Letters to the Editor
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Who Cares?
I'm still trying to figure out why in the first place, we insist our leaders are great worshipers.
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Convictions vs. Convicts
For a long time, we on the left have held out our convictions, while the right has shown pictures of convicts -- hope from us, fear from them. The right has moved this game to a darker level by saying, not suggesting, what Falwell said in 1980, "You can't be a good liberal and a good Christian." Well, you can. In fact, most of the progressive values derive from Christian churches and the teaching of Jesus. One of these values is not acting as the judge of others, and another is being pluralist.
When Obama not only counters the whispering campaign but makes a positive assertion of religious faith and we on the left wring our hands, I think we're seeing the same crisis of values that we are when feminists have to accept that feminism means being able to choose to stay home, have babies, and be "traditional." Being a progressive should mean being unafraid of faith. Only dunderheads think that religion is intolerance, and only the worst knaves of all use religion to gild their intolerance.
I hope that Obama proclaims his Christian faith more loudly yet, that he takes away the repellent idea that "Christian" and fearful/hateful are aligned and that this discussion lead us to point out again how unChristian it is to use Christ's church to propagate fear and superstition.
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Several times now on this thread..
I have unequivocally stated that Obama is *NOT* a Christian and is lying about what he claims is the bedrock of his life, his "faith".
Not one single poster, Obamaphile or otherwise, has addressed my point, not even to call me names.
The entire ad campaign we are discussing here is a gigantic, blatant, disgusting lie designed to emotionally manipulate the public.
It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare. -Mark Twain
Is there one single person here that can show an iota of moral courage and either agree or disagree with me?
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
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Chill Out, Glenn
Glenn has gone overboard on the so-called religious issue with Obama's brochures being passed out in South Carolina. Obama clearly knows the importance of the separation between the church and state in constitutional issues. He's not a wannabe Huckabee. Obama is merely trying to influence Christian voters to pull the lever for him. He wants to win, and the brochure was a smart political tactic in a highly contested run against Hill and Bill.
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A sensible position
Holly, you ask a fair question. If I may paraphrase, okay smart guy, so who are you going to vote for then?
There's always Hillary, of course, or Edwards, neither of whom is entirely innocent of pandering. In the general election, the answer is even shorter -- whoever is running on the Democratic ticket.
I like Obama, you know, and as I've said before, I think that the present generation deserves a discussion of the issues facing them on their own terms, free from the animosities of the Viet Nam war, and from the old geezers like me who still nurse them. Obama seems to be the only candidate who measures up to these criteria, and that's not his only virtue, either.
Still, the culture wars are now a semi-permanent feature of the American political landscape. Without even referring to who started them, or for what reason, getting right with the Jesus folks is a price no one can pay without consequences. If Obama doesn't understand that, he's sure to have a miserable presidency if he's elected, and to be honest, not understanding it speaks poorly about his judgment when facing the other intractable evils he'll undoubtedly have to face.
So, okay, never mind my highly personal memories of Reagan the ignorant shithead, or of the damage he's caused, or my own belief that debunking him are the dues we'll have to pay as a country before we can begin to undo that damage. Piety, whether directed toward the mythology of the right wing, or own own innocence as political actors, isn't going to recover our history for us, or prepare us for the future any successful candidate will have to face, if not now, then certainly someday.
I may already be part of history, in other words, but that will also one day be the lot of the present generation as well. One day they'll be called to account for their actions just as we have been, nor will the accounting of their children be any less exacting than theirs has been of us.
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HRH
I have unequivocally stated that Obama is *NOT* a Christian and is lying about what he claims is the bedrock of his life, his "faith".
You are wrong.
You are also obsessive.
Your comment has now been fully addressed to everyone's satisfaction.
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You are wrong.
How so?
Don't *tell* me..
*Show* me.
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Please! Someone show him the door
Don't *tell* me..
*Show* me.
-- Aycharaych
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I don't need to
and that's exactly the point.
Since nothing anyone types here is EVER credited as "addressing" your concerns, its much smarter to simply shrug one's shoulders and move on to more constructive avenues.
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Please! Someone show him the door
The truth is painful, is it not?
Barack Obama blatantly disregards the single most explicit command that the Christ gave in regards to how you treat your fellow man. Treat them as you would wish to be treated yourself.
That is not the behavior of a Christian.
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Paul Dirks
Treat your fellow man as you would wish to be treated yourself.
Christ's main message on human relations.
True or false?
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re: Several times now on this thread..
I have unequivocally stated that Obama is *NOT* a Christian and is lying about what he claims is the bedrock of his life, his "faith".
Not one single poster, Obamaphile or otherwise, has addressed my point, not even to call me names.
The entire ad campaign we are discussing here is a gigantic, blatant, disgusting lie designed to emotionally manipulate the public.
It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare. -Mark Twain
Is there one single person here that can show an iota of moral courage and either agree or disagree with me?
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
Hey, just remember that many of us have a demanding life and do not have time to respond. Hell, I do not even get to read all the posts on each thread/topic.
I will answer your question. Obama is a Christian. He is every bit as much a "Christian" as most other Americans that claim to be a "Christian".
Satisfied? (I need to go back to work now, I'll see your response tonight)