Palin Fever
September 4, 2008 at 1:17 pm (Uncategorized) (Barack Hussein Obama, Barak Hussein Obama, George W Bush, John Mccain, Republican National Convention, RNC, Sarah palin)
Sarah Palin hit it out of the park last night. Everything was perfect except for they should have had the theme from Robert Redford’s movie “the Natural” playing in the background. Quite frankly, although I was only a teenager at the time he was in office, Palin reminds me of Ronald Reagan. While this is not a political blog I do have to get something off my chest. The last 4 years have been especially tough for this country mostly in the area of the economy. High gas prices, an unstable market and bank closures make this one scary time. You’d have to be kool-aid drinker, which I am not, to not say the current President has been a dream. But let me not ramble on because I want to make a point. Recently, I watched for the 1st time the movie Amazing Grace. The movie chronicles the life of William Wilberforce as he got anti-slavery laws passed through Parliament in England. When Wilberforce saw the injustice and downright cruelty on the plight of Africans who were TAKEN from their country and forced into a “living hell” of a life, he gave his entire life for the cause. Somebody recently asked me if abortion is the only issue in an election.Let me rephrase that question with another question based on the story of Wilberforce: If I lived during the time of Wilberforce and I voted for officials who were pro-slavery, as a Christian could I be proud of that? (to Fully understand appreciate what i am saying you will have to watch the movie) Even if those politicians did other good things and were still pro-slavery? Im wondering what everybody may think of that statement? There is an also another interesting part in the movie. Wilberforce had been winning the fight and on the verge of total victory when fear of what would happen to England’s economy seemed to vanish the consciences of the good people of England. The French had started their revolution and America was gaining their independence and because slavery was key to their economy and power people began to turn. Wilberforce had to wait for years to bring the battle back to Parliament. For years he had thought he failed. Its a great movie I recommend it to everyone. In my humble opinion, to relate the story to modern day America, The economy is shaky but this is no time for us to lose our conscience. The pick of Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air to give voice to the plight of the unborn. As Wilberforce gave his life to a “mission from God” to see slavery abolished in England, could Sarah Palin be a woman to help America align its moral compass? Could Palin be our modern day William Wilberforce? Time will only tell.
christianliberal said,
September 4, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I like that fact she has a good “moral compass” as you refer to it, but I am still concerned that she continues to support this Bush war machine.
Please, not hundreds of billions of dollars MORE for this war!
I don’t call that a mission from God.
That’s more Bush death policy.
mservello said,
September 4, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I know you might disagree with this but as bad as War is and should be avoided at all costs, there are times when it is necessary. The Iraq war at best is a grey issue considering Biden himself voted for it. However back to Amazing Grace…Answer this question, would you be outraged if there was a scene in the movie where when William Wilberforce is fighting this atrocity of slavery when one of his opponents is asked what he thought of slavery, and the opponent said, “thats above my pay grade?” Im sure you would be outraged. How could you not knowing how clearly the movie showed how slaves were treated? Do you know what happens during an abortion? What if that opponent was anti-war or even generous to the poor? Im simply saying, in my opinion while there are different opinions of war and what we should do for the poor..there is no grey when it comes to LIFE.
czarthoughts said,
September 4, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I think she did a fantastic job during her speech, for the most part. I’m curious to see how this will play out for the next 60 days. i don’t think she delivered a checkmate speech, but it was definately a good one.
i do think it’s funny how she’s pulling a play from the Hillary playbook saying any attack on her is sexist. That is going to be a card used early and often for the next 60 days.
Will she bring back the “moral alignment” to the US? I don’t think so. I don’t think that is position that can come from the government. I think that is the role of the local church. I think when pastors and leaders align people to biblical truth and when people begin to live out their faith on a greater level, moral alignment will return. For example, its hard to argue about the sanctity of marriage when Christians divorce at a higher rate than atheists.
I like her, not sold on her yet but so far she’s likable. STILL don’t like McCain though and he’s the presidential nominee.
czarthoughts said,
September 4, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I don’t think that war is always unnecessary. War is attrocious and should ALWAYS be a last resort kind of thing. Honestly, I’m not sure how war fits into New Testament theology, but that’s a different discussion.
Abortion is horrible and I thought Obama’s comment about “above my paygrade” was cowardly. But the issue about abortion is not necessarily about morality as much as it is a legal, Constitutionally protected right. That’s the core of the argument about abortion and gay marriage.
Now, my thought is this – unless you believe that abortion is going to be banned (which I don’t think will ever happen), what is the candidates’ plan for DECREASING the number of abortions? Currently, we are on a trend of being at a 30 year low in the number of abortions, how will each candidate look to continue that trend?
mservello said,
September 4, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Hi Steve,
Good to hear from you…
I would want to address some things about what is being said.
First, Obama seems to think that the Mccain-Palin ticket WILL overturn Roe V WADE. He says it outright in his newest add. Do I think they will? Probably not. Do I think they will nominate judges that will restrict abortion rights to the point when it will become illegal once again? Yes. Remember in Amazing Grace they didnt start with getting Anti-Slavery laws passed they backdoored it with other issues that exposed slavey for what it was. I think the same thing will happen as we appoint the right people to office. My brother in law is a lawyer and we talked about the history of the supreme court and why america is where it is today for so many things. Who we appoint to the supreme court in the next 10 years will determine the next 50 years of America. Judges ae one of the reasons elections are becoming so divided. Both parties know what is at stake.
2. The statement that an abortion is a “Constitutionally protected right” is VERY disagreeable. If you believe life starts at conception, to kill that Life is that constitutionally protected. Is it constitutionally protected if i decided i want more freedom in my life so I go out and shoot my two beautiful daughters? NO. Its disgusting and criminal.
3. The plan in my book is while there can be a great short term plan we need a long term plan. While we need both, if i had to choose on over the other Id go with the long term plan- nominating judges who will know that abortion is unconstitutional.
Im just saying this: ABORTION is a primary issue for me. TO be frank, i think it is not just Abortion but it points to a larger philosophy of anti-God worldview that brings with it a lot of other junk. And I know there is this wind going amongst people I know of, There are more issues other than abortion. Like what about the morality of minimum wage and poverty? Taking a life- and thats what it is, in my opinion is superior to all those issues, and i’m not ashamed to say it. but thats my opinion…thats what makes America great.
czarthoughts said,
September 4, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Good stuff Mike.
I’d like to address some of the things you said too.
I’d LOVE to see that ad. If you have a youtube link or something for it, that would be AWESOME. That would be a bold claim that would cost them some swing votes. Christians torn on candidates hearing Obama believes that McCain/Palin would overturn Roe V Wade would cost him votes. Where can I find this ad?
I never said I think abortion is the Constitutionally protected, I said that’s the core of the pro-choice argument. I would actually like to hear your thoughts on some issues I posted on my blog about abortion. They aren’t the typical “too many welfare babies” issues either. They are real issues from real people I know. I’d love to hear your response because 1. I respect you and your opinion 2. I’d like to hear how a pastor would respond to a member of his flock with these issues.
As far as nominating judges, is that a real possibility in the next 4 years? How many judges would be out?
I too ask the question about other issues. I am honestly asking if there is something else. I’m having a problem finding other issues the church needs to be on the front and center on that are as impacting as abortion. While I FIRMLY believe the church needs to look after the poor – Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-46 that this will play a role in our eternal judgement – I don’t see where this is on par with abortion. Abortion as a governmental issue and poverty as governmental issue aren’t necessarily the same thing to me.
mservello said,
September 4, 2008 at 6:18 pm
While I dont have the video, I saw it on TV 2 nights ago here is alink from the NY Times:
Obama Abrtion Ad http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/confronting-choice/?ref=opinion
That scripture in Matthew you refer today while relevant needs to be exegeted correctly. When Jesus talked about the least, the least could also mean “the defenseless”. Thats why true religion is to take care of the widow and orphan. In our modern day culture, widow may not even be applicable as some widows are taken care of by insurance policies, strategic savings, and even pension funds. People in prison didnt get 3 meals a day, people who were poor didnt have minimum wage anything….America has more legislation and programs that help the “least” than we could ever imagine…However we definitely need Americans who dont just throw money at these things but open their lives to the least. Poor people have every opportunity in america to get ahead. I watch this in my community with the refugees moving into Utica. They dont even speak the language but they become home owners, work hard and are even generous. This is really long to get to my point is there any clearer definition of the “least” than unborn children… They are the epitome of the Matthew 25 sermon. They have no way of being heard, no way of telling their story, no way of being seen. To me They are even more of what Jesus is talking about than people in prison and hungry people in our modern society. This is not to say that those other ministries are not included, im just saying the unborn typifies the message in Matthew 25.
mservello said,
September 4, 2008 at 6:23 pm
In the next 4 years there is potential for at 1-2 judges in the next 8 3 judges.
Tom T said,
September 5, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Hi Mike,
You asked:
“As Wilberforce gave his life to a “mission from God” to see slavery abolished in England, could Sarah Palin be a woman with a mission from God to help America align its moral compass? Could Palin be our modern day William Wilberforce? Time will only tell.”
I think Sarah Palin would add momentum to a movement that needs inspiration once again. If she gets in office, I do believe that it would be the perfect time for the church to stand up and fight once again for a culture of life….
I am not yet convinced that she would take this on as her “mission from God”… but I would love to be wrong on that one!
By the way – Amazing Grace is a great movie!
-Tom
Mike said,
September 6, 2008 at 3:44 am
Just read your blog – great movie – excellent analogy!