I get asked a lot about my views regarding the Presidential campaigns. I am always slightly embarrassed to let it out how little attention I give to what is truly an important matter. My problem is a lack of inspiration. I am not inspired by anything I hear regarding the high offices of our nation. I am inspired by past presidents. I like Ike (warning against Military-Industrial complex). I like Abe (listening to the better angels within us- Gettysburg). I like this quote from Bobby Kennedy's campaign in the late sixties:
"Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross national product, now, is over eight hundred billion dollars a year, but the GNP--if we should judge America by that--counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for those who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead...and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children. Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage...it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile."
[For the full tribute to RFK at Experimental Theology]
If we had speeches like this today, maybe it would be a little easier to emotionally invest in a presidential campaign.
What do you think?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The next President?
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4 comments:
This post rings true on so many levels. Just to add a little onto what RFK said about our GNP not representing those things that make life worthwhile... Our political system doesn't represent us anymore. I was thinking this morning about how we really have this ever-expanding monster that is our political system. As I watched Fox news and considered this election '08 business it was discouraging. Our political system now has little to do with puting the right man or woman in position, but more with money and power to control the masses. I continually recognize we as citizens are increasingly meeting the needs of the system rather than the system meeting the needs of the citizens. Unfortunately both of our political parties have failed us here. So this year...I'll be picking the lesser of two evils. Nothing to really get all that passionate about. In regards to your statement regarding moving speaches, we don't really have moving candidates.
Eric
I take comfort in Jesus' statement to Pilate in the Gospel According to John, "My kingdom is not of the world."
The cool thing about Jesus' kingdom is that it knows no geo-political boundaries. And ultimately all earthly nations and kingdoms will dissipate before it.
eric
I agree that it would be alot easier, Jason. I love the quote you posted.
Jennifer
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