Summer CE Week #6: “The Politics of Religion – The Saddleback Interviews”
Prompt: Watch one or both of the interview videos below. What are your thoughts on the responses and performance of each candidate? What questions, if any would you have for the candidates on this topic?
Concerning the interview with McCain not only because I agree with his most if not all of his ideas. Every issue he had to confront he made himself clear in how he felt. He was convincing in most if not all of the plans he has for our country. He defines rich as a family ….He doesn’t want to raise taxes, our families need to be able to give confidence and hope for the next generations futures. He presented himself in a professional way and wasn’t so completely arrogant that he couldn’t slide a little humor into sharing his ideas. McCain is presenting reasonable ideas. John McCain is asking that both parties Democratic and Republican can come together and agree to an extent that we aren’t allowing our nations government to become so fragile that we become commited to a common cause.
Our nation has gone to all four corners of the world shedding blood to defend our nation’s freedom. On issues of all kinds he expresses his strong opinion with genocide. “Our obligation is to stop genocide wherever we can.” The question is “how can we effectively stop it?” Our country needs to come together and become commited to bring freedom and peace all about. In the worst places in the world they still harbor each day to one day have the freedom that America has. We are a priviledged nation and we don’t even know it. John McCain expressed himself in this way as to why he wants to be president of the United States, he wants to inspire our younger generations to be willing to serve a cause greater than our own self interests. We as a country face many many challenges, this is our time to come together in the choice of putting our country first. Americans need to know that “He will always be the country of every American and he will put his country first.”
“To whom much is given, much is required.”
When I was viewing the interview with Obama I saw a man that to an extent was confident in himself but I have to say I was unimpressed to an extent that many times he didn’t answer all the diverse components of each question. I believe that before becoming president he needs to work on delivering his message in a clear way. It is evident that he was nervous but he was studdery and he stumbled on his words on a consistent basis. I know that this is sounding critical but this seemed to be a clear difference between these candidates. He seemed fairly confident in what he believed as far as his faith. But overlooking his views on abortion he seemed to be wavy in the fact that he said that he wasn’t going to go and promote pro-abortion but he was for the idea of pro-choice but he seemed to continually go back and forth like a tree that is evidently not rooted to the depth it should be. Because in a storm it is wavering.
Marriage is the union between a man and a woman. A sacred union as part of the faith. But he wasn’t set on one side. A common thread in all of the comments shows the similarity in each answer he is evident to be on the fence to a certain extent. As far as evil existing; it does exist in so many parts of the world. We as individuals can’t erase the power of evil but we can be soldiers in the mission, we should confront it though. Intentions may be good but the actions may not always be right. How should rich be defined? He defines middle class as $150,000 or less in a family; $250,000 or more in a family would be considered rich. Obama wants to create a balance with taxes between classes. 150,000 or less, there will be a tax cut.
Sacrifice on behalf of our freedom needs to become part of our national interest. If we have the ability to prevent a national genocide than we should act, the nation may not feel 100% agreement. If in the power of the government than they should act to a certain extent. Bearing witness with concern to religious persecution, managing relationships without ignoring what has already taken place. “Setting up new norms, and creating a universal principle in which people’s beliefs are protected.”
Empathy is huge to a fair society. The American dream is slowly slipping away from the future generations. Obama feels he can build bridges between the differences in our country. Solving problems is going to take work and it will take a nation sized commitment to make this work.