Why I’m Voting for Obama, and Why I Hope You Will Too: Reason 1
Reason 1: Framing Story
[Note: over the next few weeks, I'll be posting a number of personal reflections on the political campaign. I am only speaking as a private citizen, not as the representative of any group.]
My top reason for supporting Barack Obama for president centers in the narrative I believe he frames his life and work by, in contrast to the narrative John McCain frames his life and work by. To me, this issue of narrative (or framing story, for readers of my book Everything Must Change) means far more in a president than whether he claims to be liberal or conservative, religious or nonreligious, Christian or otherwise, Democrat or Republican.
Does anyone doubt that Senator McCain lives by a warrior narrative? This is the most consistent theme in his campaign. For him the world is clearly divided into us and them.
We are good; they are evil. We are right; they are wrong. We are about safety; they are about danger.
This dualistic and fearful narrative is deeply rooted in McCain’s generation. They were formed in the simple, binary context of Axis and Allies, and then Communists and Free World. When Communism collapsed, a new antagonist conveniently presented itself (pre-empting the expected "peace dividend" and keeping the famed "military-industrial complex" well funded). This new war became what McCain calls “the transcendent challenge of the 21st century,” the clash of the West with fundamentalist Islam. McCain’s word “transcendent” is significant. It suggests a kind of holy war mentality, because for McCain, these us-them dualisms are absolute and therefore of a cosmic, metaphysical, even spiritual nature.
0 Comments8 Minutes
Please Forward this link to White Evangelicals you know
The good people of Associated Baptist Press released a disturbing story today ...
600 Southern white evangelicals were recently polled on their views of torture. White Southern Evangelicals are more likely than the general populace to believe torture is sometimes or often justified. The article explains ...
A new survey suggests the very Americans who claim to follow the Bible most assiduously don’t consult it when forming their views about torture and government policy.
On a more encouraging note ...
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diavloging with Dr. Richard Land
Bloggingheads.tv has some short clips of a recent diavlog I had with Dr. Richard Land, well-known Southern Baptist leader.
I felt pretty boring, wordy, and inarticulate for most of this conversation, but perhaps it will be of interest to some folks.
http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/14162?in=01:29&out=48:20
Entire discussion URL
http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/14162?in=04:12&out=07:59
Why some progressive religious people are chary of Sarah Palin
http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/14162?in=42:25&out=46:30
The necessity of speaking the truth out of one's faith, rather than hewing to party politics
http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/14162?in=33:56&out=37:49
Are affirmative action premises obsolete?
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0 Comments1 Minutes
this weekend in dc – 9/11 unity walk
Last year, I participated in this amazing experience ...
If you're in or near the DC area, you could experience some "good neighborliness" at the 9/11 Unity Walk ...
0 Comments1 Minute