It seems amazing to me that almost two years after his inauguration, there are still questions about President Barack Obama's faith, and even his citizenship. It's even more amazing to me that in 2010, almost 10 years after the attacks, there are still people who object to a Muslim mosque being built just a couple blocks from the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
To be clear, Barack Obama is not Muslim. He has never been a Muslim. He was born to a Kenyan Muslim father and an American mother. Yes, he spent some time as a child in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country. But that doesn't make he is a Muslim, any more than enjoyment of good food makes one a good cook. Obama is a member of the United Church of Christ, a Christian denomination. Yes, during a visit to Kenya a few years ago, he did don traditional Muslim garb. But that was simply a show of respect to his hosts, not a declaration of his faith.
As far the mosque issue goes, it's much ado about nothing. If Muslims in New York City want to build a community center or even a mosque within a couple blocks of Ground Zero, let them. It's not a matter of being a "monument to terrorism" as some have contended. This is a matter of simple religious freedom, as guaranteed under the First Amendment to our Constitution.
Let's be clear. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of, and even from religion, if one so chooses. It doesn't apply only to Christians, as some would like to believe. It applies to everyone, be they Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or whatever. Gasp. It even applies to atheists and agnostics. Under the First Amendment, Muslims in New York City and across the country are free to worship however and wherever they choose, even next to Ground Zero. Ground Zero doesn't belong just to victims of the attack or to Americans. It belongs to everyone.
A lot of people, especially in the Bible Belt, mistakenly believe that all Muslims are terrorists. Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is, the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful people. There are, of course, Muslim extremists. who engage in violence. But heck, there are extremists in every religion, even Christianity. Remember the string of abortion clinic shootings in the 1990s, where Christian terrorists gunned down abortion doctors? If we were to judge all Christianity only by those acts, we might conclude that all Christians are violent extremists. And we wouldn't want to be judged like that, would we? So why is it OK to paint all Muslims with such a broad brush? It's hypocritical and doesn't make sense.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Pork: Good for constituents or bad for the country?
The shocking death of longtime Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska in a plane crash on Monday raised an interesting question for me. Stevens was often derided as the "king of pork." He was the architect of the infamous "Bridge to Nowehere." But is pork -- extra money funneled to states to help create jobs and build infrastructure -- really as bad as it's cracked up to be?
Opponents of pork point to Stevens' "Bridge to Nowhere" as an example of government waste and a misuse of taxpayer funds. They point out correctly that the projects completed today will be paid for by future generations.
But is pork really all that bad? So-called pork helps pay for building roads and bridges and other infrastructure. In a sparsely populated state like Alaska, it may be the only way that such improvements get made. "Pork" has also been used to pay for new scientific research programs and technology advances. Does anyone really have a problem with that?And what about the fact that "pork" funds help create new jobs? Isn't it true that voters, at least in part, elect representatives to "bring home the bacon" for their states?
Stevens has been described as an "unapologetic advocate for his state" during his more than 40 years in the Senate. If he, in fact, represented his state well and helped create new jobs and build new infrastructure, is it really fair to deride him as "the king of pork?" And even if the title is appropriate, is it really such a bad thing? Something to make you think.
Opponents of pork point to Stevens' "Bridge to Nowhere" as an example of government waste and a misuse of taxpayer funds. They point out correctly that the projects completed today will be paid for by future generations.
But is pork really all that bad? So-called pork helps pay for building roads and bridges and other infrastructure. In a sparsely populated state like Alaska, it may be the only way that such improvements get made. "Pork" has also been used to pay for new scientific research programs and technology advances. Does anyone really have a problem with that?And what about the fact that "pork" funds help create new jobs? Isn't it true that voters, at least in part, elect representatives to "bring home the bacon" for their states?
Stevens has been described as an "unapologetic advocate for his state" during his more than 40 years in the Senate. If he, in fact, represented his state well and helped create new jobs and build new infrastructure, is it really fair to deride him as "the king of pork?" And even if the title is appropriate, is it really such a bad thing? Something to make you think.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
A banner year for Republicans
As much as I hate to admit it, it is shaping up to be a good year for Republicans on the national scene. After suffering staggering defeats in 2008, when they lost both the White House and saw Democrats solidify their hold on Congress, they appear to be poised to shrink the Democrats' majority, or at the very least, cost them their filibuster-proof majority.
Of all the races being contested across the nation this year, one of the more hotly contested and closely watched is the race between newly crowned Republican candidate Stephen Fincher and longtime Democratic state legislator Roy Herron. Fincher is a charismatic, gospel-singing farmer from Frog Jump near Maury City, and the "chosen one" for the national Republicans. He is the prototype candidate for the GOP in 2010, the type of candidate Republicans think they can make real gains with. Herron is a veteran state legislator who has spent 22 years in Nashville. He is an accomplished, erudite man who graduated from Vanderbilt. So who has the advantage in the all-important 8th District?
That's a tough call. Republicans are in the best position in years to take that seat, which has been held by Democrats for literally generations. John Tanner, the incumbent, is retiring after 22 years in Washington. Tanner's predecessor, Ed Jones (for whom the federal building in downtown Jackson is named, coincidentally), held that seat for 22 years as well. All that to say that this a traditionally Democratic seat in a district that is trending increasingly Republican.
Fincher is a political newcomer, no match for Herron's years of political experience. But don't underestimate Fincher. Newcomer or not, he has energized the Republican base like few candidates have in recent years, or ever. He has proven to be a quick study. He has raised a ton of money and has the backing of the national GOP establishment. If he has one weakness going into the general election in November, it's that he just emerged from a bruising primary campaign that saw him have to spend a good portion of his resources just to become "the man." His party has spent months ripping itself apart from the inside as candidates jockeyed to be perceived as the most conservative. Can they now unite behind Fincher and beat Herron, who has had months to raise money and hone his message to voters?
Herron's experience edge is perhaps his greatest asset. He not only knows how government works, but he is a veteran campaigner. He has managed to be elected consistently as a Democrat in a very conservative district.
That being said, his record in Nashville could be his Achille's heel. He was one of those Democrats who survived the purge after supporting a state income tax in a virulently anti-tax state. While he hardly is a "Barney Frank" style liberal, he is a thoughtful man and a tad more liberal than many of his constitutents. Can he keep his winning streak going and become our next Congressman for the 8th District? I hope so.
For my money, Herron is the best man for this position, and not because he's a Democrat. He's the best man for the job because of his experience edge. He could hit the ground running from day one with little or no learning curve. He's the best man for the job because he's educated and he's thoughtful. He's not likely to be swayed by strictly emotional arguments or partisan reasons. He'll look at all sides of an issue and make the best decision possible based on the evidence. And he's the best man for the job because he has shown a great ability to reach across the aisle and work with the other party, something Fincher isn't as likely to do. Roy Herron for Congress in 2010? I certainly hope so.
Of all the races being contested across the nation this year, one of the more hotly contested and closely watched is the race between newly crowned Republican candidate Stephen Fincher and longtime Democratic state legislator Roy Herron. Fincher is a charismatic, gospel-singing farmer from Frog Jump near Maury City, and the "chosen one" for the national Republicans. He is the prototype candidate for the GOP in 2010, the type of candidate Republicans think they can make real gains with. Herron is a veteran state legislator who has spent 22 years in Nashville. He is an accomplished, erudite man who graduated from Vanderbilt. So who has the advantage in the all-important 8th District?
That's a tough call. Republicans are in the best position in years to take that seat, which has been held by Democrats for literally generations. John Tanner, the incumbent, is retiring after 22 years in Washington. Tanner's predecessor, Ed Jones (for whom the federal building in downtown Jackson is named, coincidentally), held that seat for 22 years as well. All that to say that this a traditionally Democratic seat in a district that is trending increasingly Republican.
Fincher is a political newcomer, no match for Herron's years of political experience. But don't underestimate Fincher. Newcomer or not, he has energized the Republican base like few candidates have in recent years, or ever. He has proven to be a quick study. He has raised a ton of money and has the backing of the national GOP establishment. If he has one weakness going into the general election in November, it's that he just emerged from a bruising primary campaign that saw him have to spend a good portion of his resources just to become "the man." His party has spent months ripping itself apart from the inside as candidates jockeyed to be perceived as the most conservative. Can they now unite behind Fincher and beat Herron, who has had months to raise money and hone his message to voters?
Herron's experience edge is perhaps his greatest asset. He not only knows how government works, but he is a veteran campaigner. He has managed to be elected consistently as a Democrat in a very conservative district.
That being said, his record in Nashville could be his Achille's heel. He was one of those Democrats who survived the purge after supporting a state income tax in a virulently anti-tax state. While he hardly is a "Barney Frank" style liberal, he is a thoughtful man and a tad more liberal than many of his constitutents. Can he keep his winning streak going and become our next Congressman for the 8th District? I hope so.
For my money, Herron is the best man for this position, and not because he's a Democrat. He's the best man for the job because of his experience edge. He could hit the ground running from day one with little or no learning curve. He's the best man for the job because he's educated and he's thoughtful. He's not likely to be swayed by strictly emotional arguments or partisan reasons. He'll look at all sides of an issue and make the best decision possible based on the evidence. And he's the best man for the job because he has shown a great ability to reach across the aisle and work with the other party, something Fincher isn't as likely to do. Roy Herron for Congress in 2010? I certainly hope so.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
A socialist state?
A little more than six weeks into his presidency, there are some people who are concerned that President Barack Obama is a socialist in sheep's clothing. That's mainly due to his massive $787 million stimulus package, and his call for a nationalized health care system.
Personally, I believe these people are overreacting. I haven't seen one thing yet that has me worried that we're headed down the path to socialism. His stimulus package is anything but socialistic. In fact, it has shades of FDR by spending money on infrastructure, which we desperately need. It worked for FDR. We still have many of the buildings, trails and parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and there's no reason to think that the same won't be true once we start rebuilding our infrastructure
As for his call for universal health care, I'm not convinced that this is the answer. What I do know is that our health care system is broken and needs to be fixed. Universal health care may not be the answer, but I'm glad to see him willing to try something new, which is what he always promised.
Personally, I believe these people are overreacting. I haven't seen one thing yet that has me worried that we're headed down the path to socialism. His stimulus package is anything but socialistic. In fact, it has shades of FDR by spending money on infrastructure, which we desperately need. It worked for FDR. We still have many of the buildings, trails and parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and there's no reason to think that the same won't be true once we start rebuilding our infrastructure
As for his call for universal health care, I'm not convinced that this is the answer. What I do know is that our health care system is broken and needs to be fixed. Universal health care may not be the answer, but I'm glad to see him willing to try something new, which is what he always promised.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A day for the ages
I sat and watched the inauguration of Barack Obama this morning. It was a thrilling experience, one I will never forget. From the prayer by Pastory Rick Warren, to the transcendant version of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" by Aretha Franklin (which gave me chills) to the swearing in, to Obama's inaugural address, it was hard to feel anything but hope this morning.
That may be President Obama's greatest gift to this nation, his ability to inspire hope in others. With his calm, self-assured demeanor, it's hard to feel anything but confident in him. He gives off the air of someone who is never unsure of himself, and he makes you believe in him too. He may not have all the answers to our problems, but he has the power to inspire hope in others. That's a rare gift, and a good start.
That may be President Obama's greatest gift to this nation, his ability to inspire hope in others. With his calm, self-assured demeanor, it's hard to feel anything but confident in him. He gives off the air of someone who is never unsure of himself, and he makes you believe in him too. He may not have all the answers to our problems, but he has the power to inspire hope in others. That's a rare gift, and a good start.
A historic day
Today is a historic day in the history of our country. For the first time 233-year existence of America, we are about to inaugurate a black man as president. To tell you the truth, I never thought I would live to see this day. It's not that I thought it was impossible. It's that I figured there were still enough racist people in this country who would never vote for a black man to make it impossible.
I don't know how to describe the atmosphere of today, although I think something needs to be said. I can only say that it's electric. Watching coverage on TV, it's amazing. There are millions of people on the Mall in Washington. I can't remember ever seeing anything like it in my life. Many of these people have been there since yesterday. Many have been there since before sunrise. There's a sense of excitement and hope that I can't ever remember feeling.
I feel the same sense of hope and excitement. This is a day that people will be talking about for generations. This is a day that my children will remember. And while I believe that Obama will ultimately get our country back on the right track, I hope that people will give him a chance before they judge. I hope that they will realize that he is only human, that he is unlikely to fix every one of our problems, although I think he will ultimately be a powerful president and make a difference.
I don't know how to describe the atmosphere of today, although I think something needs to be said. I can only say that it's electric. Watching coverage on TV, it's amazing. There are millions of people on the Mall in Washington. I can't remember ever seeing anything like it in my life. Many of these people have been there since yesterday. Many have been there since before sunrise. There's a sense of excitement and hope that I can't ever remember feeling.
I feel the same sense of hope and excitement. This is a day that people will be talking about for generations. This is a day that my children will remember. And while I believe that Obama will ultimately get our country back on the right track, I hope that people will give him a chance before they judge. I hope that they will realize that he is only human, that he is unlikely to fix every one of our problems, although I think he will ultimately be a powerful president and make a difference.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
A new era dawning
Hooray! Barack Obama will be our 44th president in a little under three weeks. I'm really excited about his victory. Not only was it historic in terms of race, but it feels like the torch has finally been passed to my generation. Technically he's a baby boomer, of course, but he's much closer to a Gen X-er than anyone we've ever had in the White House.
If I'm worried about anything, it's that people expect too much out of him. People think he's going to come in and fix all of our problems. Maybe he helped contribute to that impression. I don't know. What I do know is that he's just one man, and a fallible human at that. I'm excited about the possibilities presented by an Obama presidency, but I'm realistic enough to know that he won't be able to solve all our problems right away. He probably won't be able to solve them in one term, maybe not even two. What I do think is that he can get us pointed in the right direction as a country and restore confidence, much like Ronald Reagan did almost 30 years ago. And that's a good enough start for me.
If I'm worried about anything, it's that people expect too much out of him. People think he's going to come in and fix all of our problems. Maybe he helped contribute to that impression. I don't know. What I do know is that he's just one man, and a fallible human at that. I'm excited about the possibilities presented by an Obama presidency, but I'm realistic enough to know that he won't be able to solve all our problems right away. He probably won't be able to solve them in one term, maybe not even two. What I do think is that he can get us pointed in the right direction as a country and restore confidence, much like Ronald Reagan did almost 30 years ago. And that's a good enough start for me.
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