There are two strategies that I would like to see implemented in the Obama campaign -divide and conquer and painting the vision of hope for the American people. These would help to neutralize the fear that McKain is propogating that Obama is wrong for the job and the fear that is palazying the country.
Divide and conquer: Divide and conquer would be to have Biden (or even better a female spokesperson who can be diplomatic, plain-speaking and to authentically empathize with Palin's situation) to simply identify Palin's contradictions (have quotes/documentation) and attack McKain for placing her in such an untenable situation where her strengths are not being showcased. Might even reinforce how he is simply using her as a negative mouthpiece against Obama as if that is all she is good for. That would free Obama to address the real issues and show the difference in leadership that he (Obama) is focused on issues and not digging up dirt especially things that occurred in distant past and have no relevance now. People are suffering; you have no time and energy to be trading insults and sucuumb to lies. That's how Bush won last time and you will not be defeated with those tactics. The American people can see the truth more clearly now and how they have suffered from lies, lack of transparency and greed.
Vision of Hope: I believe that Obama is most successful when he paints the vision of hope and change. The Bush regime is characterized by fear and it is this vision of fear of terrorism which has us locked in a war that cannot be won (how do you have a war on terrorism? It is like a war on drugs. The concept is not framed in a way that you have a sense of what clear victory is). He should speak to current evidences of where America works, where honesty prevails where we need to have faith in our economy to rebound not necessarily because of what government has done but because of what the people can do. people have no faith in Bush because he has lied to the American people or made vacuous statements of economy being fine despite evidence to the contrary. You are a realist. Things are bad, however, ordinary people can still prevail. Collect those stories, provide suggestions to how people can live with less fear and more common sense. McKain clearly operates under fear and give examples of especially his resorting to dirty debating because he believes he is losing. Point out how that emotion betrays true lack of faith in Americans and America. What is the reality? If people spend wisely, monitor their expenses, focus on doing their best on jobs and continuous education so that if they lose their job as a result of economy, they will be marketable. Perhaps fireside chats would be useful. Little soundbites on what individual/families can do to survive and thrive in this negative economy. ALSO, keep staying with truth with no exaggeration. From my reading Obama campaign has fewer lies. That also needs to be pointed out.
II. During the V.P. debate last night, Governor Palin sadly spouted the unbiblical Republican Party line about the need to carve a Palestinian State out of tiny Israel, and thus dividing God's land!
I. Governor Sarah Palin drew a satisfyingly sharp line of distinction in the debate last night between her position on Global Warming and that of the Democrat Party as exemplified by Senator Joe Biden!II. During the V.P. debate last night, Governor Palin sadly spouted the unbiblical Republican Party line about the need to carve a Palestinian State out of tiny Israel, and thus dividing God's land! The full text can be read athttp://cuttingedge.org/newsletters/newsalert.htm
I realize this is a political hot potatoe because so many people profess a faith of some kind in the United States and throughout the world.
That said, there is a growing number of people calling for intellectual honesty. Being intellectually honest means you do not hold sacred cows, you allow all claims to be open to scrutiny. The overwhelming majority of the scientific and academic communities do not hold the Bible to be a source of anything further than myth and philosophical ideal. It is not a historical, factual account of history. It is not the basis for science. They hold that God is not an actual being. God is imaginary.
I am calling on our world leaders to stop pacifying us, telling us what they think we want to hear, and instead they need to stand up and publicly state that God is imaginary. God has no place in government. Religious superstitions and beliefs have no place in public office. They may be a source of comfort to some, but they are not real, and should be viewed as myths worthy of some ideological lessons but not historical fact or a basis for science.
Evolution happened. The earth is Billions of years old. God is imaginary. Please show the courage of integrity and truth, and dont be so afraid to tell it like it is.
"Imagine all the people living for today."
Thank YouRyan Cameron.
The New York Times had an article today about a group of pastors who are now willing to risk their 501(c)3 status in order to have the freedom to speak about political issues from the pulpit. They are challenging the IRS to take action against them, so that they can then have this matter adjudicated by the courts -- in the hopes of getting them some more wiggle room.
This does not give me a good feeling.
What is love? Love is the foundation of the Christian Gospel. Without Love, God would not have cared if His creation had no way to heaven, and thus would have had no reason to provide a way though Christ. According to Webster's, Love is:
To regard with a strong feeling of affection; to have a devoted attachment to; to feel great tenderness for; as, to love one's family. 2. To regard with the feelings of one sex towards the other; to be tenderly affected toward; to be in love with; to be passionately fond of. 3. To delight in; to have great pleasure or interest in...(Webster's pg 1007)
What does the Bible say about love? There are many passages about love, and they reflect closely to how Webster's defines love.
Is love based on precondition?
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8-10)
We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1 John 4:19-21)
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (Matthew 5:43-47)
It is because of verses like these that Dr. Cone must go through great efforts to redefine Love, and thus redefine Christian love. He rightly asserts that a "new way of doing theology" is needed, because without it "there will always be this barrier between Black Power and Christian love(Cone, 50). Thus he seeks to reinterpret "the message of salvation(49)" so that it will be palatable to those within the Black Power movement, whom Cone has no desire to make Christians out of, nor to "twist their language or to make an alien interpretation of it.(Cone 48)." While he has no problem preserving and accurately interpreting the words of man, he apparently sees no problem with forcing an interpretation on the scriptures that, as he willingly admits is alien to the life of Christ, and thus to the Biblical interpretation of love.
Cone goes through the two parts of the Great Commandment:
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)
He rightly says that when God's love has gripped a someone that they should behave as if Christ is at the core of his being (Cone, 51). However, just a page later, he says that, "because God is a God of power; of majesty, of might, to love man means that he wills that the black man "reflect in the immediacies of life his power, his majesty and his might (Cone, 52)." He also erroneously says that "to respond to God's love in faith means that he accepts as truth the new image of himself revealed in Jesus Christ (Cone, 52). The Bible teaches that our response to God's love is to believe on Him:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)
That the man becomes a new Creature, and does not merely emulate an image of such is a Bible truth:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We do not see an image in Christ, by accepting Christ in faith, we become a new creature, God's spirit indwells us and empowers us to do his will, to show his love and deliver his message to a world in need. As far as power we as individuals are called to:
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.(Matthew 10:16-18)
It is not for us to attempt to emulate God's power and might. Throughout the Bible, God does occasionally use people to show his power, as was the case with Moses and the plagues. However, the showing of power was related specifically to giving glory and honor to God, as Pharaoh was scoffing and rejecting God's revealed will. It was not an act channeled through the unbelieving, or the worshippers of false gods. Since Dr Cone has "no desire to make Christians out of those who see no relationship between their understanding of truth and Jesus Christ (Cone, 48), he asserts that God's power, majesty and might can be demonstrated though sinful unrepentant man by accepting a new image "revealed in Christ." Many religions have images of Christ,
Cone asserts that the black man take Paul's teaching of being a "new creature" literally by telling him to "glorify blackness" as an acceptance of the black self as a creature of God. (Cone, 53)." It is absolutely clear that Dr. Cone misses the concept of the "new creature" The new creature is a direct product of the new birth, which Jesus described in his discussion with Nicodemus:
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(John 3:1-7)
The new creature is spiritual in nature. Man was born once as flesh and blood. The birth of the "new creature" is a spiritual event, an event open to "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord." It has nothing to do with the glorifying or uplifting of the physical self.
By combining these unbiblical distortions of the new creature and God's love, Cone has set the stage for his radical redefining of the word Love.
Dr. Cone says that "to love the white man means that the black man confronts him." He goes on to assert that whites see blacks as "its" and the black man must confront them as a "Thou" The emphasis is not on the person hood, but on the confrontation as the manifestation of love between the "races."
Cone further asserts that,
The black man must, if he is not to lose sight of his new-found identity in Christ, be prepared for conflict, for a radical confrontation. As one black man put it: "Profound love can only exist between two equals. The new black man refuses to assume the It-role which whites expect, but addresses them as an equal. This I where the conflict arises(Cone, 53).
There is no grounds for a "radical confrontation" for one not to lose sight of his identify in Christ. In fact, the one time where it was attempted, Jesus himself rebuked Simon Peter:
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:10-11).
Also, consider the actions of Stephen who's preaching of righteousness resulted in severe injustice:
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.(Acts 7:51-60)
Probably one of the most damnable heresies which Cone proclaims is the assertion that "profound love" can only exist between equals. With how much the Bible talks about God's love for man, this sets up two situations, each equally heretical. Either God does not truly love man, and the Bible lies regarding this, or man is equal with God, in which case man has no need of God, or his salvation. So the question arises, are we gods, or is God a liar? Man's fall in Genesis was at the beckoning of the serpent to "become as gods." Cone here introduces that man is equal with God again offering up the same temptation, the quick and fleshly way of a bloody confrontation to lift up the self, the flesh.
It is this heresy that allows him to encourage the carnal demonstration of "God's power" by ungodly men. He continues by saying that the "christian" love of whites makes the black man a nonperson. Cone goes on to say:
The black man's response to God's act in Christ must be different from the white's because his life experiences are different. Christian love is never fully embodied in an act(Cone, 55).
This is false. Christian love was fully embodied in one act: the selfless giving of Christ on the Cross. To willingly give one's self for his friends is defined as the greatest love in the Bible:
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13)
From this the greatness of Christ's sacrifice is magnified, for not only did he give his life, but he did so, "While we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8)!" Such an act, by God completely embodies Christian love! There is no greater love, or demonstration of love!
Now compare this to the example of love offered up by Dr. Cone:
The violence in the cities, which appears to contradict Christian love, is nothing but the black man's attempt to say Yes to his being as defined by God...If the riots are the black man's courage to say Yes to himself as a creature of God, and if in affirming self he affirms Yes to the neighbor, then violence may be the black man's expression, sometimes the only possible expression, of Christian love to the white oppressor(Cone, P 55).
Where in the Bible does it say we are to affirm our selves? Where in the Scriptures does it say that violence is a legitimate expression of Christian love to the neighbor? Remember, that Dr. Cone subscribes to Malcolm X's description that theologically, calling whites the devil is not far from the truth. All whites are oppressors in the eyes of Dr. Cone (Cone, P 24).
However, Cone also insists that
White people should not even expect blacks to love them, and to ask for it merely adds insult to injury. "For the white man," writes Malcolm X, "to ask the black man if he hates him is just like the rapist asking the raped...'Do you hate me?' (ellipses in original quote) The white man is in no moral position to accuse anyone else of hate." Whatever blacks feel towards whites or whatever their response to white racism, it cannot be submitted to the judgments of White society.
Basically Cone's definition of the love offered up to whites from blacks is the same as the hatred which whites should expect from blacks. Based on Cone's definitions:
Love = Hate
Hate = Love
Further, he has attempted to insulate his perspective from any criticism. However, despite his linguistic and mental gymnastics, Love, Christian love does not equal hate.
Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
It is clear from Dr. Cone's radical redefining of Christian love, that his primary purpose is not to show how Christianity is compatible with Black Power, as he claims(cone, p48), but rather to conform the image of Christ and his love to that of the extremists in a movement that is diametrically opposed to Christian Love and everything it stands for.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)
References:
Black Theology & Black Power, 8th Printing, Nov 2006. James H. Cone (c) 1997 James H. Cone.
Webster's New 20th Century Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged. (c) 1949 The World Publishing Co.
The Holy Bible, KJV
We are at a point in America were we do not have the time to stand by and wait for things to change. It seems as Americans that we are waiting for change to take place. As a child of the rural south, I have spent countless hours within the church walls, and within those walls I have heard many messages based on the ideology of "wait on God." Well, this worked well when the great emancipator decided to historically, as we have been taught, free the slaves. How long did we wait when FDR, realized, hey, we need to do something to change what was going on in the economics of the thirties. There is nothing wrong with waiting on God, but I believe that sometimes God gets tired of waiting on use to, when he has given us all we need to be the change he desires.
Oh yea, the Bible says that God had been listing to the cries of the Hebrew slaves for 400 years when Moses came on the seen. Moreover, that time had come for the people to be freed, the same is here now, the time has come. Yet still, many people are trapped by the ideals of waiting. Not only that but we as believers in a higher power, at least many of us who are of African decent, seem to stand by and watch Politics happen rather than lend a voice of action. Millions of people around the globe are lending their resounding voices to the inhuman things that have been happing in the world of the economy. However, millions of voices have yet to be heard. These words are not for those who are working hard to do more than just vote, these words are for those who have the audacity's to say that their vote does not count.
I am a man of faith, but I am a man of Politics, a man of change, and a man of history, I believe that there should be a separation between church and state. However, a separation of church and state does not qualify me to not use the powers of my craft not to lend a voice to what I believe in. Do I agree with either parties on most issues, no, but I do believe that we as the people should not have to bail out the millionaires who made this mess, many of which are friends of McCain and Bush.
Since, it looks like "we the people," will have to bail out these guys, lets use their millions earned this year as the start. Anyway, back to my topic. African Americans, not only have to speak up, but we have to do all that our parents, grandparents and great parents died for. I have heard that many people of color have the fear that they will get called to jury duty, if they register to vote, this is crazy, and anyone who thinks this way are giving in to a form of Jim Crow. Yea, I know that calling it Jim Crow is exstream, but why is it that many of us are so fearful of Politics. So fearful of understanding the ways of our society.
While many of our black men are trapped behind wall of concrete and guns, we are staying at home and doing the same. As I have surfed the web I have found many people of color lending there voices, but we have many more voices that need to be heard. My fear is that many blacks and other people of color will not show up to the polls not because they are not registered to vote, but because they either don't no the strength of their vote or they are just don't think it matters. I could be wrong, but we have to put aside the traditions we have been brain washed to think and put on the what matters most.
We as a people must learn the balance that many of our color counter parts have learned well. We need to learn how to balance God , work, and social ideology. As I lived in Atlanta, during the 2004 election, I saw an exsteam amount of club flayers. I like having fun just like the next person, but it would be nice if for once, the clubs could have as their party flayer one night a voter registration night, and that is how you get in the door. Yes, I know it would not make much money, but it would sure send a message to the powers that be.
I love my people, but the time is not now for more drunk nights of club banging, we need change, we need freedom from the prison we have been put in, the prison of the mind. There are sites that are screaming loud things of change, but how many of us are listening, I just wrote all of this, but how many are listing, Obama is raising large sums of money, but how many of us are listing. Many of our jobs are leaving town, but how many of us are listing. I Bible also says that, "we have not be given the spirit of fear." if we believe in the Bible the way we say we do, then why then do we live in fear when it comes to Politics, economics, and wealth.
Could it be that we would love to spend hours shouting or speaking in tongues, while not learning Roe v Wade. I guarantee the other side knows about it, and they believe in God as much as we do. Could it be all we want to hear is how God will free us from our trails and tribulations rather than understanding that Sara Palin and John McCain want to stop a womens right to chose. Have we in the Bible belt become so lost in churching that we have lost the true message of "go yea therefore and teach." No it does not speak about teaching politics, but our white brothers and sisters still know this and understand this. Georgia, for the past elections has been a republican state, even when Bill Clinton was running. We have enough people to change that this year and any year in the future. But we can not do that if we don't stop looking for the next Martin Luther King, and start become the dream he had.
I am not saying that we have to knock on a million doors, but we have to use Social Media in more ways than one. Lets, take a moment out of our time on line, and not load pictures of ourselves doing whatever, and lets take that time to get people to vote, tell the world our beliefs, lets use twitter, wordpress, and other sites to change the world. We are so creative in music, clothing and God know s what else, yes, use these same ideals for this. Yes, there are many who do, and I say again this if not for you. But this is for those you may know that seem to do not care about Politics. Even after this race do not fall off, but keep talking, keep pushing the issues and if Obama does not live up to his promises, let him have it to.
Notwithstanding the challenges that this great country is facing right now, I am confident that by faith and on the basis of the people’s resilience, toughness, inspiration and aspiration we shall indeed overcome.
There is no doubt that many legitimate issues and scenarios may have clouded the positivism and objective outlook of the nation at home and internationally, nevertheless I am not given up on the country.
I have watched since my adult life the meandering and twisting that successive government in the country have sorted and followed in the hope of making it better than preceding administration and even though some have not lived up to expectation, America is till here and I still have faith in it.
The current political dispensation may as well be one of the indispensable facts as to why I cannot give on America and implored others around the world to join hand and make the country great again. In spite of the nefarious and at times acrimonious propagandas and orchestration about the unlimited influence of race in the race to the White House, the pragmatism and realism of our situation have given the entire world the reason to believe in America again and so I too by faith hope that America will be great again.
a mother tucked her child into bed and thought; "it is possible"....
His mother believed!
Thank you Ann, we are grateful for your faith in possibilities.
Just as seven years ago the Foundation condemned Pres. George W. Bush's creation of his misguided "faith-based initiative," today the Foundation protests the shortsightedness of candidate Barack Obama in endorsing its continuation.
This is the wrong direction for our country. The next president should have the integrity and courage to back off from Bush's fiasco and abolish the so-called faith-based initiative. It has been a waste of taxpayers' money, has injected religion into politics, deprived needy clients of the best help, and has punched a huge hole in America's vaunted "wall of separation between church and state."
It's lovely to say, as Obama does, that "I believe deeply in the separation of church and state." But actions speak louder than words. There is negligible difference between Obama's and Bush's stated provisos on the faith-based initiative. Like Obama, Bush claimed the faith-based initiative would not allow religious groups to use public grants to proselytize or discriminate against clients, and that public money going to places of worship was only to be used for secular programs. But there is no accountability and no monitoring provisions, as the GAO audit of 2006 documented.
It's also fine for Obama to say the government and its recipients are going to follow the law. But every day at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, we field complaints about violations of the separation between church and state even over established law, such as school prayer. Obama offers no plan for monitoring the constitutional pitfall of a "partnership" between religion and government.
The Foundation has taken and won many court challenges against the faith-based initiative. For instance, a federal judge in our Faith Works case in Milwaukee ruled in 2002 that $800,000 in direct federal subsidy to a ministry that existed to "bring homeless addicts directly to Christ" was unconstitutional. The funds were spent (and wasted) by the time we won the case. In 2005, we halted the final federal grant to MentorKids USA, in which volunteer mentors had to sign a statement that they believed literally in the creation story before they could go on to openly proselytize children of prisoners. We stopped a "parish nursing program" in Montana in 2003, and in 2007 a "chaplaincy" in Indiana set up to minister to state employees. Important and pioneering as our legal cases have been, they are a mere drop in the bucket in terms of the public financing of proselytization under the faith-based scheme.
Obama praises Take Youth Education for Tomorrow, a program run by churches and church schools to teach reading after school and during the summer, largely in church settings. Churches and the offices of religious organizations are innately coercive environments. What about parents who don't want their children to have to go to church in order to get reading help? When taxpayers are footing the bill, such programs should be held in a neutral setting--there is, after all, no shortage of public schools, already tax-supported!
It is not only the 16% of the population who is nonreligious who is offended. Many Muslims are forbidden to enter Christian churches. Jewish children may not feel comfortable entering a Christian church. Even many Christian sects are uneasy about adherents entering churches run by competing denominations. The idea is fraught with practical and constitutional peril.
Weirdly, Obama criticizes Bush for failing to reach out to faith-based groups about how to apply for federal dollars. Yet this was a cornerstone of Bush's faith-based initiative. At countless regional and federal faith-based conferences, hands-on technical support at public expense (including "free lunches") is exactly what the Bush Administration has offered churches and religious agencies for seven expensive years!
Obama says "we all have to work together--Christian and Jew, Hindu and Muslim; believer and nonbeliever alike--to meet the challenges of the 21st century." True, even laudable. But that does not mean "we" should all be taxed to support churches or religious agencies. Many Americans proudly are descended from immigrants who came here to escape mandatory tithes and taxation in support of churches against their consent.
Obama's tone is more balanced than Bush's. But he spoils the effect by criticizing those "who bristle at the notion that faith has a place in the public square." Secularists have never said faith can't be displayed in public. We do insist that faith should not be part of government, subsidized by government or promoted by government. The genius of the founders of our secular republic was to recognize that keeping religion and government separate is the way to prevent religious corruption and coercion.
Obama's reference to needing "people of faith on Capitol Hill"--as if Capitol Hill weren't at the moment dominated by "people of faith"--is both a naive platitude and exclusionary. How would religionists feel if Obama had said: "We need people without faith on Capitol Hill"?
Let's abolish the faith-based initiative and go back to the days before John Ashcroft first proposed so-called "charitable choice." Religious social services have always been free to bid for social service grants, but they were expected to create a secular arm, keep separate books and take their crosses down. A return to the status quo is the simple answer to the mess created by Bush's faith-based initiative.
Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is merely a renaming of Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Ironically, nearly everything Obama criticizes Bush's initiative for ("it was used to promote partisan interests," "it has to be a real partnership--not a photo-op") can be said of Obama's plan and his "photo-op" speech today. Same taxi, different driver. Where's that vaunted "change" that Obama's campaign has been promising?
On a related topic, we are appalled at the arrogant, presumptuous hubris of politicians who claim to know "God's will." Obama joins an unfortunately long line of political candidates and public officials (which includes more than its fair share of despots), who talk about "fulfilling God's will" and "doing the Lord's work." Why are these politicians so special that they possess a direct pipeline to a divinity? The presidential candidates have crossed the line between acknowledging sincere personal faith to wearing faith on their sleeves and unapologetic political pandering. Both John McCain and Obama have been burned by their past close associations with pastors. Why can't they see that religion mixed with politics is always a combustible mixture?
--Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, The Freedom From Religion Foundation.
While puttering purposefully around my Facebook page, I noticed that there is a new Chrsitian group in town that endorses Barack Obama. I am heartened to see more people turning toward truth and beauty as this campaign struggle comes to the heated last few weeks. This IS the message, whether you're a practicing worshipper or just have a good heart. By golly, let's spread the good word! Power to the People and Peace to all Brothers and Sisters! Finally!
"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are all of the same body."
Ephesians 4:25
Every undecided voter I've spoken to likes Obama, but are repelled by his stance on abortion.
I think Obama's public discussion of abortion, so far, is inadequate. But Obama has left his view on abortion a little wiggle room, such as, when during the PA debate he said he was unsure about when life began. Then, during the Faith Forum, he said this difficult question was "above [his] pay grade."
I agree with Hillary's comment that abortion should be rare and safe. I think Obama should welcome a vote, once he becomes president, to overturn Roe vs. Wade to state law, and communicate this within the next 45 days to undecided voters.
I realize this blog will rankle many of my liberal friends and many other Obama supporters. However, I feel it might help some people who see it as a crisis of faith to switch from the Republican ticket to the Democratic ticket. Please share this blog with your friends who are conservative Christians and are either on the fence or voting for McCain on the basis of religious beliefs.
One of my dear friends said during her hasty speech at the community caucuses so many months ago, “Barack Obama has the power to unite liberals and conservatives.” She was referring to our friendship. In Obama’s candidacy, we had mended our political fences. We had also found hope again. She is a card carrying member of the ACLU, and I have been active for most of my life in a Christian religion and community.
In 2000, I voted for George W. Bush against my better judgment. I heard many people say, and believed (at least in 2000), that he was a prayerful man. I admit to being duped. But that only partly explains my full, wholehearted support of Obama’s candidacy.
Over the past eight years, the Bush Administration has simultaneously squandered our once burgeoning treasury and the trust of the American people. When Bush took office, our economy supported the global economy, and the US dollar was stronger than most in the world. Today, the IMF and several foreign prime ministers have not so subtly called for global monitoring of US fiscal policy, and the dollar is weaker than at any other time in my lifetime. Congress is deadlocked in partisan bickering. Our people have lost faith in governance, and the world has lost faith in the fiscal and social integrity of the United States. The Bush administration repeatedly lied to our people to justify taxes, war, and everything in between.
Why have I felt separate from my religious community in supporting Obama/Biden? For one thing, Republican Party rhetoric targets conservative Christians. The wealthy represent only 5% of the voting block. Since the Reagan administration and the promulgation of “trickle down” economics, the Republican Party has served big business at the expense of all else. How do they garner the votes necessary to attain the White House when they serve only 5% of the population? Primarily, they achieve support by fanning the flames of a faith-based social war to define “American values.”
In supporting the Obama/Biden ticket I stand united with most Christians in believing the following:
Social Programs
It believe it is my duty to be my brother’s keeper, to love and care for the afflicted. We are all beggars before the Lord. We are commanded to serve and fight for the rights of the downtrodden, the persecuted, the weak, and the voiceless. Because of this belief, I also stand united with Obama/Biden:
Obama has promised to cut taxes for 95% of US families. Still, I would support and happily pay increased taxes for universal health care, increased support for single mothers, and any action we take to improve the broken welfare system.
Again, Obama has promised to cut taxes for 95% of US families. Still, I support and would happily pay for increased educational opportunities for all children who live in America, and would happily pay more taxes for increases in teacher’s salaries, increased technology in the classroom etc.
Energy Policy
I believe God created the earth, and requires His children who inhabit it to take care of it. Based on this belief, I support Obama/Biden because:
McCain’s energy policies are built on the “drill, baby, drill” premise. His solution to the energy problem is to stay at war and to drill locally, continuing to deplete local and global resources while supporting, at worst, tyranny - and at best, foreign economies at the expense of our own.
Obama’s energy policies draw upon the innovation, intelligence, and creativity of the American people. His proposed energy policy is green in two ways, simultaneously stimulating the economy (making green jobs and keeping them in the country) and preserving the planet.
Life/Choice
I believe in choice. I also believe in natural consequences. My views aren’t popular. They certainly aren’t politically correct. As a woman and a Christian, I see it this way: If, as a result of a conscious choice to have sex, a woman becomes pregnant, then she already exercised her right to choose. It is against both the laws of God and the natural order to terminate that life. Except in cases of rape and incest, I see abortion as a myopic response to a difficult situation. How can I support Obama/Biden if this is my personal belief?
Since Roe versus Wade, several Republican administrations have inhabited the White House. Not one of them has done anything to reverse Roe versus Wade. Yet, they’ve all garnered the conservative vote by speaking openly against abortion, politicizing a very personal issue and promoting division.
Although Obama’s stance on this important issue is more liberal than McCain’s, Obama’s message is one of unity. He proposes workable solutions. Rather than playing politics and manipulating the conservative vote, he asks us to find common ground. He recognizes that this is a complex and emotional issue. We, as an American people, are not likely to agree on abortion legislation. So, Obama proposes that we search for ways to work together to reduce unwanted pregnancy. We can all agree on the role of education and providing workable options. Additionally, it is likely that many women who would otherwise choose to terminate a pregnancy would actually choose to give birth if they had the opportunity to engage in affordable higher education, good health care, a reasonable wage, and equal pay for equal work. All of these issues are at the center of Obama’s campaign.
McCain seconds The Bush Doctrine. (I’m sure Palin would, if she actually understood it). The Bush Doctrine supports pre-emptive war. Christian doctrine eschews invading other countries and cultures on the basis of property or power. Although in modernity and historically many fundamentalists co-opt(ed) God for these purposes, all monotheistic interpretations of God and God’s doctrine clearly contradict The Bush Doctrine. We should not invade another country unless we are first attacked. We have a duty to defend our nation, but only to protect our homes, our lives, our families, and our way of life. So far, I see no proof that Iraq invaded or attacked the United States. The Bush administration now admits to this fact. Yet, we are still at war and McCain has committed to more war, indefinitely.
As anyone who follows voting records or the news knows, Senator Obama voted against the war in Iraq from the beginning, even when it was enormously unpopular to do so. His plan includes timelines for bringing home our troops, and bring them home with honor and respect.
America is built upon the separation of church and state for good reason. As a Christian, I fully support this separation. The right to worship God as we understand God, including no God at all, has made the United States a safe haven for every follower of a moral code. This separation must be protected for the sake of all citizens, including Christians. However, since Kennedy’s nomination (and probably even before then) religion has been an issue in the race for the White House.
McCain’s smear tactics decry Obama as Muslim. First, this hateful prejudice alone is problematic. Islam is not a terrorist organization. It is a monotheistic religion in which jihad actually refers to the inward struggle between good and evil. Even if Obama were Muslim, we would do well to understand that the Koran’s teachings are consistent with democracy, as well. That being the case, Obama is a Christian. This is how he defines himself, and he has publicly described his conversion process and his faith. McCain’s campaign of prejudice and manipulation should serve as fair warning that we would see more of the same, should they take office.
Democratic Principles
McCain’s proposed economic policies further the claims of a plutocracy, which is the right of the wealthy to govern. His campaign is supported by the wealthy, and his campaign advisors are among the most powerful lobbyists in Washington. Their campaign and their choices thus far clearly demonstrate a desire to increase and garner ever greater power for the wealthy, disenfranchising the middle class and obliterating the poor.
McCain’s smear tactics have denounced Obama as both an elitist and a socialist. (This web of lies converges to illustrate one great truth: McCain cannot even get his slanders straight.) Obama is neither a socialist nor an elitist; rather, he is a populist. He is a man of the people. Populists built this great democracy, this country that I love. Obama’s history speaks for itself. From humble beginnings, he attended the finest schools in the country. After graduating from Harvard Law, he pursued civil rights advocacy, a far less lucrative form of advocacy. For many years, he organized and galvanized his community. He became a Senator by stumping from the northern spread to the southern tip of Illinois, asking his people questions and listening to their answers. Sometimes he was received in the town hall; more often his audience consisted of a few people. He met with the few to be able to eloquently define and politically support, over time, the desires of many. And, despite his so-called “celebrity” status today, he is still meeting with people in small towns everywhere: Elko, Nevada is one very recent example.
From the beginning of this race and of his career, (some might even say the beginning of his life) Obama has represented the power of the people and of the American dream.
Barack Obama, you changed the tone of the campaign this week. You brought it back to politics and policy. With all of the right policies, you should be winning in the polls.
Again, I say it: Barack, take the highest of high roads. Right now, be the change you want to see.
You want a campaign free of smears? Praise your opponents.
You want a campaign based on truth? Tell us the truth about you. Your plans. Bring it back to you.
Barach Obama, you inspired a nation during the Democratic convention. You inspired us to believe for so many months. We learned all we could about you. We had the audacity to hope.
Then McCain pulled a rabbit out of his hat and inspired his own base.
You have no more rabbits. We all know your message.
All you can bring us is you.
Inspire us again. Speak only kindness. Focus on helping in Texas, even before the financial markets. Go to Texas. Fix things! Be the hope you talk about! Be the change you promise! Start your presidency of hope and kindness and fairness today. Lead us now! Inspire us again. We need you.
Really? The United States of America is a Christian Nation? The President is not called upon to be our moral or spiritual guide, but rather takes an oath to defend the Constitution. Perhaps this presidential want-to-be should pursue that document and review his history a bit more carefully. In establishing the Constitution, the founding fathers wrote in its preamble one of its major goals, that of securing “The Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” Further the FIRST Amendment is non-preferentialist in nature and continues to so be interpreted by the Supreme Court. In fact, the word “Christian” or any reference to Jesus is conspicuously absent in both the Declaration of Indepenedence and the Constitution. True, the overwhelming majority of the founding fathers were Christian. Many denominations were represented including Roman Catholocism. There were also several diests and even an atheist or two among the ratifiers of the Constitution. Many Jews participated in the revolution and some 24 served as officers in George Washington’s army. The USA is a religiously neutral country where the majority of its founders and residents were/are Christian. And while we’re on the subject let me state without fear of contradiction that the “Judeo-Christian” ethic is a myth. Show me one legal or ethical precept used in the United States based upon a new idea found in the “New Testament” and I will gladly retract this statement. “Turn the other cheek” and “If a man steals your coat give him your boots too” have not found their ways into the law books (thankfully).
i posted this on my facebook, and it's generated pretty good conversation, with some heat thrown back and forth, so i figured i's post it here...oddly enough, i haven't been to this page since they changed things, so it's like i'm new all over again...whatever the case, my passion has been renewed, reignited since the conventions
is the choice REALLY that difficult? honestly? is it not obvious that if you choose to vote for McCain, you are voting for at least four more years of the the eight we've just endured? McCain can try and latch onto the "Change" banner and throw Palin on the stage with himself every day, but does that change his positions? does that change his vision for America? honest to God people...just do the research...just dig a little and you will see that the McCain/Palin ticket isn't just lying about Obama's record and Obama's attitdue, but they are lying about their own... LYING...straight faced.... why does nobody care that they are lying? what is it you use to say, harv? and the peasants rejoice? i don't get it. listen...if you're happy with the place america is at, if you are happy with the direction we are currently heading, then McCain/Palin is your ticket. if you like reading about banks closing everyday, people losing their homes and everything they own, college students (speaking from experience) drowning in school loans, billions being spent in a war that should have never been waged, broken ties with all of the world, then McCain/Palin is your ticket...go for it real quick aside...on Iraq...it's pretty popular, always has been, to say that people who don't support the war, people who say we shouldn't be there are unpatriotic...i don't say this in vain, but for God's SAKE, people, don't you see that we aren't fighting for freedom there, we aren't fighting to protect America...it's the great lie force fed to us...if we truly cared about liberating oppressed people, why would we not be in Darfur, or Tibet, or one of the many countries that struggle with leadership like that of Saddam's...do you not understand that in our lifetime we will see this administration, surely Cheney, and possible Bush, charged with war crimes? it was all a lie, every readon they gave us for going was a lie...A LIE. it's not fighting for freedom..it's not defending America...God bless the people who volunteer to serve in the military, but this isn't what they volunteered to do...have you heard the story of the soldier who hired a hitman to shoot him in the leg so he wouldn't have to go back? or the guy who strapped a bag of tools to his back and jumped off a roof and crippled himself so he wouldn't have to go back. these people are destroying themselves...and it's our fault and if you're voting for the McCain/Palin ticket because ideologically you line up with them, then fine...but consider this...did you not line up with Bush for this reason...is that not what got him a second term? because the people who were against gay marriage, or abortion, came out in droves to push that idea? and has anything changed thanks to bush? i mean, more states offer gay marriage, and roe v. wade stands just as strong, even after bush appointed conservative judges... don't you get it? McCain's party will keep trying to sell this shit as gold. none of them have any desire to change what is...none of them want to overturn roe v. wade...if they did, why would you vote for them? if they did, they would never win another election... you're being played. we're being played. i can shamefully admit that i was played in 2004 and have regretted it ever since. change isn't lying about your record and not talking about the future. change isn't putting up a new face and a new banner. change is saying, "we shouldn't be happy with what is, but we should be striving for what we can be." change is pushing ourselves to go beyond ourselves, byond our limits on ourselves, to see this country, this world as bigger than my county line, and realize i have to change if i want things to be better. don't you see that's the choice. we all have to change if we want this country to, if we want it to be better. I'm a God-fearing, Jesus follower who believes abortion should be legal, because my faith shouldn't govern my country. I believe gay people should have the same civil liberties as straight people, whether or not i agree with their lifestlye, because condemning and smearing isn't loving my neighbour...because it's the next step in the evolution of civil rights...CIVIL, not Christian. I believe it's wrong for our leaders to use our military to strong arm themselves around the world, screwing us at home all the while. I believe in equal rights to every faith, because the Lord of mine told me to love. I'm voting for Barack Obama because i am finding the courage to change myself, and hoping to help change my country for tomorrow.
I am intrigued by the bandwagon of Palin supporters that at the moment may be shifting the poll numbers. When we get back to real issues like the economy and the war and health care and education, I think the numbers will shift back in support of Obama, the real change candidate, yet it is imporant to note something here.
The very people who claim Palin is the best possible person to represent their vaunted VALUES (prior to Palin, they were at best, lukewarm to McSame), people like Dr. Dobson and others--these very supporters who claim Palin is "their voice" for values in the public square would never allow someone like her to be their voice in the pulpit as a pastor or church leader. The conservative churches (and voters) who could have the ability to shift this election don't believe that women can be leaders in their congregation, but all of a sudden Palin is their annointed leader on the campaign trail.
I guess that is not hypocritical if the overarching "value" is to keep POWER, no matter what. In both their churches and in government, "the good ol boys" will say and do whatever they can to keep power. Perhaps the conservatives value "separation of church and state" after all?
Saturday September 13th the News and Observer will be distributing a DVD to their 160,000 subscribers entitled "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" If anyone hasn't heard about this movie you can view the trailer here.
I don't know about you but I do not remember any other time where a news paper has ever sent out a DVD let alone one that his very biased and portrays Islam as an extremist religion!!!!!!!
I find it quite appaling that this type of garbage would be sent out to further instill fear into the public. It again puts innocent Muslims on the defensive and makes them worry about backlash.
http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/trailer.php
Saturday, September 13, 2008 – Yes, You Can Change the World
“Most people focus on doing things as the way to make a difference. What they don't realize is that the most powerful way to make a difference doesn't require you to actually do anything at all! You start by changing YOUR world; You end up changing THE world.~Aman Motwane
Today's Affirmation
My world in a reflection of my evolving consciousness.
Today's Meditation
Dear God,I am grateful for Your presence and power moving in me and into my world.Living in this consciousness, all things shift into perfect alignment with Your purpose and plan.My intention for this day is to be an open channel for Your love.May my life be a clear lens for Your light.So it is.Amen
Is Hawaii really part of America?Is Alaska really part of America?
Charismatic star power when speakingDitto
Sometimes sounds like an egg-headSounds like a ditto-head
Opponents try to paint spouse as not patriotic (“Proud“ statement) Ditto (Alaska Independence Party)
Opposes more drilling for oil in AlaskaAsked churchgoers to pray for a natural gas pipeline in Alaska
His former church pastor doesn’t always watch his tongue In her church they speak in tongues
Has somewhat rigid position on abortion Has extremely rigid position on abortion
Believes in faith-based initiatives Practices faith-based politics
