I think we'll see closer results than the wished-for landslide scenario. The undecideds who may vote for McCain b/c he's the more familiar candidate, or b/c they won't vote for an African-American, or are concerned about his past associates will, I think, be a factor. The way I see it, a person may have been connected to or had people in their lives that may be unsavory, but I try to look at how a person conducts him/herself. I think you can have a religious adviser that you do not agree with, and that, regardless of what s/he may say, you can take that and process it with a different outcome than perhaps what that person may want. Basically, I believe in the ability to use process info and disagree with people on certain things, while perhaps agreeing with them on others.
I do think Obama's momentum will get him elected, but it'll be a close run thing. And I won't move to Australia if McCain wins b/c I believe we'll need sane ppl here to continue combating prejudice.
I agree. I don't think it's going to be the landslide they would like. From what I've seen, the polls are fairly close. Obama may lose it based on being African-American and Muslim
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Snoods, you're not the only ostrich on my flist (and now not even one) so don't worry, twasn't aimed specifically at you and you're free to switch between camps. Caring and not-caring camps, that is... no switching between political camps :p
The separation of church and state is an odd bunny, isn't it? In the UK it's a legal requirement to have some sort of assembly-with-a-moral (and religious is pretty much included in this term although not officially) every day in schools, yet Tony Blair was careful to keep very quiet about his Catholicism til after he stepped down as PM... whereas in the US where prayer etc is actually banned from public schools, it seems like you stand no chance of getting elected unless you spend a long time making apparently heartfelt speeches about just how much God means to you.
I'm not sure I have a point here, but I do agree with yours (hooray!). Plus - are you sure Obama is a muslim? I didn't think he was.
No, he's not. His father was, which is where the whole muslim connection comes in and why people are trying to portry him as such. Frankly, it shouldn't matter whether he is or not. Personally, I don't care if he's praying to Allah or God, or the tree in his backyard as long as he's working for a better country.
It's also not that I didn't care, it's just that I thought there was nothing I can do about it anyway, so why bother. Plus, I'm sandwiched in between lots of Dem friends, Swiss people who, like the British, left of the Americans even at their furthest right (excepting the crazies who just shouldn't count anyway) and Republican relatives, so I tend to feel a bit buffeted and prefer to just stay out of the discussions. I also feel like it's nearly impossible to defend one point or the other when both sides are basically constantly lying through their teeth. It's difficult to know who's lies are the least damaging.
He's not a Muslim. But even if he were, my personal take is SO THE FUCK WHAT??? He's an American and last I checked, only that and being at least 35 were prerequisites for the office.
(Also, Sarah Palin's church is crazy. But the MSM didn't really pick up on that so well, so unless people read lots of info, they won't find it. They believe in witches though. Like, the real ones. Except there are no real ones. The mind reels that in 2008 people really are this dumb. And also in line for second highest office in the land. *shudder*)
But apparently I am sitting alone in my religion-doesn't-matter corner. Well, Colin Powell is sitting next to me. :) Personally, I think NO religion is the best for public office.
As an aside, HI! And I may be joining you in Canada if Palin gets the Veep. We could go for poutine and a dog walk.
Separation of church and state seems to be a theory here only. And when the nation as a whole is center-right and still defines itself via some religion or another quite strongly, this is what happens. America seems to pride itself on the idea of being religious and moral, not that it always lives by these purported ideals, but it's self-gratifying to hold them up and wave them around when convenient--especially when comparing itself to "amoral Europe." And before I get pounced on, please let me clarify that this is my assessment of the situ here, not my opinion of American and European moral and religious standards and attitudes. Frankly, the fact that the NHS and similar systems gets demonized while American morals and ability to care for its citizens gets championed as "better" by actually NOT caring for the citizenry with a fair and non-predatory health care system is one of several oxymorons that boggles the mind. (<-- the last def my opinion)
*discretely waves pom poms (as much as I'm ever going to actually wave anything even remotely resembling a pom pom) and ducks flying objects*
So true Pen. If it didn't look from this perspective like America was falling apart at the seams while Europe is basking in social responsibility and security, I'd be home in a flash.
I do think Obama's momentum will get him elected, but it'll be a close run thing. And I won't move to Australia if McCain wins b/c I believe we'll need sane ppl here to continue combating prejudice.
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The separation of church and state is an odd bunny, isn't it? In the UK it's a legal requirement to have some sort of assembly-with-a-moral (and religious is pretty much included in this term although not officially) every day in schools, yet Tony Blair was careful to keep very quiet about his Catholicism til after he stepped down as PM... whereas in the US where prayer etc is actually banned from public schools, it seems like you stand no chance of getting elected unless you spend a long time making apparently heartfelt speeches about just how much God means to you.
I'm not sure I have a point here, but I do agree with yours (hooray!). Plus - are you sure Obama is a muslim? I didn't think he was.
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It's also not that I didn't care, it's just that I thought there was nothing I can do about it anyway, so why bother. Plus, I'm sandwiched in between lots of Dem friends, Swiss people who, like the British, left of the Americans even at their furthest right (excepting the crazies who just shouldn't count anyway) and Republican relatives, so I tend to feel a bit buffeted and prefer to just stay out of the discussions. I also feel like it's nearly impossible to defend one point or the other when both sides are basically constantly lying through their teeth. It's difficult to know who's lies are the least damaging.
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(Also, Sarah Palin's church is crazy. But the MSM didn't really pick up on that so well, so unless people read lots of info, they won't find it. They believe in witches though. Like, the real ones. Except there are no real ones. The mind reels that in 2008 people really are this dumb. And also in line for second highest office in the land. *shudder*)
But apparently I am sitting alone in my religion-doesn't-matter corner. Well, Colin Powell is sitting next to me. :) Personally, I think NO religion is the best for public office.
As an aside, HI! And I may be joining you in Canada if Palin gets the Veep. We could go for poutine and a dog walk.
*polishes up on her French*
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So true Pen. If it didn't look from this perspective like America was falling apart at the seams while Europe is basking in social responsibility and security, I'd be home in a flash.
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