Sarah Palin, You Betcha...

I just finished watching the English Channel 4 documentary on Sarah Palin.

I sort of felt sorry for Sarah. I'm sure if she saw the documentary she would cringe, say that it was biased, untrue, out to get her etc etc. But deep deep down, being honest with herself, she would see some truth. Yet I couldn't help thinking that when we deny that we are less than perfect, we deny our humanity. Maybe its an American political thing to never admit fault, certainly with character. (Except obviously when sexual scandels arise which seem often!)

I couldn't help thinking that the way she treated people stemmed from her Christian culture of her most formative years which she was part of Pentecostal. Dualistic in nature: you are either in our out. Boundaries are very well defined. If you are not with us, on the same page on even the smallest detail you are not with us. People agree, and if they don't they stay quiet or leave.

Certainly it works in Church culture some of the largest denominations and Churches are built on dualism. But bringing it into politics just doesn't work as the documentary shows. It just ends of up causing broken relationships, enemys and distrust. Exactly the opposite to what the Gospels were about.

 

 

Billy Graham; Oh just let him be...

It looks like Franklin Graham got his Dad up and motivated to 'do all I can do' to help out the Romney Campaign according to Christianity Today.

Two things made me feel disappointed about this ::

1.  After reading Billy Grahams autobiography I came away with the impression that he was neutral when it came to both Democratic and Republican parties. This stance has served the Christianity well.
2. It would appear that Franklin, Billy Grahams son who has often sided with the Republican party, wheeled out his aged, parkinson afflicted father and made the statement.

Its interesting the wikipedia entry on Franklin

'In October 2012, Billy Graham publicly endorsed the Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney.^[26] Shortly after, references to Mormonism as a cult were removed from Graham's website.^[27][28] Observers have questioned whether the support of Republican and religious right politics on issues such assame-sex marriage coming from Graham—who no longer speaks in public or to reporters—in fact reflects the views of his son, Franklin, head of the BGEA. Franklin has denied this, and says that he will continue to act as his father's spokesperson rather than allowing press conferences.^[29]'

I just wish Franklin would stop using his father name and goodwill. Its just such a shame. Then again the priests sons in the Old Testement were always shaming their fathers...