I have to admit that after finding the following video - on Martin Luther King Day - I was pretty upset. Not so much because of what Barack Obama [this video was submitted to You Tube in 2008] had to say - but because of the context in which he was saying it [I have been and remain (albeit a bit weary and more cynical...) a big supporter of President Obama...] - and his references to Biblical scripture.
I was not easy on Sarah Palin during her run for Vice-President - largely (although not exclusively) due to the fact that she appeared to be playing the religous card [with her own particular flair and style...] for all it was worth...
But I was not aware, during that time, that Obama was [to the degree portrayed in the following video] doing [at least in this instance]the same...
My apologies there...
I try to do balanced internet journalism [whether through my own words or my video clip picks / music clips] - and my dedication to THE constitutional principal of "Separation of Church and State" (like that, collectively, of our founding fathers during the time period in which the "US Constitution" and the "Bill of Rights" were written) is [across the board] firm.
Yes, Martin Luther King Jr. was an incredible man; an incredible Civil Rights activist and a Christian minister...
Yes, Sarah Palin has made it [however one wants to frame it...] to the "big top..."
But is it fair to use religion as a step-ladder to the "top"? [It is no secret that certain religous bodies have made (This is against Constitutional law, is this not?) some major political contributions [This became real evident (and was often accomplished by front groups and such...) in the Bush Jr. era...]
Whether this [the use of religous lobbying / religio-political platforms / etc] be on the local level, state level or national level?
Is there any more integrity evident [or lacking in evidence...] when a political candidate [no matter whom, or running for what...] panders to the major religious lobbyists "out there" - than when a political candidate [no matter whom, or running for what...] panders to insurance lobbyists, pharmeceutical lobbyists - or any other type of mega-buck [the war machine keeps pumping, does it not?] lobbyists?
They offer Civics studies in publically funded colleges...
They offer religious studies in publically funded colleges...
They do not combine the two...
No more than they combine Civics with Pharmaceuticals 101 or Religious Studies with Pharmaceuticals 101...
For good reason?
I think.
The other issue that I take up with the following video is that Reverend Martin Luther King - a tremendous Civil Rights activist - stepped away from race issues towards the end of his life [Is it not true that placing too much focus on race issues, although these certainly have their place, is devisive...?] - and started to focus [this, right before his assassination...] more on socio-economic stratification and the exploitation of and general plight of [whether they be Black, White, Hispanic, other...] the poor.
Which is something that I "think" President Barack Obama (who has no doubt learned a great deal over the last few years) has at least a tentative "grip" on --- but needs (perhaps, and not in a church...) to address in a more forthright public manner.
Some people will, no doubt, love the following video...
Some people will, no doubt, dis-like the following video...
And some others, like myself, will analyze it - each one in the way he or she sees fit - finding some aspects of it heartening - and other aspects of it disheartening...
Depending on where one stands on any number of issues.
["Barack Obama Speaks at Dr. King's Church"; as submitted to You Tube by BarackObamadotcom on January 21, 2008; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0x_TpDris]
In regard to the following video, I feel the need to remind people that it "did" take an awfully loooooooong time to decide whether there should be a streetlight or a stop sign at a particular uptown (local) intersection...
Which would lead one to believe that even beyond the obvious lobbyist issues we have in this country [be these lobbyist issues related to religous bodies, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, major corporations, or whatever ...] --- with their potential for undue influence and/or corruption --- there are other major issues [Too much red tape? Too many committees, subcommittees, boards, exclusivity, secrecy and fine print?] to give some serious thought to as well...
["Lessig on Obama's First Year: Change Congress Chronicles"; as submitted to You Tube by ChangeYourCongress on January 19, 2010; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14dAwz0-HM8]
I love my country - and I consider myself a Christian [non-denominational / with a free-thinking edge...] in the best sense (my opinion) of the word...
Love and rationality are compatible in my book.
Peace and harmony [on a world-wide scale] are possible in my book.
And I sincerely believe that the integrity of each and every potential political candidate and/or office holder could be [We have the science, knowlege and technology to accomplish this...] evaluated [if we so chose] pretty deeply - prior to their election and/or appointments.
What to look for?
I believe a committment to integrity and social justice [in home, business, money and politics; and in regard to the "U.S. Constitution", "Bill of Rights", International Treaties, etc.] should top any list of questions [to be backed up by a proven track-record in this department] that political candidates "could" [How about a battery of psychological tests for political candidates? Lie detector tests evaluated by a number of different objective professionals?] be required to undergo...
And ones religious (or non) views and alliances (or non) should be left (100% --- this is personal information) out of it.
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All of that said, I am strongly in favor of taxpayer funded elections [with a cap per individual and a complete public accounting of same put together for evaluation by the people...] - as was presented [in part; my personal opinions have been added here...] in the above video.
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In closing, I want to propose the idea that demonstrated values and ethics [Adherance to any particular religous faith or body is not, or should not be, a requirement here...] - versus what all-too-frequently turns out to be empty words and/or bogus (Money motivated?) affilations - should be the thermometer [keeping the "US Constitution" and "Bill of Rights" firmly in mind...] through which we take "our" temperature [Are we "sick?"] and the temperature of [Are they "sick?"] others...
Thank you for reading.
Your ideas are also welcome here.
NS
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
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