The abuse of heavenly prayer for earth-bound politics

Last week, as the Texas Board of Education prepared to finalize controversial new textbook standards, board member Cynthia Dunbar was asked to offer the opening prayer.

Here’s what she said:

“Most gracious heavenly Father. We come before you today, and ask that you grant to us the ability not to be anxious for the future, wisdom and understanding for the day, and hearts of gratitude for our past. As we look to our past to guide us, let us reflect on the convictions of those who have gone before us. I believe that nobody can look to the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses. Whether we look to the first charter of Virginia, or the charter of New England or the Charter of Massachusetts Bay, or the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present: a Christian land governed by Christian principles.”

I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it. Freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under the law, and the reservation of powers to the people. I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion. I like also to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country. All this I pray in the name of my lord and savior, Jesus Christ.”

When I came to Georgia 20 years ago, I found the practice of opening almost every governmental meeting with prayer a little startling. I had worked as a journalist in every other section of the country, and had never seen it done so often. Even subcommittee meetings at the state Legislature are often begun with an invitation to pray.

Most of the time, the prayers amount to pleas for wisdom and guidance in decision-making, and only the eager-to-be-offended could find much to criticize. Occasionally, prayer leaders become much more specific and fervent, for example pledging all in attendance to obey the teachings of Jesus Christ in how they vote. That’s more troubling.

You are, after all, speaking to an audience of diverse beliefs, not to a congregation of the same-minded. A citizen should not be compelled to take part in religious activities contrary to his or her beliefs as a price for participating in government. All are supposed to stand on level ground in that setting.

And once in a while, you’ll get somebody who really abuses the privilege and uses the prayer to make explicitly political statements, as Dunbar did last week.

Let’s side aside the political and historical content of Dunbar’s prayer, which is of course highly debatable in its own right. What I find more outrageous is her decision to smuggle that content into the form of a prayer that others in attendance were required to listen to silently, heads bowed, as if in agreement, with no dissent allowed.

She was not using the prayer to talk to God, which ought to be its purpose; she was using it to tell others what God would say to them if He was there.

Personally, I find it highly offensive to watch people place their own political viewpoints into the mouth of God, in effect turning God into their personal sock puppet. Whatever your concept of a Supreme Being, you cheapen it by drafting Him as a megaphone for your own political views, and to do so in that kind of setting.

Government and religion are each very powerful in its own realm, and if allowed to join in mutual purpose they constitute an overpowering force that inevitably, always tries to sweep away all dissenting views. Dunbar speaks fervently about the lessons of the past; the lessons of the past in that regard are distressingly clear, as our Founding Fathers knew from direct and recent experience.

832 comments Add your comment

Outhouse GoKart

May 24th, 2010
1:20 pm

501ST!!

YEA…its my lucky day!

Gale

May 24th, 2010
1:20 pm

I want to ask DawgDad too. Where do you see schools or government promoting atheism? It always seemed quite the opposite to me. I’d just love to see an atheist candidate run for office.

md

May 24th, 2010
1:22 pm

“Your statement was narrow-minded because it was given as an absolute rather than simply one of an infinite number of possibilities — something that you have emphasized quite often in the past.”

You’re right, I try to make it a habit to use the words may, some, etc – and I didn’t. But your post seems very one sided since you only included one party as the reason for no compromise.

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
1:22 pm

Good bread,
Good meat,
Good God,
Let’s eat.

Hey! I like that one.

A bit more high-brow than, “Rub a dub, dub. Please pass the grub.”

PTl, like Carlin’s line in his hysterical skit on religion:

But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He’s all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can’t handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good b__ls__t story. Holy Sh_t!

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
1:22 pm

“This liberal does not have a problem with Christianity, I have a problem with it being shoved into politics”

And speaking as a liberal Christian, I also do not have a problem with Chritianity…but I do have a problem with how some choose to interpret it.

Gale

May 24th, 2010
1:24 pm

DoggoneGA, and “intrepret” is the operative word, isn’t it?

songbird

May 24th, 2010
1:25 pm

Peter – I’m an atheist/Jew. You might want to read the comment from NRB2 before you judge what I said. He wished Bill Maher testicular cancer.

jconservative

May 24th, 2010
1:26 pm

I guess this is everybody looking out for him/herself when you are in a public forum and this type of prayer comes up. I always ignore that prayer; when they are finished, I then say a silent prayer asking for a blessing. But that is me. I try not to sit in judgment.

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
1:26 pm

“DoggoneGA, and “intrepret” is the operative word, isn’t it?”

Absolutely. My biggest peeve is those who can SAY the “Golden Rule” but then act as if it said “Do unto others before they do unto you”

Peadawg

May 24th, 2010
1:27 pm

“liberal Christian”

I didn’t know one such thing existed. Oxymoron much?

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
1:28 pm

Gale, NOW you’ve gone and done it!!!

And this is exactly where the Christian BS hits the road.

If ANY atheist candidate, otherwise perfectly credentialed, with an impeccable past of achievement, service, contribution and excellence EVER ran for high office in America and publicly proclaimed his non-godly beliefs, there would a firestorm like you’ve never seen.

These godly Christians would go absolutely batshiite crazy. Guaranteed.

williebkind

May 24th, 2010
1:28 pm

mel

May 24th, 2010
1:13 pm

So what do we do with the constitution that states you can not abridge the free exercise thereof. You know that is the part right after separation of church and state that so many of you forget to read and understand!

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
1:28 pm

“I didn’t know one such thing existed”

And now you’ve learned something.

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
1:29 pm

Peadawg @ 1:27, make up stuff much?

Peter

May 24th, 2010
1:29 pm

Hey “songbird”….. You wrote it…… did you not ? Bad Karma !

Carolyn Walker

May 24th, 2010
1:30 pm

One does NOT need to believe in the literal truth of every word in the bible in order to be Christian. Most of it is metaphor and poetry designed to open minds and hearts. I find it annoying to listen to the fundamentalist ANTI-religion folks who make assumptions that ALL Christians believe this right wing fundamentalist cr-p, whether about gays, global climate change or the Constitution. Most of us are really quite sane and do NOT believe in public political diatribe disguised as prayer. In fact many of us (maybe most) object vigorously. I also do not like threats or wishes for disease on those with whom we disagree!

Birther's Anonymous

May 24th, 2010
1:30 pm

But your post seems very one sided since you only included one party as the reason for no compromise.

That may be true. Then again, there are only two major parties and if only one, quite openly, does not compromise, I see no reason to fault the both parties at that point.

Peadawg

May 24th, 2010
1:32 pm

“Peadawg @ 1:27, make up stuff much?”

Nope. Just didn’t know it existed. I thought “liberal Christian” was an oxymoron.

williebkind

May 24th, 2010
1:32 pm

If I have the free exercise of religion then I can do it in government, public land or in my home. Progressive liberals are atheist so God means nothing to them. I understand that but their rights do not exceed my individuals rights. You have the constitutional right to be OFFENDED! Political correctness is social behavior that has gone awry.

Gale

May 24th, 2010
1:32 pm

AmVet, I’ve often fantasized about trying to explain to voters why atheism was a non-issue in an election. In the fantasy, as in real elections, common sense people agree and say nothing. The vocal ones are those having their preconceived notions questioned.

Peadawg

May 24th, 2010
1:33 pm

“And now you’ve learned something.”

As much as you complain about Christians, the Bible, prayer, etc., I would have never guessed it.

Outhouse GoKart

May 24th, 2010
1:33 pm

So is Bill Maher your dad or lover…is that what made you so upset?

Normal

May 24th, 2010
1:33 pm

Songbird,
“I’m an atheist/Jew”…Whoa! Talk about bi-polar!!! :)

Actually I have a problem with Atheistism. I just don’t believe all this is random. The odds are too great. There is a Creator, for sure.

But there’s a case to be made as to if He/She cares one whit for the creation. Sorta like when I was a kid, I would make a model ship then take it out and blow it up with my BB gun…

Saul Good

May 24th, 2010
1:33 pm

Carolyn, but you DO believe that one day you’ll get to live forever and ever with others who believe what you do…don’t you? Do you believe in the “christian” (version of) god?

songbird

May 24th, 2010
1:33 pm

Peter – it was a sarcastic comment. Get it.

PTL, Inc.

May 24th, 2010
1:33 pm

“liberal Christian”

JESUS!

Oops! Did I say something wrong.

Outhouse GoKart

May 24th, 2010
1:34 pm

Same here Normal…but we would just crap all over ours.

songbird

May 24th, 2010
1:35 pm

I am bi-polar when it comes to religion. I put atheist first since I was born a Jew. Can’t help that part. what I think today is my choice.

Peter

May 24th, 2010
1:35 pm

Hey Carolyn Walker…….very good post…… everyone has their right ti believe as they wish……You obviously have an open mind.

Gale

May 24th, 2010
1:35 pm

Carolyn, thanks for speaking out for what I believe to be “most” Christians.

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
1:36 pm

Peadawg, yeah riiight. I know you’re smarter than that.

willie, like every other constitutional debate, all I can say is that after 222 years, its a work in progress.

Just curious, do you concur or not with my premise at 1:28?

Outhouse GoKart

May 24th, 2010
1:36 pm

Sounds more like a bunch of random yet sour notes.

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
1:37 pm

“I thought “liberal Christian” was an oxymoron.”

I rest my case in reference to the Golden Rule

Peadawg

May 24th, 2010
1:37 pm

songbird, just curious, what happens when you die? Are you one of the people that thinks you come back as a tree or something? A lot of the atheists I’ve met think that.

PTL, Inc.

May 24th, 2010
1:38 pm

I just don’t believe all this is random. The odds are too great.

Random — God’s way of saying “Why not! I’ll try anything once.”

You might be surprised what “Random” can create, given enough time.

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
1:39 pm

“I am bi-polar when it comes to religion. I put atheist first since I was born a Jew.”

You;’re sing my song, song bird! Note for note, with prefect pitch!

I have very little use personally, though I have considerably experience with two of the three, with the Abrahamic religions.

(For entertainment value, I’m more into Zeus and Athena…)

Peadawg

May 24th, 2010
1:39 pm

Sure, Amvet. I’m sure Christians would be upset if an atheist was elected. Just like Democrats are upset when a Republican is in office and vise-versa.

Gale

May 24th, 2010
1:39 pm

Peadawg, If the atheists you’ve met told you that, they were probably making fun of you.

DannyX

May 24th, 2010
1:40 pm

From the Jefferson Bible page 49. Seems pretty clear to me.

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: For they love to pray standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may have glory of men.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut the door, pray to thy father which is in secret”

This is the intention of our founding fathers. Its time we spell it out with an amendment. NO PUBLIC PRAYER.

Jesus hates it. …”that they be seen of men.” What do you not understand about “in secret?”

How could he spell it out any further?

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
1:40 pm

“As much as you complain about Christians, the Bible, prayer, etc., I would have never guessed it.”

Don’t mistake honest disagreement with complaining.

mel

May 24th, 2010
1:42 pm

wilkie – I am aware of the separation, I was merely trying to show that it is ok to offer a Christian prayer that may offend people – if you read the posts here – but that it would not be ok to offer a Muslim prayer that may offend people.

“Progressive liberals are atheist so God means nothing to them.” – Um….where to begin on that one…athesists don’t believe in God, so, no that by definition would mean he means nothing to them. But to state that all progressive liberals are atheist, shows a real lack of cognative reasoning skills.

md

May 24th, 2010
1:42 pm

“That may be true. Then again, there are only two major parties and if only one, quite openly, does not compromise, I see no reason to fault the both parties at that point.”

I saw 2 parties playing the same game, as both, quite openly, did not compromise. But I see things from the middle, and did not see either group get to where I am.

But that is just me ( and about 1/3 of the country according to polls)

Outhouse GoKart

May 24th, 2010
1:43 pm

All you new age thinkers and young whippersnappers with your new fangled bibles with fancy smancy words and ideas. Im afraid you are gonna be left at the station watching as the “Bus For BeulahLand” speeds away.

Peadawg

May 24th, 2010
1:44 pm

DannyX…bless your heart.

Peter

May 24th, 2010
1:45 pm

Hey Songbird……The Universal mind or Karma……doesn’t recognize sarcastic comment.

Get it ?

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
1:45 pm

Upset?

I spoke of a firestorm, Peadawg.

If you think McCarthy had fun, these people would make what he did look like a Cub Scout filed trip.

And I agree with Gale. Trees??? Musta been one helluva bong-fest…

PTL, Inc.

May 24th, 2010
1:46 pm

But I see things from the middle, and did not see either group get to where I am.

Your middle and my middle must be on different sides of the middle – with you in that 1/6th and me in this 1/6th. We could always wave to each other from a distance.

John K

May 24th, 2010
1:47 pm

Just like clockwork, we’re down to “Liberals hate religion/Christianity/God” and/or Liberals can’t be Christian.

I guess it’s true that some folks are willingly force-fed.

md

May 24th, 2010
1:48 pm

“Most of it is metaphor and poetry designed to open minds and hearts.”

Or is it??

The interesting aspect of all the beliefs is they may all be 100% wrong, a % of right and wrong or 100% right – yet as of today, we have no way of knowing which is which.

Outhouse GoKart

May 24th, 2010
1:49 pm

“guess it’s true that some folks are willingly force-fed.”

Or….are, they…Hmmmmmm!!

songbird

May 24th, 2010
1:50 pm

Peter – please repeat after me…OM……

Gale

May 24th, 2010
1:50 pm

re: proof Little things like carbon dating lead us to doubt the earth is about 6000 years old. Little things lead to the erosion of the absoluteness of scripture.

md

May 24th, 2010
1:51 pm

“Your middle and my middle must be on different sides of the middle – with you in that 1/6th and me in this 1/6th. We could always wave to each other from a distance.”

I’m a floater – depends on the issue as to where I fall within that “middle”. Some issues we may both be in the same 1/6th, some issues I may be the only one on the planet that agrees with me.

Outhouse GoKart

May 24th, 2010
1:51 pm

“Little things lead to the erosion of the absoluteness of scripture.”

And hence erosion of the mind. See Underwater Canyons.

Peter

May 24th, 2010
1:52 pm

Folks Hitler was a conservative……… and Jesus would have been a Liberal.

Gale

May 24th, 2010
1:53 pm

Not only was Jesus a liberal, he was a political radical.

Normal

May 24th, 2010
1:53 pm

If you do come back as something else, I want to come back as a cat in a loving home…then I would finally be master of my castle… :D

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
1:53 pm

“Little things lead to the erosion of the absoluteness of scripture.”

Only if you have been taught to believe in the absoluteness of scripture.

md

May 24th, 2010
1:54 pm

“re: proof Little things like carbon dating lead us to doubt the earth is about 6000 years old.”

“If” there is a creator capable of making all that “is”, I’m sure false carbon dating readings wouldn’t be a problem.

anonymous from across the table

May 24th, 2010
1:54 pm

Ayes to God, Nays to Satan!

Outhouse GoKart

May 24th, 2010
1:54 pm

Jesus was a Capricorn.

stands for decibels

May 24th, 2010
1:54 pm

liberals are atheist so God means nothing to them.

Do you honestly believe that if you repeat this lie often enough it’ll become true?

Peter

May 24th, 2010
1:55 pm

Hey songbird..if there is anything I believe in, is Buddhist and Taoist Philosophy.

If there is a God…..he is in all living things………as all was placed here for a reason, and all is perfect.

Outhouse GoKart

May 24th, 2010
1:55 pm

Right now is the time someone should fire up the PFUNK!!

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
1:56 pm

“Not only was Jesus a liberal, he was a political radical”

No, that’s not correct. If he had been a political radical…and there were PLENTY of those in his day…he would have lead a physical revolution, not a spiritual one. Hence the “Give unto Cesar…” bit. What he taught was how to live the life of a believer when you have NO political or social power. But his teachings can also be a source for good for those who DO have that power.

Normal

May 24th, 2010
1:57 pm

Jesus was a Capricorn.

Give me a break. :lol:

Mick

May 24th, 2010
1:57 pm

How did god come into existence?

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
1:57 pm

PTL, Inc.

May 24th, 2010
1:58 pm

Not only was Jesus a liberal, he was a political radical.

Radical or not, I’d vote for him, as long as he delivered on that promise of free fish and bread for everyone.

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
1:58 pm

Mick @ 1:57, it sounds irreverent as hell but I guess it musta been the Big Bang!

Saul Good

May 24th, 2010
1:58 pm

Mick: Humans created him. :)

md

May 24th, 2010
2:00 pm

“How did god come into existence?”

Made by his god??

Along the lines of what is beyond infinity??

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
2:01 pm

Saul, from one of the greatest LPs ever recorded:

In the beginning Man created God;
and in the image of Man
created he him.

And Man gave unto God a multitude of
names,that he might be Lord of all
the earth when it was suited to Man

And on the seven millionth
day Man rested and did lean
heavily on his God and saw that
it was good.

And Man formed Aqualung of
the dust of the ground, and a
host of others likened unto his kind.

And these lesser men were cast into the
void; And some were burned, and some were
put apart from their kind.

And Man became the God that he had
created and with his miracles did
rule over all the earth.

But as all these things
came to pass, the Spirit that did
cause man to create his God
lived on within all men: even
within Aqualung.

And man saw it not.

But for Christ’s sake he’d
better start looking.

~Ian Anderson 1971

PTL, Inc.

May 24th, 2010
2:02 pm

How did god come into existence?

Another “Random” creation, I suppose. That “Random” is some powerful stuff.

Gerald West

May 24th, 2010
2:02 pm

When a “Christian” prays in public you can be quite sure that he is either ignorant of Scripture or willfully ignoring the clear and direct teachings of Christ.

Christ instructed his followers to pray in private, never in public. He explained why: a person engaging in public prayer is doing so to impress his fellow man, not to communicate with God. God does not listen to or reward such hypocrisy.

Christ provided a model for prayer consisting of a few concise sentences in which the prayer acknowledges his responsibilities, repents of his transgressions, and asks for nothing more than what God is willing to grant (“Our Father in heaven …”).

Christ cautioned against long, repetitious chants and supplications in the manner of heathens.

Have you ever heard a political invocation or convocation that was not a mockery of Christ’s teachings about Christian prayer? I haven’t!

Peadawg

May 24th, 2010
2:02 pm

“Do you honestly believe that if you repeat this lie often enough it’ll become true?”

It makes you wonder with the way y’all are always complaining/whining about all things Christian…like today.

stands for decibels

May 24th, 2010
2:03 pm

Mostly off topic (although I imagine praying might be involved in this endeavor).

Ok, who among us would be willing to try this?

This summer in New Mexico, Felix Baumgartner hopes to make the highest, longest and fastest fall ever.

His attempt will take him to an altitude where the atmosphere ends and space begins — where blood boils at body temperature, and the air temperature could be as low as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

The first step in the attempt will be riding a helium balloon to an altitude of 120,000 feet above sea level — almost 23 miles — higher than anyone has ascended in a balloon before.

Then, wearing a pressurized suit and oxygen tanks, he plans to jump out of his capsule for a five-minute fall back to Earth. Within the first 30 seconds, he expects to be falling faster than the speed of sound, which at that altitude is around 690 miles per hour. Crossing that barrier would mark a new test of the limits of the human body.

“This is what we want to find out: What happens to the human body when it breaks the speed of sound,” Baumgartner said. “That’s a big question mark.”

DannyX

May 24th, 2010
2:03 pm

Jesus would be a conservative because he loves the $664 billion defense budget.

Jesus would be a conservative because when he returns he’ll make a cool million for each rich person he brings back to life.

Jesus would be a conservative because he just loved “Shock and Awe.”

Jesus would be a conservative because he hates those Christian immigrants from the south.

Jesus would be a conservative because he loves the rich, hates the poor.

Jesus would be a conservative because he’s against socialized health care.

Jesus would be a conservative because he says “Drill, baby, drill.”

Saul Good

May 24th, 2010
2:03 pm

AmVet… great LP… great 1st line…so true.

Normal

May 24th, 2010
2:05 pm

Along the lines of what is beyond infinity??

Buzz Lightyear?

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
2:05 pm

“Christ instructed his followers to pray in private, never in public”

We’ve actually been hashing this one out already…here’s the unanswered question: if Jesus “rule” against praying in public was so hard and fast, why did HE pray in public?

PTL, Inc.

May 24th, 2010
2:07 pm

Enter your comments here

Mick

May 24th, 2010
2:07 pm

The big bang theory – so out of nothing came something?

md

May 24th, 2010
2:07 pm

“This is what we want to find out: What happens to the human body when it breaks the speed of sound,” Baumgartner said. “That’s a big question mark.”

May be what HE wants to find out, but I’m content with guessing.

Peadawg

May 24th, 2010
2:08 pm

“big bang theory”

Hilarious t.v. show.

stands for decibels

May 24th, 2010
2:08 pm

as all these things
came to pass, the Spirit that did
cause man to create his God
lived on within all men: even
within Aqualung.

And man saw it not.

True.

You’d think that, nearly forty (yikes!) years on since that lp’s release, we’d have figured at least that much out.

(He’s not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays.)

Tally Hoe

May 24th, 2010
2:09 pm

Obama’s economy? Comments 330

Braveheart? Comments 239

North Korea threatens war? Comments 162

Rand Paul? Comments 273

Georgia poor stewart? Comments 32

Pelosi’s DADT? Comments 225

BP finally admits? Comments 173

Weekends ommitted.

The abuse of heavenly prayer? Comments 581

Like moths to Jay’s flame.

SUCKAS!

DannyX

May 24th, 2010
2:09 pm

That’s not the hard and fast answer. That was your answer. Jesus gave direct orders and spelled out the reasons.

NO public prayer. In private means in private.

md

May 24th, 2010
2:10 pm

“if Jesus “rule” against praying in public was so hard and fast, why did HE pray in public?”

And how do we “know” that he did?? Could have been a misprint…….or one of those metaphors………or a misrepresentation…….or true.

PTL, Inc.

May 24th, 2010
2:10 pm

And as he plummets toward earth at the speed of sound, he mutters with his last breath, “God, you could have granted me that wisdom request a little bit earlier.”

Normal

May 24th, 2010
2:11 pm

(He’s not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays.)

Got yer battery pac, did ya?

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
2:11 pm

“Jesus gave direct orders and spelled out the reasons.”

And yet…the context of the “rule” is not prayer, but hypocrisy.

md

May 24th, 2010
2:14 pm

In reality, It is pretty simple logic:

Logic dictates that it is all quite illogical.

FrankLeeDarling

May 24th, 2010
2:14 pm

funny I saw a billboard on I-75 that read, “God is not a socialist”.I just had to laugh even my conservative libertarian friend was betting he most likely WOULD be a socialist,talk about politicizing
religion,the whole point of the billboard seemed to be a anti Obama campaign

AmVet

May 24th, 2010
2:18 pm

Regarding the creation of god via the Big Bang Theory, was one of the parties involved the Big Bopper?

Oh baby! You know what I like!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TcC_ni0ojo

(Tally’s ho, if this blogging thing don’t work our for ya, you might try being a score keeper for junior high softball games…)

DannyX

May 24th, 2010
2:18 pm

“And yet…the context of the “rule” is not prayer, but hypocrisy.”

Its not just the hypocrisy. Its about the relationship one has with God. Prayer is not about others, its about self. That’s also why we are told to “pray in secret.” “Secret” is a very strong word. It can’t have any other meaning.

md

May 24th, 2010
2:18 pm

“funny I saw a billboard on I-75 that read, “God is not a socialist”.I just had to laugh even my conservative libertarian friend was betting he most likely WOULD be a socialist”

I doubt too many would argue with his form of socialism – he didn’t take from one to give to another – he just made more.

stands for decibels

May 24th, 2010
2:19 pm

May be what HE wants to find out, but I’m content with guessing.

yeah, I’d be fine and dandy with not knowing for sure, either.

DoggoneGA

May 24th, 2010
2:21 pm

“Prayer is not about others, its about self. ”

Then why did Jesus pray in public?

Mick

May 24th, 2010
2:22 pm

md
**Logic dictates that it is all quite illogical**

That is the conundrum, isn’t it?