AP: Edwards: Jesus would be 'appalled'

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070305/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail;_ylt=AjLvrhJDtwedvEojcXdxakSs0NUE

Edwards: Jesus would be 'appalled'

By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Democratic presidential hopeful
John Edwards says Jesus would be appalled at how the United States has ignored the plight of the suffering, and that he believes children should have private time to pray at school.
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Edwards, in an interview with the Web site Beliefnet.com, said Jesus would be most upset with the selfishness of Americans and the country's willingness to go to war "when it's not necessary."

"I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs," Edwards told the site. "I think he would be appalled, actually."

Edwards also said he was against teacher-led prayers in public schools, but he added that "allowing time for children to pray for themselves, to themselves, I think is not only OK, I think it's a good thing."

[China_cat]

1. As long as there are math tests

kids will pray. And there is absolutely nothing stopping them praying to themselves at ANY time during the school day. There is no need to set aside special time for it except for the religiously intolerant to show just how 'pious' they are.

[patrice]

3. Good points. Don't we raise individuals anymore?

Why is it that nothing has any value unless a group of some sort validates that value?

This is completely the opposite of strength. If you can't live it without parading it down mainstreet, it's not real.

[Catfight]

6. Brilliantly articulated china_cat! Enough jesus-in-your-face tactics.

Any presidential nomination that throws his/her religion out there will not get my support. Obama=out, Edwards=out, I'm sick of bush/god politics in Amerika. Time for someone to really stand up for separation of church and state! That's a candidate I can relate to and vote for, anyone who's pressured into loving jeebus because they want the psycho vote doesn't deserve my attention. Edwards is dead wrong on this one.

[never cry wolf]

21. Wow, gonna be pretty lonely for ya without a candidate

Kerry certainly did not renounce his religon in '04. Hillary last Sunday in Selma spoke of hers, a quick google of "kucinich jesus" came up with the following: "I will not be blackmailed," insisted Kucinich. "When Jesus Christ went to the mountaintop and was tempted by Satan, he said, 'Begone Satan.'"

Can you name any politician who has not "thrown their religion out there?"

Edwards was interviewed by a religious website and references Jesus, Obama is invited to speak in church as a part of the Sunday service and dares to throw religious references out there.....

Obama has spoken of the importance of separation of church and state yet he has also professed his own personal religious convictions in the same speech. He understands that his beliefs are his and that others may not agree with them, that public policy should not be based upon his personal beliefs. But that does not mean he cannot articulate those beliefs.

Like it or not, most of the country is religious and a politician's job is to appeal to the most people possible.

[China_cat]

25. Can you name any politician who DID throw out their

religion before this? Without looking it up, what religion was Bush SR? Reagan? Johnson? Eisenhower? Truman? Roosevelt?

Yes, we know Nixon was a Quaker...but not from Nixon. We know Kennedy was Catholic only because his opponents tried to convince the country that if he was elected the Vatican would be running the US. Same for Carter with the Southern Baptists but when did Carter ever use his religion as a political tool? Hell, he doesn't use his religion as a political tool NOW. He just goes out and builds houses for the homeless.

[never cry wolf]

49. Every politician has

At least every one on a national level has invoked the name of God in public speeches. I am not talking about a particular sect but in general professing xtianity (except for holy joe.)

FDR on D-Day: My Fellow Americans:

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22franklin+roosevelt%22+god&btnG=Google+Search

Above the pyramid on the Great Seal of the United States it says in latin, "God has favored our undertaking." God will not favor everything that we do. It is rather our duty to divine His will. But I cannot help but believe that He truly understands and that He really favors the undertaking that we begin here tonight.

President Lyndon B. Johnson - March 15, 1965

I don't know or care what religion they were or are, but they all do it, Obama and Edwards included.

Not saying I like it, I'm more of an agnostic myself.

[SayWhatYo]

65. But Carter isn't running for president.

[China_cat]

68. No, but he didn't do it when he WAS running.

His opponents made an issue of his religion, like Kennedy, saying that Carter would be making decisions based on his religion.

[Bill McBlueState]

41. same goes for GLBT people

None of the media-appointed "major" candidates supports marriage equality, so GLBT people will be lonely without a candidate as well.

It sucks to be a minority in this country, and it sucks when DUers encourage minorities to sit at the back of the bus and just "like it or not."

[BigDDem]

58. Looks like you'll be on Team Nader '08!

[OregonBi]

64. Edwards is a multi-faceted man

I respect him for his generosity and kind ship for his fellows. If Dennis Kucinich were running I would vote for him in a flash. Edwards though is the next best thing especially with his stance against our invading and marauding against sovereign nations. One thing about Edwards' view on religion, I feel that a person's religion or lack thereof is their own choice. Not to be made or forced by anyone or the government.
That is our free choices and I demand that we retain them. Those freedoms however are a two way street. How can we demand recognition of our freedoms if we don't recognize the freedoms of others? We here are better than that and from what I read here, we are the leading examples of respect for all freedoms in this nation. This board has more open minded and considerate people than any conservative junket on the planet!
I am proud to be a progressive member of this fine forum and look forward to the intellectual information and guidance I find here on a daily basis!

[krabigirl]

85. Spot on about the plight of the suffering, dead wrong about school prayer.

[barb162]

16. Your post reminds me of a holy roller from grammar school.

She was a person who pretended she was SOOOOOOOOOO religious and she wasn't religious at all.

People can pray any time without making a big deal of it

[NMMNG]

22. Bingo

Nobody is stopping children from praying in school. It's only those who want to make a public spectacle of it and force others to pray that are being restricted.

[Oleladylib]

34. in your humble opinion...correct? In my humble opinion I totally disagree.

[China_cat]

47. It would have been nice if you'd said why you disagree.

[Strawman]

73. More semantic moves from John Edwards

You're absolutely right. Kids can pray now. This is desgined to create a "good wholesome Christian" environment in our public schools using the language of tolerance in a very abstract way to create, in actuality, an intolerant environment where non-believers are pressured to conform.

I've noticed Edwards likes to soften his pandering to so-called "moderates" by saying someting he knows is right (and appealing to progressives) in the same breath as his pandering. Here he mentions that Jesus would be appalled at the plight of the poor as a setup to his real zinger: some form of structured prayer in public schools.

Edwards pulled the same stunt on gay marriage where he essentially said he was for civil unions, that he'd taken some heat from one of his kids about not supporting gay marriage (Read: I'm not a bigot, my kids are pro-gay marriage and we have a dialogue about this because I'm "open-minded" about it), someday it will happen BUT he thinks marriage should be between a man and a woman. (Read: I still get to discriminate against gays to pander for votes and call myself tolerant).

No. Sorry. You can't have it both ways, John.

Edwards is disappointing to me because he is persuasive enough to do the right thing and justify it in a way that might actually change minds. But he seems too willing to sacrifice principles to ambition. Maybe he is picking one issue (poverty) to do that with and choosing not to "rock the boat" on anything else. I don't know. It's just disappointing.

[livingonearth]

2. It's that old right wing fundy contradiction...

Put down the liberals all week long then on Sunday worship the most liberal person of all time.

[Rob H.]

54. Hope you don't mind if I borrow that

Nicely said! :)

[bleedingheart]

4. There are people who feel that their success in life was pre-ordained

that those people who are poor are not as "with the lord" as they should be, I have met these people...

People interpret the words of Jesus very differently.

[Dr Fate]

5. Good move- I agree with these statements. n/t

n/t

[BayCityProgressive]

7. ...

Edwards, in an interview with the Web site Beliefnet.com, said Jesus would be most upset with the selfishness of Americans and the country's willingness to go to war "when it's not necessary."

Didn't he support it too? I am glad he doesn't anymore..but all the way through the 04 election he said even knowing what he knew he would still support it. Just strange. I am considering Edwards but stuff like this is just pandering.

[Dr Fate]

14. Dont care. I like being pandered to. It's about time someone pandered to me.

As far as his war vote goes, he apologized, admitted he was wrong and is now on my side- I'll accept that.

[AzDar]

8. ..And when thou prayest, be not as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing

in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, where they may be seen of men, and verily, I say unto you, they have their reward.
When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret...
- Matthew 6:5
Look it up, Brotha Edwards.

[Dr Fate]

19. Edwards was not praying- so I'm not sure he violated any Biblical scripture in this instance.

As far as how kids will conduct themselves in front of others, that is up to them & their beliefs...

But interesting point- allowing kids to exercise Religous freedom does not mean they will actually follow their own religion to a tee!!!

[AzDar]

20. I feel this particular verse urges that prayer is an extremely private

endeavour; not to be done openly or publicly.
Public school is certainly not a place for prayer on any level, imho.
I fully support Mr. Edwards but this smells of pandering.

[Dr Fate]

52. So what? Who says people have to follow any Bible verse, much less that one?

Allowing freedom of religion does not gurantee authenticity therein- it merely allows people to follow what-ever beliefs they hold, misguided or not.

There is place for prayer in schools- so long as it is voluntary/student led or done by individuals- and does not infringe on academics or other people.

[AzDar]

81. Totally disagree. Public school is no place for religion, period.

You want to pray? Go to a private (not government-funded) institution.

[Ilsa]

9. Too much time is wasted in school with lines, waiting around, etc.

If parents want their kids to pray, they can have them pray at home or in the car on the way to school.

There isn't anyone stopping a child having a silent moment before taking a test.

[Dr Fate]

18. Or at lunch- but I disagree-A few minutes of quiet reflection time in home-room is fine.

It's a good compromise, it respects religous & non-religous folks-and it is Constitutional...

Even better- student organized prayer during lunch.

[tblue37]

45. Man, I would have FUMED if there had been student-organized prayer

at lunch when I was in school!

I have on one of my websites for my students a sample essay by a girl who wrote about feeling pressured and awkward because of student organized prayer in her school. Here are the relevant paragraphs from her. I strongly recommend that you read them, even though the passage is longish:

http://www.geocities.com/tblue37/prayer.html

<snip>
Besides, prayer has not been excluded from public schools. No one is preventing students from praying in school whenever they want to. Today students are permitted to pray to themselves or with others willing to join, as long as the prayer is not organized by the school or considered disruptive. I agree with this idea and have had the opportunity to experience such voluntary prayer in school, but even when the prayer is purely voluntary and not organized by the school, it still has the potential to make nonreligious students feel uncomfortable, pressured and excluded. When the shooting at Columbine High School occurred in April of 1999, many people were abruptly awakened to the gruesome reality that students, or simply children, had the minds to kill. I come from Colorado, and attended a supposedly “safe” high school much like Columbine, so the news of the tragedy hit hard. The week after the incident, students held hands around the flagpole and prayed for the lives lost and the spirits hindered by the tragedy. I am not a particularly religious person, but out of respect and sympathy, I attended these morning prayer sessions. There were times that I liked being there simply because I could be alone with my thoughts. However, I tended to feel uncomfortable. Having no religious background, I felt very alone and naive about what was going on around me. I also felt pressured by the students that surrounded me. They were more advanced in their faith and had more clarity in their thoughts. I felt dominated by their Christian religion and I began to realize their blatant blindness to any other belief or religion. I continued to go to these sessions because they were there to remember the students of Columbine. But other than the prayer sessions specifically devoted to the Columbine tragedy, whenever students would pray publicly, I just walked past them with an overwhelming feeling that I was an outcast, uninformed about some secret that everyone around me was an expert on.

I did not go to the Columbine prayer sessions to pray or to ask God to help the victims of Columbine. I went because I wanted to express my sadness and concern. I also felt guilty if I didn’t go. However, my feelings of guilt were not satisfied when I went, because while I was there, I did not take part in verbal or mental prayer like everyone else. Even though the primary objective was for the prayer to be voluntary, the sentiments that I felt because I did not pray made the prayer feel mandatory to me. If I felt this uncomfortable when prayer was voluntary, I don’t think I would be able to handle daily prayer on a mandatory basis. And I am sure other students in my position would have difficulty doing the so, either. All individuals strive for social acceptance, and because of the social intolerance against individuals who do not have religious faith, or those who are unwilling to express their faith publicly, truly voluntary prayer is simply an improbable concept.

Whether mandatory or only “voluntary,” organized prayer in public school raises issues that a lot of religious people are not thinking clearly about. Our society, though predominantly Christian, houses a great diversity of religious faiths. In order to deal fairly with the wide variety of religions, every religion would need to be accounted for during organized prayer sessions; therefore, the leader of the prayer sessions would have to be highly educated in all religions.

If any one religion is not adequately covered, the undermining of it might offend someone of that faith. Furthermore, what many may not realize is that even Atheism can be considered a religion. Atheism is the strict belief that there is no god or gods, but it is similar to a religion because it is a belief, and its principles are based on blind faith. If Atheism involves no prayer, then how can organized school prayer adequately represent it?

Also, if Christians believe that prayer in public schools should reflect the dominant religion of this time, or Christianity, they should also be aware that Islam is currently the fastest growing religion and it could soon take precedence over Christianity. Are today’s Christians prepared to have their grandchildren bowing and praying toward Mecca five times a day?

Ideally, the barrier between church and state protects all religions by favoring none. Once that barrier is removed, the dominant religion at a given time will have the power to control belief within the public arena. What Christians must realize is that there is no guarantee that their religion will always be dominant. For their own sake, they should defend the right of all children to be free from any sort of religious coercion, blatant or subtle, in their schools.

[Dr Fate]

51. How about a student organized chess match? Or a student organized evolution discussion?

Sorry, but if we allow one extra curricular activity, you have to allow another. Ban them all or allow them all- that is the only fair choice.

[tblue37]

80. The separation of church and chess is not enshrined as a

foundational principle in the Constitution. Children are required to attend school. Most kids are not pressured to join chess clubs or to p-lay chess, but pressure to confrorm to a dominant religion is pervasive and pwoerful--and intimidating.

Organized prayer at lunch is nto at all lke a chess club or a discussion set up for free atetndance.

Skip lunch or be subjected to pressure to conform to the dominant religion.

I don't think so.

They can have their little religious clubs, but lunch time is not something that should be infringed on in an organize way by religious pressure.

[Thickasabrick]

10. I think Jesus would be sad maybe not appalled. He was being

interviewed by "Beliefnet" for Christ's sake. If he was ever going to bring up Jesus - that was certainly the place. If people are only going to support candidates who never mention God, Jesus or whatever, I'm afraid they won't have anyone to support.

[Cha]

11. I think Jesus would be appalled by

those using His Name falsely just like he predicted in the Bible.

The HolyRoller HijackingJesus for PRofit and for Killing.

[onehandle]

12. ...by Ann Coulter's hate. nt

[hollowdweller]

13. That's what I thought this thread was about from the title

[CBGLuthier]

40. Ann Coulter's Hate?

Ann aint got nuthin on DU. I have been here for 30 minutes today and am already sick at the racism and hatred spewing from this place.

Go ahead and call me a troll freeper. I have been here forever and am finally realising that Liberal hatred is just as ugly and soul destroying as RW hatred.

[Psephos]

15. Jesus might suggest to Edwards to try a smaller mansion

Edwards has one of the most tone-deaf political ears I've yet observed. But then, I'm not a supporter of his anyway. I'm sure someone who is can explain why that makes me an asshole.

Peace.

[Dr Fate]

17. I wont call you names- but most people's Preachers live in big houses too.

We can discuss Bible semantics & the true meaning of Jesus's teachings all day long- but most mainstream church-going folks dont mind if someone who wants to help the poor makes a good living and lives in a big house.

[Rob H.]

53. Agreed. And not only that...

but I live in the South and the sizes of the churches down here are staggering. I live near one of the larger ones in my city, and every time I pass it, I think, "Man. Just think of how much good that money could've done if they'd spent it on something like feeding the hungry or sheltering the homeless instead of building that monstrosity."

The really sad part is, from what I've heard the pastor--who, it's rumored, makes about $250K a year--has been on a real tear lately about tithing. I'm not religious at all, but from my rudimentary understanding of Jesus I don't think he would've been too keen on that kind of blatant hypocrisy.

[hughee99]

61. Yes, many of them do live in a big house...

fewer of them live in 2 or 3 big houses, though. I think Edwards is pretty accurate in his assessment, but unfortunately, IMHO, it makes him come off sounding like a hypocrite. I think he probably could have worded it better.

[Dr Fate]

76. Wrong- that is my point- to average, moderate Church goers, he does not sound hypocritical at all.

Your average, moderate- or even conservative Church-goer simply does not have a problem with an honest, hard-working person living in a big house that he paid for.

Only people who are straining themselves to find something wrong with his anti-poverty positions are having this problem.

I say we leave the "he lives in a big house-so he must be in league with Satan" criticism to the Republicans who also live in big houses, but dont do jack for the poor.

[hughee99]

78. While this may have been directed toward the average

moderate Church-goer, not everyone who hears it necessarily is one. I read the quote from the OP and I took it as a sort of sweeping generalization about Americans in general. Given the fact that he is probably more financially able to help people in need than most Americans, I think he could have worded his comments a little better.

After reading the link, though, it sounds like his comments were directed toward the US government (which I certainly agree with) and not the American people in general.
"Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards says Jesus would be appalled at how the United States has ignored the plight of the suffering"

[Zhade]

23. Edwards, I don't care about your myth. Leave it in your church, please.

NT!

[Vinca]

24. Since Jesus doesn't have to worry about health care, education,

keeping a job, paying the mortgage and injured soldiers in roach motels, can't we leave him out of it???

[bdamomma]

39. I agree, keep religion out of politics, too late now huh?

but at one time, religion was a thing that was held private to many individuals, why do people have to wear their religious beliefs on their sleeves?

[underpants]

26. Recommended #4

[Pacifist Patriot]

27. And may this be what it looks like...

}(

Yes, I know he said private time, but in my opinion this is exactly the type of maneuvering to the right that George Lakoff warns us about. Prayer in school is another wedge issue that begins at the top of a slippery slope.

Any time designated as private prayer time is an opportunity for school children to look around and see who is participating and who is not. Then comes the peer pressure and discriminatory behavior. Last I checked the high court already struck down religion in school for precisely that reason!

[Oleladylib]

31. that is complete unadulterated bullshit!

[Pacifist Patriot]

37. Excuse me?

That type of response is neither helpful nor productive. If you have a problem with what I had to say I'd appreciate it if you'd respond in a manner that encourages dialogue.

[SayWhatYo]

63. I think she(or he?) made some valid points.

[Pacifist Patriot]

69. Thank you. Nothing original. My points echo a ruling by the Supreme Court...

decades ago.

I'm a she. Cheers!

[SayWhatYo]

62. I agree with you...

I'm not really anti-religion or anti-prayer or anything... However, I think if they set aside a "quite time" and called it prayer time, then it will only lead to kids giving other kids a hard time. It goes both ways though depending on the makeup of the class. Also, I'm betting some of the Christians who love this idea wouldn't be too happy if their kid comes home and show them the cool new Muslim pray he learned(screwed up, but it's how many are... I know this because my parents are fake 'religious' people)

[tblue37]

28. Schools are expected to do everything these days.

It's hard enough to fit everything in without having to set aside time for prayer. They can pray anytime they want to. Why take away from everyone elses's learning time so this or that kid can have a special time to pray? And are their parents setting aside time from soccer practice, video games, and all their other times at home so they can pray? Why does prayer have to be such a public thing with these people all the time?

[Oleladylib]

32. yup, no time to pray, like here yesterday, drug bust, dogs in..lock down

heaven forbid ..so much time spent on the curriculum in those hours..

[spooky3]

38. Do you think the teachers designed in "drug bust time"?

Your drug bust argument actually supports the other side. With everything that teachers have to deal with, they need all of the time they can get for teaching.

[Oleladylib]

55. well that hasn't worked so far.

[spooky3]

71. ????

So further reducing the teaching time would be better?? That makes no sense.

And if your point is that setting aside prayer time would somehow prevent drugs in schools, you might want to look into the research on this, and on the religious beliefs and practices of students with drug issues. Students already have the right and the ability and the opportunity to pray many times during the school day.

That said, I understand why Edwards said what he did even though I don't entirely agree with him.

[YankeyMCC]

29. I'm appalled

well maybe appalled is to strong a word - frustrated, disappointed might be more accurate because this sort of rhetoric is to be expected and it's clear the audience he was after.

But why must we continue to be preached at about what one person thinks how religious book or character should be used as a moral measuring stick? Can't we talk about ethics and morals based on ensuring a fair and just society, doing no harm to each other and other moral measures that do not require others subscribe to the preacher's particular and unique take (everyone has their own interpretation) on what their religion says must be the way to make moral decisions.

Until we do that talk like this will always keep alive the divisions between us as in this case those who think the character of Jesus is a moral measuring stick and calibrated the way Mr Edwards says is the right way and everyone else.

In pretty much every war in history both sides felt they Knew How the gods would measure us up morally. And by that I'm not putting all blame on religion just pointing out the argument "god is on our side" is not a firm moral foundation given it's track record.

[Oleladylib]

30. Good for you, John Edwards..win or lose!

[Marrah_G]

33. Oh goodie!

I would LOVE to see their faces when my daughter brings in incense and starts chanting to Cernunnos during homeroom!

[Oleladylib]

35. I do love incense..what scent???

[Marrah_G]

46. I'm particular to Sandalwood

Though perhaps dragonsblood would be better in that situation.

My newest favorite scent isn't an insence, instead I found an amber oil in a neat little custom oil place in Salem, MA.

[heliarc]

59. My son can teach your daughter about Speaking in tongues.

Lovely!

[Marrah_G]

72. Excellent!

[Odin2005]

36. I see fundy heads poping!

I don't get why people are bashing Edwards for saying this. I'm an Atheist, but it's non of my business were a lawmaker gets his/her values from, even if they are from a religious belief and he/she states that publicly. What I DO have a problem with is official favoritism towards a certain religion. Since Edwards clearly saying "allowing time for children to pray for themselves, to themselves" clearly shows he rejects official favoritism (such as teacher-lead school prayer). I'm sick of my fellow atheists bashing people just because they get their values from religion.

[Bill McBlueState]

42. but children already have time to pray by themselves

Since school kids are already free for much of the day to think or pray on their own, Edwards is just pandering to people who oppose secularism.

To religious extremists, "allowing time to pray" means you creep as close as you can to teacher-led sectarian prayer without getting sued. You can imagine what that would look like in much of the country.

I think Edwards is a supporter of secularism, so I won't hold this against him too much, but the pandering is a little disappointing.

[zalinda]

44. I don't see it as pandering

I see it as reminding Christians about what Jesus actually stood for. So many are caught up in the Dobson RW machine that they really aren't thinking about what Jesus would do. A little reminder now and then is a good thing.

zalinda

[Bill McBlueState]

48. I don't want a pastor; I want a president

Candidates should tell us how they're going to fix the country, not preach to their co-religionists. Many Americans have more pressing concerns than what an ancient religious figure might or might not have endorsed.

But you can't succeed politically in this country without making religious noises. I try to accept that.

[Dr Fate]

75. Edwards is offering a Constitutional compromise.

Pandering? Hell- his statements read like he is pandering to ME-I've always said DEMS need to point out the GOP's hypocrisy concerning Jesus. I for one am glad someone is finally pandering to me.

[PhilipShore]

43. Jesus was a liberal

[Oleladylib]

56. Liberal, progressive, fore thinking, challenging and hated just like he is here.

It's interesting, isn't it?

[VegasWolf]

86. It is NOT that Jesus is hated here, he was just a carpenter raising a family, rather

it is the intense oppression by Christians who cannot tolerate sky people other than their particular 3-headed god that many atheists feel disgust for.

[randycrow]

50. Jesus Is the Epitome of Freedom

and would be bad mouthing the Neocon communi$t$. Jesus sporting a worldly body would have the same problems as everyone else, paying the bills, cost of prescriptions, ect. I do not know how to start a new topic, but I came here today looking for comments on the story Dick Cheney joined the Wahabbi Sunni Muslim religion in the 1990s. Makes sense. Sunni Baathist are communi$t$ as is bin Laden, although bin Laden is dead, and Sunni Baathist are the guys the US Congress authorized our military to go after. Now we are fighting on the side of Sunni Baathist communi$t$ against non communi$t Shiites in Iraq and Iran. Curt Gentry in his book J. Edgar Hoover page 354 says Ronald Reagan was on a Hover list of people sympathetic toward communi$m. No wonder Reagan and the Bushes got along.

[heliarc]

57. Feh...

And Atheists should have independent study time. It shouldn't even be called "PRAYER TIME", or "Speaking in tongues time" They should call it "Individual time" if they want to waste our tax dollars with this malarky. And what about people who have to pray 5 times a day or face a certain direction, or tap their heads while rubbing their stomachs? There is recess at school, and passing periods. Last I checked my school had a passing period of 10 whole minutes. That is 225 percent as much time as I had at my high school when I went. Why not let them pray during this time.

I think he is entirely right to frame the discussion this way though. There shouldn't be ANY teacher involvement in conducting prayer.

He's going to piss off a lot of the "charitable" people in this country who are totally in denial about giving. Americans are convinced that we singlehandedly save the world from all sorts of disasters by giving canned goods at church. He's right that we don't (and that we give a significantly low percentage of the GDP), but Edwards is inflaming the issue with this point.

[HannibalBarca]

60. I long for the day

when people must no longer pander to some fabricated moral code originating from a book that is about as accurate as Bush' aim with a six shooter.

[w4rma]

66. I think he's exactly right on every account. (nt)

[Dr Fate]

67. Me too- Edwards is mostly a good, solid man. n/t

n/t

[David Zephyr]

70. Keep at it, John!

:thumbsup:

[MontanaMaven]

74. Keep bringing up poverty and peace. It's a good thing

One of the things I really appreciated about Edwards is his short straightforward answers to questions. No politician long windedness.

[ObamaNationYes]

77. wonder if JE thinks Jesus would be appalled at the words of the 2 Bloggers he hired?

Sorry folks but Edwards can't have it both ways!


"READY TO BE PART OF AN OBAMA-NATION!"

[benny05]

79. Knock it off, please

They don't work for him anymore.

[Dr Fate]

83. Not only that- but I'll bet Obama agrees with Edward's comments. n/t

n/t

[Dr Fate]

82. I doubt Jesus would approve of massive, organized churches in any event.

But one thing is for sure- Jesus would never approve of the way Republicans say evoke his name while they screw the poor and drive us into wars based on lies.

Besides- Obama (Who I LOVE!) probably agrees with the good Sen. Edwards on this.

[4_TN_TITANS]

84. Christ on a trailer hitch....

where's the panda icon from the top ten when you need it. Who the heck can't see through this?