “political peacocking.”

The immediate backlash to Meuller’s statement was swift and strong, but its illogical premise was adopted in another statement made by Lt. Gov. Dan Forest who released this a day later on Sept. 13th.

“The NCAA’s action sends a message to every female athlete and female fan attending their events that their privacy and security in a bathroom, shower or locker room isn’t worth the price of a ticket to a ballgame. We have seen the NCAA’s attitude towards women before when they stood by and did nothing during the rapes at Baylor. For years, we’ve seen the NBA turn a blind eye towards women victims of domestic abuse at the hands of their star players. Why should we be surprised now at the NCAA continuing this pattern of discrimination and degradation of women? The line has now been drawn in the sand, first by Hollywood, now by the NBA and NCAA, either accept their ‘progressive sexual agenda’ or pay the price. North Carolina will not play that game. We value our women too much to put a price tag on their heads.” 

And while Forest parrots Mueller’s misinformed analogy to the Baylor University scandal and vilifies the NBA for its “blind eye,” it is the last statement that really solidifies Forest’s selective use of morality that paints a wider picture of our state’s government.

“We value our women too much to put a price tag on their heads.”

And while I value the women in my life as well, I find their value used as a matter of convenience in this case in order to fit a narrative.

I wonder if the LT. Governor would have communicated those same sentiments when Medicaid was refused in North Carolina. If he identifies protecting women from nonexistent transgender sexual assault as a holy crusade, then his strong Christian values would not dismiss a moral obligation to ensure that as many women and children have access to healthcare.

But his actions say the complete opposite. Apparently some people do have a price point.

I wonder if the LT. Governor would have communicated those same sentiments when the Voter ID law was passed in North Carolina. If he identifies protecting the poor and underrepresented from nonexistent voter fraud as a righteous campaign, then his strong Christian values would not dismiss a moral obligation to ensure that as many of our citizens have their constitutional right to use their voice and vote.

But his actions again state the opposite.

I wonder if the Lt. Governor would have communicated those same sentiments when unregulated charter schools and Opportunity Grants were siphoning monies from traditional high schools and allowing tax payer money to fund education for a selected few rather than strengthening the educational system for all.

And still, according to his actions, some people have a price point.

When faith is used to enflame fear and cover up facts, there is a price to be paid. If the Lt. Gov. really believed that there was no price that could be placed on “the heads” of our North Carolinian women, then he would also know that our children and our poor and our sick are also priceless.

In his fervor in defending HB2 in the court system, promoting the unconstitutional Voter ID law, and not helping expand Medicaid, Lt. Gov. Forest has shown that his moral compass is driven by his hardline conservative platform.

Looking at the entirety of “The Sheep and the Goats” excerpt from Matthew 25: 31-46 (see below), it seems that Christ very much wanted his followers to take care of the sick, poor, and disenfranchised as if they were taking care of themselves. That moral obligation would not be situational or politically motivated like the Lt. Governor’s.

Christ looked upon all as priceless. Does Dan Forest?

And if Lt. Gov. Forest was so against the NCAA or NBA’s “stance” on women, then he should be celebrating that these entities have chosen to not to have their championship/All-Star games here.

In fact, with his logic, Dan Forest should be thanking them.

The Sheep and the Goats – NIV

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”