Scott,
That's an excellent observation. The idea that no candidate is actually a good "religious fit." I have to admit that I always hope that people leave religion and spiritual ideology out of politics and public policy. I feel this way, Scott, because it's impossible to have a public servant who only identifies and represents a certain sect rather than taking the secular mantle of having to represent them all. However, it's become obvious that a politician has to take a religious side , as it were. I would then be a great idea to establish a religious left. This voice could counter much of the hypocracy in Bush's fundamentalist, and right-wing Catholic following. I'd like to hear more of what you think local churches, synagogues, temples and religious congregations can do to join and discuss what they want in a politician or elected official. It's certainly a great constituency-building idea.
Mario Giorno
-----Original Message-----
From: Clinton, J. Scott [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 11:34 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [UC] Bush Victory
Importance: Low
I'm not exactly sure how this all relates to west philly, but I suppose that the election is the most newsworthy topic of discussion for most people; all of the lists I subscribe to are temporarially "election discussion" lists.
So here's my plea. Try not to blame the outcome of the election on moralists or religious whackos or whatever. I'm not sure that is where this discussion is going, but it sure did on other lists and so I'd like to try and prevent that here.
I'm not a member of a political party because I don't see that either group represents my interests very well. I toss my tiny bit of support one way or another depending on the election. I am also a Christian, though I certainly don't identify with the conservative Christian ideology. The problem is, the Democrats can't seem to put a candidate on the ticket that I can wholehartedly support.
Folks like me are tired of being told who we must vote for because of our faith when neither group really takes positions that we hold as important. There are lots of other progressive Christians out there, but they need to be courted and split away from the "religious right". This would take a mighty chunk from the Republican base of support. I don't think the Democrats are going to do this though, because to court these people, they run the risk of turning off some of the more liberal elements of their support.
So maybe someone out there has an idea how to organize the "Religious Left" to help counter the "Religious Right" or what that might look like. I truly feel for folks (in Ohio and elsewhere) who may have wanted to vote for John Kerry but couldn't quite do it because the national discussion of religious values was given up to the conservatives and nobody really talked about the flaws in the theology of just wars, the inconsistancy of being anti-abortion and pro-death pentalty, the invasion of foreign lands flying in the face of Christs' call to "turn the other cheek", etcetera, etcetera.
My $.02 for what it is worth.
To read what someone who really knows how to write said about some of this, there is a statement put together by some theologeans at Fuller Seminary at: http://www.fullerseminary.net/sot/faculty/stassen/Resource_files/confessingc
hrist.pdf
-j. scott clinton
-----Original Message-----
From: Wilma de Soto [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 10:50 AM
To: Mark Krull; Jonathan Cass; UnivCity listserv
Subject: Re: [UC] Bush Victory
Yes, it certainly is. Moreover, the "Heartland" which decides the course of this country is the least likely place where a terrorist attack will occur.
They are prone to attack major metropolitan areas large, financial districts or seats of national government; namely the Eastern Seaboard and West Coats which went heavily for Kerry.
Anyway, he was duly elected and we have to respect that we live in a different country from The Heartland. Fortunately, we are exposed to many more things and have a larger point of view that they do not see.
I went to college in Ohio and I know whereof I speak.
On 11/3/04 9:48 AM, "Mark Krull" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Its depressing really. It was "values" that led to this.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jonathan Cass <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Nov 3, 2004 9:09 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [UC] Bush Victory
>
> The only silver lining I can see is that Bush is going have to deal
> with the mess that he created in Iraq and the next terrorist attack
> that will likely occur on his watch.
>
> I don't even want to think about what is going to happen with the
> Supreme Court.
>
> I think I am going to puke.
>
> Jonathan A. Cass
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 1:02 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [UC] Melinda E Salmon/Health/Phila is out of the office.
>
>
> I will be out of the office starting 11/02/2004 and will not return
> until 11/05/2004.
>
> I will reply to your email upon my return.
> Thanks.
>
>
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