GW claimimg God "told him"...? Actually, no. Your facts are misplaced on this one....Palin? Maybe....
And one already in office! Or, do his oft-stated Christian beliefs not matter to you since he is a democrat? Hmmmmm ?:wink3:
Hence the question mark, hehe Cant remember where I read about it. Sure is quite a few years ago, but Im sure its all over the web, for anyone interested. Think Family Guy(or The Simpsons?) made a skit about it, where "God" sets G W straight, saying "I never told you to invade" or something similar.
Can I be more clear w/o being offensive? GW never made that claim and it is a disservice to imply no matter how many Simpson episodes were run having fun with it. I can understand (however grudgingly) a poor, poor decison based on incorrect CIA information but would truly despise (and recall) if Bush had said, God told me to do it. One of the biggest problems we have in America are poorly informed voters (at least where I work) who propagate half-truths....Hugs, Bill.
I did a search to see if I could find any evidence that Bush publically stated that God told him to go to Iraq. I found two things. Neither took place in the U.S.. Jacques Chirac, the French President at the time claimed that Bush attempted to garner his support by telling him that the action was fufilling biblical prophecy. I believe the details are published in Chirac's memiors. He reportedly said he was on a mission from god at a Israeli-Palestinian summit in 2003. Nabil Shaath, who was Palestinian foreign minister at the time, said: "President Bush said to all of us: 'I am driven with a mission from God'. God would tell me, 'George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan'. And I did. And then God would tell me 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq'. And I did." Did those things really take place? Who knows?
I never meant to state that because Simpsons(Fam Guy?) did a skit on it, "it must be true" I remember it from a BBC documentary about the Middle East. I think Brewsters second part, the one about the Palestinian minister, is the one Im referring to. I still put my cash on that it was the booze and white powder talking Im still amazed that many of the American politicians even get any votes... My neighbor, whom sees himself as "neither Dem nor Repub", said: "I have to give some credit to the Democrats and their representatives, as they, at least, can complete sentences and pronounce words" One thing Ive always been curious about: Whenever I have learned and read about politics in America, it seems like there is pretty much only two sides: Repubs and Dems. Are there other parties/branches, or is it limited to only two? Cant remember ever hearing about a third option...
Thanks Bill, for the kind words. I think what Lincoln said, "government of the people, by the people, for the people" is brilliant. Allowing religion to influence political decisions is a grave mistake. For starters it empowers the leaders of religious denominations. Politicians visibly appease them in an attempt to not alienate them and their congregation. America is the most powerful and influential nation on Earth. It's a small planet and we are your closest neighbors with a lot vested in the decisions and actions of Washington. That's why I "worry". And I like you guys so I "worry" about you too... Criticising religion is the great taboo. We are told we should be tolerant of others beliefs. If, as a Christian, you bring someone into "the flock" you are "saving him". It's celebrated. But if you are an atheist and attempt to sway the opinion of a religious person you are "doing the devil's work". So, very neatly, it's very good to persuade someone to believe in god but very bad to do the opposite. When you supress knowledge and open discussion you invite ignorance and blind obedience. That is the enemy of your constitution. How should people have behaved when religious leaders denounced as heretics those that claimed the earth was not the center of the universe and in fact revolved around the sun? They had them socially ostracized or even put to death. All religions attempt to either fit newly discovered facts into the constraints of their beliefs or dismiss them as blasphemy. How can that be good except that it removes the threat to the foundations of religious beliefs? Freedom should included the freedom to question everything.
I didn't view the video Brewster but if it's the one where Perry openly condemned gay people that serve in the military I just can't understand how that attitude can exist in the modern world. Politically this stirs up more people down in the States than here in Canada, mostly because we are further to the left overall and it would amount to political suicide on the part of any candidate who would say anything of the sort. I believe our friends across the pond in the UK and Europe would agree in general. I know that there are lots of people on here who have served in the military (insert country as to where from), that I am sure have opinions on this matter. I think it would be interesting to find out what they think. My personal opinion is that Perry's ad would scare me away from supporting him were I an American citizen. To my mind excluding gay people from the military is discrimination that I just don't agree with. Again I know it can be a sensitive subject but it's one that is worthy of debate I think.
