zneval:

This thread has lost its fervor. I can only say that, in continuing to follow the political "controversies" and news since, it is apparent that america is experiencing some long-overdue growing pains. Recently Obama remarked that people who are economically frustrated can become "bitter" and "cling" to religion, or gun rights, or immigration issues to bolster political power and influence, or to give life meaning itself. This has gained some strong reaction from Hillary and McCain, asserting that Obama is "out of touch," "elitist," exasperating the issue by pointing out the obvious: that people flock to religion because they are "spiritually rich" and not "materially poor." (I see these as two sides of the issue. I wonder--why are we arguing?)

 

For someone who has stood up for Hillary in the past I think she's going overboard harping on his statement.  It's pretty true to a large degree, but don't just limit it to the small town folk!  He probably shouldn't have phrased it exactly that way, but I didn't really find it that offensive. 

I think it is troubling when we are focusing on one word and one cropped saying when we have available to us a whole archive of videos and votes and books and debates upon which to judge a man. I believe this is what "atomization" means in a raw, political, public sense of it. Everything has been divided up into so many parts and bits of information that we can't even see the whole picture. Instead of judging all the pieces as a whole, we judge the whole by one atomized piece. This is troubling but I suspect we will see more of it before we see less of it as the days pass..

Last night there was a Compassion Forum on CNN which was great. Hillary and Obama each got one hour on a stage alone answering questions from the media and priests and teachers from the faith-based university about spirituality and its role in their life, how it impacts their politics, etc. A search on youtube or google video has most of the forum as (you guessed it) atomized, 5 minute parts. For those of you watching there is an ABC debate with the both of them tomorrow night 8 ET.

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"identity which is not convulsive ceases to exist" ---breton

Nine Ways Not to Talk about God

I agree that we'll probably see more of it, and it is probably due to the race being so long.  How many times do we need to hear what they stand for?  In how many ways can they say the same thing?  Now they are all just picking at each other here and there.  I don't see any way around it, if I were Hillary I wouldn't back out either.  I feel like she had to attack his standing originally just to get reality in there, because people seemed so overcome by this emotional patriotic wave that it didn't seem quite real.  I feel like that has died down a lot, and people are seeing him more realistically.  This has made me like him a lot more actually, he's handled a lot of things well. 

I still like the Clintons though, I went to see Bill speak in Morehead and it was a neat experience!  I think Hillary would do a great job, but I'd be happy if Obama won.  As for the people of the nation, it seems like they should want and feel the need to get involved regardless of who is in office. 

I'll check out that video (videos) on youtube, it sounds neat!

Hillary wins tonight in a hard fought battle in Pennsylvania. I hope not too much damage has been done.

Again, I appreciate dearly Obama's continuing to say that the petty politics of the past need to go before any change can truly happen. I think he makes a good argument that he is the best candidate to do this; thus far, he appears the only one who's willing (though as Obama says, you can only be elbowed so much before you have to start elbowing back).

Hillary's crowd chanted "Yes, She Will" after her win. Obama's continued to chant "Yes, We Can."

I emphasize this because of the role Grace plays in our lives. We can. God does. When "I" will, I fail. When I submit "my will" to God, then God wills for me, through me, as me. Saying "I can" prepares my self to understand the magnificence of the great I AM and submit to it. Saying "I will" only reinforces the illusion of a seperate self.

So to all of you: Yes, We Can!

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"identity which is not convulsive ceases to exist" ---breton

Nine Ways Not to Talk about God

YES, WE DID!!!!

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There are two types of conversations worth having; those about the deepest things, and gossip!

Whohoooo! 

Obama on Supreme Court Justices:  "Both a Scalia and a Ginsburg will arrive at the same place most of the time.  What matters at the Supreme Court is those 5 percent of cases that are truly difficult...That last mile can only be determined on the basis of one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader perspectives on how the world works and the depth and breadth of one's empathy."

Obama on smear campaigns:  "What you won't hear from this campaign or this party is the kind of politics that uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon - that sees our opponents not as competitors to challenge, but enemies to demonize.  Because we may call ourselves Democrats and Republicans but we are Americans first.  We are always Americans first."

 Also...Ralph, I went to see Samantha Power speak when she was on her book tour and really enjoyed her sense of humour and her grasp of world affairs, and her compassion.  She did mention her Hillary comment, for which she felt remorse...she said she admired and liked Hillary but that she was a "redhead with a temper" and so it must have been a flare up in the heat of the campaign which most likely  everyone had at one time or another.  She said Obama contacted her before he was considering running for president and grilled her for hours on her ideas and it surprised her that someone in his position was so interested in what she had to say.  That is a paraphase of her actual words.  But it was a great talk of world affairs and i came away hoping she would continue to play a role in translating and working on global issues.