Reply
Mon 9 Aug, 2004 06:51 am
There's an article on the front page of today's New York Times entitled "Churches See an Election Role And Spread the Word on Bush"
The author is David D. Kirkpatrick.
The first three paragraphs scared the hell out of me. The fact that there are people like this among us is truly frightening. Read at your own risk.
St. Louis, Aug, 8 -- Susanne Jacobsmeyer, a member of the West County Assembly of God in a St. Louis suburb, voted for George W. Bush four years ago, but mostly out of loyalty as a Republican and not with much passion.
This year, Ms. Jacobsmeyer is a "team leader" in the Bush campaign's effort to turn out conservative Christian voters. "This year I am voting for him as a man of faith," she said after breakfast after an early morning service. "He has proven that he will do what is right, and he will look to God first."
Jan Klarich, her friend and another team leader, agreed. "Don't you feel it is a spiritual battle?" she asked to nods around the table.
I'm going outside now. I need to sit by the swamp and think.
Hopefully, the words of Jan Klarich will cease to haunt me in an hour or so, and I can return to the normalcy of my life.
There is no return to normality from this.
Yes, absolutely.
G-d forbid that anyone should have a spiritual or religious motivation for doing what they do.
It is only safe in this world if there is no G-d and no religion.
Then every man can act upon his own, independently formed idea of right and wrong.
What a horror that someone believes that President Bush looks to G-d for his decisions.
The horror.
The horror.
I'm afraid you're right, Dlowan.
The pagans must flee.
Hey! First I want to say that I do not care for Bush's religious slant, and the way that he uses it in governing.
Saying that, the Democrats have long curried the black vote, and the union vote, and the votes of other groups of people. Why is everyone getting hysterical about the religious vote?
Moishe3rd wrote:Yes, absolutely.
G-d forbid that anyone should have a spiritual or religious motivation for doing what they do.
It is only safe in this world if there is no G-d and no religion.
Then every man can act upon his own, independently formed idea of right and wrong.
What a horror that someone believes that President Bush looks to G-d for his decisions.
The horror.
The horror.
Aargh - normal christians are ok'ish, Moishe - these conservative ones scare the bejesus out of me. And having a fervent fundy president is way scarier...
Well, Phoenix - it is a little late and I am tired - I will tell the truth
The politics of conservative christians are abhorrent to me
similarly with fundamentalist moslems
These beliefs belong in the dark ages of the past - when they were formed
to hell with finesse and care
they spook the crap out of me - and Bush being one of them - and believing he is doing god's work strikes me as insane
that is why
But I think Gus is joking a bit
Well, I hope your checks and balances work if this drunk on self-righteousness man gets to be at the helm of your colossus again
dlowan wrote:But I think Gus is joking a bit
I think, Gus was thinking?
Are you doing his work now, dlowan, too?
Yeah, re: the checks and balances thing -- forget details (can look them up) but this is one of the least balanced administrations in a long time if not ever. Clinton was balanced by a fair amount of Republican power. Etc.
Phoenix32890 wrote:Quote:The politics of conservative christians are abhorrent to me
similarly with fundamentalist moslems
These beliefs belong in the dark ages of the past - when they were formed
I cannot agree more. But the fact remains that, whether we like it or not, they have the right to expound their views. And it is the obligation of the rest of us not to lay back and allow them to achieve more power.
Lol! It's your country! I can't DO anything! We in the rest of the world can only fulminate from time to time, and bite our nailses.
Believe me, Gus, et al. It's not the religious vote that bothers me, it's the nature of fundamentalism that is spooky. I have seen that side, and it's a "my way or the highway" type thing. We certainly don't want Pat Robertson standing in the wings of the political forum.
Those who compare the religious fanatic to the union laborer, the representative from the chamber of commerce or the advocate of a charitable organization ignore the very basic difference between these appeals to political favor. The union man or woman, the business people do not seek to tell us what is morally acceptable or reprehensible. They do not seek to define what is or is not perverse; what ought and what ought not to be tolerated in private human behavior, based upon superstitions arising many centuries ago among essentially ignorant people. Surely any political interest group seeks their own advantage in the process. The religiously fanatical seek to impose upon others a world view which a pluralistic, secular state has no business imposing.
You ARE voting for Kerry, then?
:-D
(Seriously, have been interested in your current thinking since the convention.)
Ah well, there's hope.
The cheesecake I offered to ebrown -- hey, did I offer it to you first? I forget -- is yours for the taking... ;-)
But economically, really? That surprises me. Don't you think things are economically kinda stinky under Bush?
I don't think that you realize how torn apart I am.
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace