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.
I think the religious advisor thing could also hurt him, as it did with Mum. Face it, most people allow themselves to be heavily influenced by people around them and opinions polarize around a dominant opinion. Wait! I'm not saying that Obama is like that. I'm just saying it usually is and because that's the way other people react, they're going to assume he's the same. However, it's ridiculous to expect for someone, especially someone Afro-Am with Muslim "connections" who's in politics to never have associated with someone else of questionable background. Switching tacks, McCain was in the army. Wanna bet you'd find some sort of subversive in his circle of friends too? You just need to look hard enough.
What really gets up my nose is that religion is a factor in the elections at all. WTF??? Whatever happened to seperation of religion and State? Yes, I know Pen, history and all, but honestly, religion has no place in politics in this day and age. The US is no longer a homogenously religious (do I win points for creative vocabulary? :0) so having a religious leader shuts out a large portion of the population. What I mean is, how would all the Christians feel if they suddenly had to listen to a Hindi tell the population he prays to Brahman for guidance every night? There's just no place for that. A leader of such a diversified country should be religiously non-partisan. That doesn't mean he needs to be an atheist, it just shouldn't matter which religion he is as long as he's doing what's good for the country. If I'm not mistaken, relgion isn't such a huge thing in Britain and I don't see that hurting the country.
Oh yes, and in case you missed it Nor, my comfortable Ostrich-like peace was severely disrupted by finding out that I might be allowed to vote, ergo, I've been doing a lot of reading lately. I was undecided at first, because I think some of Obama's plans aren't going to work and McCain is not the worst thing that could happen to us, but Palin decided it for me. If McCain becomes president and dies, making Palin president, I will fork over the $1000 necessary to get apply for Canadian residency.
Oh yes, I can't tell you what it looks like over there because I'm here, but here, it's like McCain barely exists. Everything is severily Obama-centric. Another good reason for Obama to win. I'm not sure I can stand another round of "OMG, what did your country do and does everyone there have a lobotomy at brith?".
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 think the religious advisor thing could also hurt him, as it did with Mum. Face it, most people allow themselves to be heavily influenced by people around them and opinions polarize around a dominant opinion. Wait! I'm not saying that Obama is like that. I'm just saying it usually is and because that's the way other people react, they're going to assume he's the same. However, it's ridiculous to expect for someone, especially someone Afro-Am with Muslim "connections" who's in politics to never have associated with someone else of questionable background. Switching tacks, McCain was in the army. Wanna bet you'd find some sort of subversive in his circle of friends too? You just need to look hard enough.
What really gets up my nose is that religion is a factor in the elections at all. WTF??? Whatever happened to seperation of religion and State? Yes, I know Pen, history and all, but honestly, religion has no place in politics in this day and age. The US is no longer a homogenously religious (do I win points for creative vocabulary? :0) so having a religious leader shuts out a large portion of the population. What I mean is, how would all the Christians feel if they suddenly had to listen to a Hindi tell the population he prays to Brahman for guidance every night? There's just no place for that. A leader of such a diversified country should be religiously non-partisan. That doesn't mean he needs to be an atheist, it just shouldn't matter which religion he is as long as he's doing what's good for the country. If I'm not mistaken, relgion isn't such a huge thing in Britain and I don't see that hurting the country.
Oh yes, and in case you missed it Nor, my comfortable Ostrich-like peace was severely disrupted by finding out that I might be allowed to vote, ergo, I've been doing a lot of reading lately. I was undecided at first, because I think some of Obama's plans aren't going to work and McCain is not the worst thing that could happen to us, but Palin decided it for me. If McCain becomes president and dies, making Palin president, I will fork over the $1000 necessary to get apply for Canadian residency.
Oh yes, I can't tell you what it looks like over there because I'm here, but here, it's like McCain barely exists. Everything is severily Obama-centric. Another good reason for Obama to win. I'm not sure I can stand another round of "OMG, what did your country do and does everyone there have a lobotomy at brith?".
Reply
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.
Reply
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.
Reply
(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*
Reply
Reply
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.
Reply
Leave a comment