Re: [asa] Thoughts on the new president

Hi Iain,

"From my listening to Obama's speeches (I've heard the one he gave
exactly a year ago at the MLK church, and the inaugural speech), this
certainly seems to be a recurring Obama theme - that we should
concentrate on what we have in common to work together, rather than
fighting over differences. Since it recurs so often it would seem
reasonable to say that at the very least it is something he feels
passionately about."

Perhaps. On the other hand, it is a common theme among politicians, so I
bet it has been focus group tested and the handlers have determined it to be
very good for public image. This explains why McCain was using the same
theme in his campaign. Even Bush was sounding the same theme back when he
was elected in 2000.

I'm too cynical to attach any real meaning to politicians' words. We'll
have to wait a couple of years to see the actions in order to make a better
assessment.

Mike

>I think the phrase you are objecting to is just a bit of journalistic
> writing. It is more interesting to see it in the context:
>
> Most of all, he feels
> deep in his heart that our problems can never be solved, let alone to
> the full satisfaction of all, by harping on our acute differences and
> rubbing in ad nauseam our past mutual hurts, but only by looking into
> the future, holding hands together as dedicated citizens of the nation
> and of the world
>
>>From my listening to Obama's speeches (I've heard the one he gave
> exactly a year ago at the MLK church, and the inaugural speech), this
> certainly seems to be a recurring Obama theme - that we should
> concentrate on what we have in common to work together, rather than
> fighting over differences. Since it recurs so often it would seem
> reasonable to say that at the very least it is something he feels
> passionately about.
>
> I noticed, for example from the inaugural speech, that BO acknowledged
> the role of non-believers (is this a first?) in saying something like
> "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims and Jews and Hindus - and
> non-believers" - the implication being that all had something to
> offer.
>
> Maybe that's a bit wishy-washy for some? But I rather liked the
> intent to try and avoid the war between science and religion,
> believers and non-believers, and start working together.
>
> Iain
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 12:30 PM, Nucacids <nucacids@wowway.com> wrote:
>> Let's not abandon critical thinking. For example, Raman writes, "Most
>> of
>> all, he feels deep in his heart.." How does Raman know what Obama feels
>> "deep in his heart?" From the way he speaks, one gets the impression
>> that
>> Raman is a close friend of Obama. Is this true?
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>>> >From "Science and Religion Today":
>>>
>>> "From all that we have seen and heard and read, Obama is a man of
>>> unusual intelligence, insight, and vision. He is a rare combination of
>>> idealism and activism, a politician and citizen who considers himself
>>> an American first and foremost, rather than an individual with a
>>> hyphenated nationality and subgroup loyalties. He is, in the tradition
>>> of the country, a man of faith, but also enlightened enough to respect
>>> those who find fulfillment beyond his own pews, or in no traditional
>>> religion at all. He has his own convictions about traditional
>>> morality, but respects those of others in so far as they don't perturb
>>> the personal lives of their fellow citizens. Most of all, he feels
>>> deep in his heart that our problems can never be solved, let alone to
>>> the full satisfaction of all, by harping on our acute differences and
>>> rubbing in ad nauseam our past mutual hurts, but only by looking into
>>> the future, holding hands together as dedicated citizens of the nation
>>> and of the world," says V.V. Raman, an emeritus professor of physics
>>> and humanities at the Rochester Institute of Technology, in a note to
>>> Science & Religion Today.
>>> "Obama is acutely aware of the dangers lurking in the environment as a
>>> result of unbridled industrial excesses, and he trusts scientifically
>>> informed advisers to recommend steps to curb and eliminate these
>>> dangers. He respects science and science education in our schools,
>>> relegating visions of a Creator God to places of worship and tradition
>>> rather than to biology classes."
>>>
>>> (Please note: I am from the UK and don't have a political axe to
>>> grind, but I thought these observations were encouraging).
>>>
>>> Iain
>>>

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Received on Thu Jan 22 22:38:15 2009