President Obama spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, with a plea for civility in our political discourse. Noting how Americans come together in times of danger or tragedy, he spoke specifically about the response to the recent earthquake in Haiti. Then he went on to note that such a spirit seems lacking when dealing with other long-term issues:
At times, it seems like we’re unable to listen to one another; to have at once a serious and civil debate. And this erosion of civility in the public square sows division and distrust among our citizens. It poisons the well of public opinion. It leaves each side little room to negotiate with the other. It makes politics an all-or-nothing sport, where one side is either always right or always wrong when, in reality, neither side has a monopoly on truth. And then we lose sight of the children without food and the men without shelter and the families without health care. Empowered by faith, consistently, prayerfully, we need to find our way back to civility.
This year’s gathering had become more controversial than usual because of allegations that some members of the sponsoring organization, a loosely affiliated network of Christian leaders known as The Fellowship (or The Family), had connections to Ugandan lawmakers advocating imprisonment and execution of homosexuals. Other members of The Fellowship have condemned the legislation, and those who advocated it were disinvited from the prayer breakfast.
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Note: I will return, soon, I hope, with a text of the strange group called The Fellowship.
so that’s the story! interesting indeed.
By: pasareaphoenixremixed on 5 February 2010
at 2:14 pm
Well…was as usual a prayer event full of speeches. Obama mentioned a few times “civility” but never “Jesus”. But is perfect for the New (Christless) Christianity…
I think the President Kennedy’s quote is worthy to be complete: ”Civility is not a sign of weakness, but sincerity is always subject to proof”. “Sincerity” another missing word;otherwise more than interesting, eloquent-confusing…
By: artzar on 5 February 2010
at 8:24 pm
Obama is obviously not an Evangelical Christian. So, he is not used with the way some Evangelicals use the name of Jesus as a sort of matra, or anesthetic, to fool the rational discernment of the unsuspecting naive.
By: DanutM on 5 February 2010
at 11:04 pm
Domnul meu,
Isus sigur nu e o mantra; e singurul nume in care sunt mantuti cei ce cred, fie ei evanghelici, catolici, ortodocsi, etc.
induceti o perspectiva subiectiva prin legarea de termenul evanghelic; era vorba de un meeting de rugaciune crestin(si atat), nu?
atlfel, asa sunt eu mai naiv – un crestin care se roaga la Dumnezeu in Numele lui Isus.
By: artzar on 6 February 2010
at 12:31 am
Isus nu e o mantra, ci o persoana divino-umana, dar unii dintre noi folosesc numele lui ca pe o mantra cu care incearca sa acopere mieros lipsa de substanta spirituala.
Asteptarea legata de mentionarea la tot pasul a numelui lui Isus este o caracteristica acestui tip de oameni.
In ce priveste ultima asertiune, dincolo de ironia ei gratuita, uitati ca toti crestinii (in sensul biblic, nu cel confesional sau cultural al termenului) se roaga in numele lui Isus.
By: DanutM on 6 February 2010
at 12:46 am
iertata-mi sa fie ironia; s-a vrut o personalizare la”to fool the rational discernment of the unsuspecting naive”; mie mi se pare pagubos sa mergem “in spiritul lui Christos” dar fara Christos. cat despre mentionari gratuite ale numelui Isus in dorinta de spiritualiza evenimente, sunt de acord ca se patineaza constant aiurea. pana la urma vorbim despre un discurs si nu o rugaciune propriu-zisa.
By: artzar on 6 February 2010
at 4:05 am
Absolut de acord, de data asta.
By: DanutM on 6 February 2010
at 4:08 am
do you know of any romanian attending the breakfast?
By: pasareaphoenixremixed on 6 February 2010
at 12:22 pm
Nu stiu; nu ma prea intereseaza evenimentul. Am fost invitat odata, pe vremea lui Bush jr. si am refuzat. Prefer sa stau deoparte de astfel de lucruri. Eu cel putin. Dar nu spun ca e rau ca cineva sa se duca.
By: DanutM on 6 February 2010
at 12:52 pm