Chris Lowe's Post

Unencumbered
Belongs after Bob's post. Signing off. Computer craziness.

Tend to do the same here Babs - perhaps it's a global thing, part of our conditioning. We all want to think we are voting responsibly and for a government we can trust. It's hard to evenly spread that image across an entire political party so we tend to focus on and vote for the party's leader - their primary roles being to win our trust and give us hope.

Chris

Hi Jon,

Thank you for your interesting perspectives on your governor. Just so you know I where I am coming from: I'm an Independent who was raised in an Assemblies of God church (reportedly one of Palin's favorite churches) and graduated from their flagship theological school.

Ergo, I know well the AofG's super-ambition to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ" and "compel them (us)to come in" (to accept Jesus as our personal Savior). Consequently, I am skeptical that she would genuinely uphold separation of church and state.

Also, I'm curious . . . does she "kick ass" for integral health, that is, a healthy ecosystem? A healthy society? Healthy individuals? If so, can you give some examples?

I'm looking forward to your responses.

Yours with empathy, evidence-based understanding, freedom, integral health, and joy!

Bob

All four, in my estimation. Of course, the establishment clause - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...." Makes the establishment of theocratic policies (laws) quite impossible (and rightly so.) JFK was devoutly Catholic, and there was much ado about him along these lines at his time. I myself am not Christian (nor any other religion), but believe moral guidance and spiritual connection resides within most belief systems. Personally, I would resist a theocracy with the same fervor as I would a marxist government (I am also concerned - that Obama will lead us toward the latter.)

In support of my opinion relative to Sarah's religious bent, (which I agree, she does have.) I cannot remember over the last two years of her Governorship one (factual) instance, article, or commentary regarding a particular religious influence on her part(I am sure if there was any, the media would have scraped that off the bottom of the barrel by now, they seem to be at a fever pitch over her.)

Many up here are talking about "lower 48ers" coming up here in noticeable numbers, asking everyone but the mailman what dirt there is on her. We know pretty well where they're coming from. We wouldn't cover for her, there's just nothing to tell, except concocted stories from those who would see her gone from the scene. She is truly one of our hockey moms (there are people I know who knew her growing up.) You have to keep in mind, our entire state population is a fraction of most small cities in the U.S., despite the vast land and resources.

Regarding integral health - She set the personal example of having a down's syndrome child - protecting its well being, and thereby promoting this same positive choice for future mothers. There have been literally millions of beautiful children who are not with us merely because they were inconvenient or imperfect. That makes my soul sad, disintegrated. Like I felt when I walked through Dachau.

How about healthy minds? Despite rumor, she did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. She saw to the investement of 5 billion dollars in a state savings account, including a 2.6 billion dollar Education Fund. She has said that students should be allowed to "debate both sides" of the evolution question, but she also said creationism "doesn't have to be part of the curriculum." I'm all for circumspection.

How about special needs? Contrary to the stories, Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62 percent. She didn’t cut it at all. In fact, she increased funding and signed a bill that will triple per-pupil funding over three years for special needs students with high-cost requirements.

The environment - They call her record Abysmal. Bullshit. She enacted legislation to spend $250 million dollars over 5 years on renewable energy projects including solar, wind, hydroelectric and natural gas. She enacted a subcabinet group to address environmental issues, in the interest of balancing energy exploration and being as environmentally friendly as possible. She is chairperson of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. - “Gov. Palin has demonstrated first-class leadership on issues critical not only to Alaska, but also to the nation’s energy security,” said IOGCC Executive Director Carl Michael Smith. “Throughout her chairmanship of the IOGCC, she has shown her commitment to ensuring we maximize domestic oil and natural gas resources balanced with environmental protection in order to ensure a sound energy future – topics of great importance in the coming election.”

The geologic storage of CO2 is among the most immediate and viable strategies for mitigating the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. In 2002, the IOGCC established a Geological CO2 Sequestration Task Force, funded by the U.S. DOE and its National Energy Technology Laboratory, to examine the technical, policy and regulatory issues related to the safe and effective storage of CO2 in subsurface geological media for both enhanced oil recovery and long-term CO2 storage. In 2006, the task force began work on Phase II of the project to develop a detailed guidance document, which was completed and released in October 2007. She also created Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity Office - this office provides oversight of all of Alaska’s energy related contracts as well as ensuring that oil field infrastructure is well maintained, protecting the environment and Alaska’s economic interest.

All of this in two years. Has any candidate done more?

A Healthy Society - Today Fairbanks watched as she sent her son to Iraq (just like Joe Biden), knowing his life will be on the line to help maintain stability in Iraq until it can be handed back over to the Iraqis. There is no greater gift than the life of one's child to the world.

I can go on, but I'm feeling like none of what I've written matters. She has an "R" after her name. Might as well be scarlet.

Jon

Hi Jon,

Thanks for your time and effort to thoughtfully answer my questions.

Relative to your statement ". . . the establishment clause - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...." Makes the establishment of theocratic policies (laws) quite impossible (and rightly so.)," I agree that on the surface making the establishment of theocratic policies should be impossible.

I also affirm the right of every citizen to worship as he or she pleases providing they do not attempt to oppress me with their belief system.

Having said that, the religious right has been employing what former Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed called "stealth" strategies and tactics to return our freedom-loving country to Christianity (either not realizing or not wanting to admit it was not ever a "Christian country" in the first place).

"Building on the remnants of Robertson's Presidential campaign," says Wikipedia, "the Coalition organized former Robertson supporters and other conservative people of faith to oppose political liberalism. Eschewing the confrontational tactics of street protest learned as a College Republican, Reed projected a "softer" public face for Christian conservatism.

Here are quotations from Wikipedia (caveat emptor):

• "I want to be invisible. I do guerrilla warfare. I paint my face and travel at night. You don't know it's over until you're in a body bag." -Ralph Reed (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, November 9, 1991)

• "It's like guerrilla warfare. If you reveal your location, all it does is allow your opponent to improve his artillery bearings. It's better to move quietly, with stealth, under cover of night. You've got two choices: You can wear cammies and shimmy along on your belly, or you can put on a red coat and stand up for everyone to see. It comes down to whether you want to be the British army in the Revolutionary War or the Viet Cong. History tells us which tactic was more effective." - Ralph Reed (Los Angeles Times, March 22, 1992)

The religious right's evangelical fervor doesn't stop with the political demise of Ralph Reed, the late Jerry Falwell in a TV special bragged about his Liberty University's Law School. He showed viewers a replica of the interior of the U.S. Supreme Court which is used to help law students visualize themselves as justices and how to comport themselves when they arrived which included interpreting the U.S. Constitution in a way toward achieving his goal of "returning" the United States to being a Christian nation. His final words were, "We will never give up!"

Further, there is evidence extreme right wing evangelicals armed with law degrees from religious broadcaster Pat Robertson's law school American Center for Law and Justice are attempting to flood the halls of congress and our legal system in general for the purpose of turning our wonderful country into a Christian theocracy.

So, I think my following question is clearly beyond being symptomatic of paranoia when I ask, "Where do you think Sarah Palin is in this mix?" It is well known that the political energy of the evangelicals has been re-energized by her appearance on the Republican ticket with John McCain. It is clear they see her as a potentially powerful ally in their cause to make our beloved country Christian, whether by overt, covert, or both means. Are they mistaken?

Yours with empathy, evidence-based understanding, integral health, and joy!

Bob

Unencumbered
Bob,
I hear you. Still, my best friend is a modern Pentecostal, and I am nothing of the sort. If I were running for office, I would not want people deciding that I would try to control people's minds with some "New Age" sort of technique with which I would force people into the sweatlodge and heat them up until they were weak and then instill them with the beliefs of Terrance McKenna. Oh yes, and then smoke that deadly, sinful tobacco.

I am not happy with Mrs. Palin. I only hope people will judge her fairly.
Your friend,
Barbara

Hi Barbara,

Wish I knew at least one "modern Pentecostal", especially among my own brothers and sister (just one). I continue to be ostrasized despite all my attempts to empathize with and accept them just as they are.

Also, I am committed to treating everyone equitably including people of all political persuasions.

Yours with empathy, understanding, integral health, and joy!

Bob

Unencumbered
Bob,
I am truly sorry about your family's behavior. They sound so incredibly severe. Most families do not ostrasize nonbelievers. Some might try to talk them to death about issues of dogma. Ostrasizng is simply not "good Christian" behavior. Are there any tenets of the Pentecostal faith that I don't know about that say people should be ostrasized?
Yours with empathy, understanding, good health, and joy,
Barbara

Unencumbered
Bob,
I am truly sorry about your family's behavior. They sound so incredibly severe. Most families do not ostrasize nonbelievers. Some might try to talk them to death about issues of dogma. Ostrasizng is simply not "good Christian" behavior. Are there any tenets of the Pentecostal faith that I don't know about that say people should be ostrasized?
Yours with empathy, understanding, good health, and joy,
Barbara

Unencumbered
Bob,
I am truly sorry about your family's behavior. They sound so incredibly severe. Most families do not ostrasize nonbelievers. Some might try to talk them to death about issues of dogma. Ostrasizng is simply not "good Christian" behavior. Are there any tenets of the Pentecostal faith that I don't know about that say people should be ostrasized?
Yours with empathy, understanding, good health, and joy,
Barbara

As Ferris Buehler once said, "isms" are generally a bad thing. Dogmatic Ideology (right or left)- is in the end just a framework for exerting control over others.

I too hope that good and true hearts step forward to govern this country. We will find out who they are by their deeds, once they sit in the seat.

Mitakuye Oyasin Friends,

Jon

Unencumbered
In the sweatlodge today, I asked the creator to make me a nuetral conduit of light with all of its colors. I prayed for wisdom and grace for the members of all parties and leaders.
Blessings,
Barbara

I knew this one wouldn't sneak nder your radar.

How's Rick doing?

Via con dios

Chris

Thanks for asking Chris. His condition is improving so far and he's gaining a bit of weight. Thank you for helping him. I'll do a post for a general update with a links to keep up with his progress.

Hasta luego muchacho,

Jon

First impression of Sarah Palin, scary. Why, not exactly sure but get the hit from her and from a lot of Republicans and Democrats, but not as much, that it only matters to win and gain power. Power can be a wonderful thing. We need electrical power to run stuff. My hit on her is you better not disagree with her if she has more power or pull than you.

I really dislike the I am a fighter position. I wrote Hillary and told her the same. I guess if I want to bet on a boxing match or UFC match I am looking for a fighter. There is a time for that, but I don't see it is as strength.

There is the very famous Bay of Pigs story. I was there in Florida. A fighter has only one side, fight. If John Kennedy had been more of a fighter, I don't think I would be here to write this.

The pit bull joke has been used to death. Speeches don't tell you much about the person other than their ability to deliver a speech as speech writers and strategists put it together. I have heard personally some amazing talks that if you asked me, I would have said the person was just talking. I heard Art Linkletter tell stories. He could tell them like he was doing it for the first time, everytime. It was amazing.

My college roommate has been a pipeline engineer in Alaska for over 30 years. From the little I know of Alaska from the time I talk with David, my roommate, Sarah takes a lot of credit for things that came long before her.

I doubt that anyone in their right mind would want to continue as Bush has. How do we determine who is in their right mind?

Unfornately, most of my close encounters of the republican kind, have not been very good. They have been of the sort that has been highly valued in history. History is written by the winners. In the south, it seemed to me growing up that those that won, by screwing others out of their money and property became the local celebrated heroes. Gain power any cost.

Unfortunately, we are now in a time when the middle east has immense financial power. This is simply due to oil. These are the drug cartels of our time. The dealers are our leaders, at least at the moment.

I really cringe at religion and religious beliefs being legislated. Florida does that. Unfortunately, I don't believe that either John McCain or Sarah Palin agree with the separation of state and church as that interferes with their fullfilling their God's will. Nothing is scarier than people fulfilling God's will.

Unencumbered
My school year started with prayer in the school auditorium (teachers present, not students). I can accept prayer that is inclusive and have even learned to not let the "in Christ's name" bother me if hit with it at the end. This prayer began with Christ, a person of whom I am quite fond, but do not want in my prayers. So, I sat with eyes open, and noticed that a few others were not praying. Still, church and state were not separate. Congress begins with prayer, but I think the religions are rotated.

An inclusive prayer that perhaps even atheists could accept would be something like:
May we all experience peace.
May we all be surrounded by joy.
May our lives be filled with love and light.
May the earth and her inhabitants be healed.

The words above could be seen as prayer or wishes.

It's a very sticky business though.
~Barbara