Comments on: Obama and the Bitter, Clingy Religious Folk http://blog.ancient-future.net/2008/04/12/obama-and-the-bitter-clingy-religious-folk/ The Ancient and Future Catholic Blog Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:15:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: citizenwells http://blog.ancient-future.net/2008/04/12/obama-and-the-bitter-clingy-religious-folk/#comment-3557 citizenwells Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:14:19 +0000 http://perchristumblog.wordpress.com/?p=1251#comment-3557 Please check out Obama. He is a superb speaker. So was Adolf Hitler. I promise you Obama is hiding something, but not for long. Please do the research. Please check out Obama.
He is a superb speaker. So was Adolf Hitler.
I promise you Obama is hiding something, but not for long.
Please do the research.

]]> By: David Bennett http://blog.ancient-future.net/2008/04/12/obama-and-the-bitter-clingy-religious-folk/#comment-3556 David Bennett Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:11:10 +0000 http://perchristumblog.wordpress.com/?p=1251#comment-3556 I think many in small towns are suffering from recent economic developments, closing of factories, high fuel prices, high food prices, just like everyone else (and perhaps even more, since often one or two factories keep a rural area economically secure). I think that many of us small-towners are looking for some type of change because we feel that elites are in charge that are not looking out for the interests of the "common man." However frustrated I am with our current leadership, and the direction of our country, I am very, very hesitant to put my trust in a man whose voting record is the most liberal in the senate. I also find it very condescending to be talked to like this. We small-towners may like our guns and religion, and may be frustrated economically, but our towns are still pretty nice, and despite all the guns, crime is low and prices are pretty reasonable compared to many big cities. At seminary I often encountered folks who couldn't wait to go into parishes in small towns and enlighten all the ignorant masses. I took the opposite view: maybe the small-town folks could teach the elitists a thing or two about life. I think many in small towns are suffering from recent economic developments, closing of factories, high fuel prices, high food prices, just like everyone else (and perhaps even more, since often one or two factories keep a rural area economically secure). I think that many of us small-towners are looking for some type of change because we feel that elites are in charge that are not looking out for the interests of the “common man.” However frustrated I am with our current leadership, and the direction of our country, I am very, very hesitant to put my trust in a man whose voting record is the most liberal in the senate.

I also find it very condescending to be talked to like this. We small-towners may like our guns and religion, and may be frustrated economically, but our towns are still pretty nice, and despite all the guns, crime is low and prices are pretty reasonable compared to many big cities. At seminary I often encountered folks who couldn’t wait to go into parishes in small towns and enlighten all the ignorant masses. I took the opposite view: maybe the small-town folks could teach the elitists a thing or two about life.

]]> By: Katherine http://blog.ancient-future.net/2008/04/12/obama-and-the-bitter-clingy-religious-folk/#comment-3554 Katherine Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:02:43 +0000 http://perchristumblog.wordpress.com/?p=1251#comment-3554 I'm neither an attorney nor a law student. I am a retired lady Steelworker who worked in Pennsylvania. Like Pope Benedict, Senator Obama has been proclaiming a message of hope ("hope" being the theme selected both by the Pope for his visit this week and Senator Obama for his campaign). But implicit in the message of both of these men of bringing hope is the suggestion that hope is not sufficiently present already. Pope John Paul II in his address to the UN made reference to the bitterness which can hold back social advancement. The Lord tells us "Without hope, people perish." We cannot truly bring hope unless we first recognize that hope is lacking to at least some degree and we need to recognize the underlying causes of hopelessness and bitterness. Further, as Christians, we simply cannot dismiss those with hopelessness and bitterness as victims of their own actions. We have to recognize that in our fallen world, there are those who are robbed of hope and left in bitterness. I know the people of the small industrial towns of Pennsylvania quite well. Plants have closed or moved offshore, homes are worthless, and marriages are stressed. Some seek solace in good things -- faith, family, the beauty of God's nature. Some seek solace in bad things -- drinking, anger, and social isolation. The Pope and Senator Obama have merit in standing for hope without Pollyannaism. I’m neither an attorney nor a law student. I am a retired lady Steelworker who worked in Pennsylvania. Like Pope Benedict, Senator Obama has been proclaiming a message of hope (”hope” being the theme selected both by the Pope for his visit this week and Senator Obama for his campaign). But implicit in the message of both of these men of bringing hope is the suggestion that hope is not sufficiently present already. Pope John Paul II in his address to the UN made reference to the bitterness which can hold back social advancement. The Lord tells us “Without hope, people perish.” We cannot truly bring hope unless we first recognize that hope is lacking to at least some degree and we need to recognize the underlying causes of hopelessness and bitterness. Further, as Christians, we simply cannot dismiss those with hopelessness and bitterness as victims of their own actions. We have to recognize that in our fallen world, there are those who are robbed of hope and left in bitterness.

I know the people of the small industrial towns of Pennsylvania quite well. Plants have closed or moved offshore, homes are worthless, and marriages are stressed. Some seek solace in good things — faith, family, the beauty of God’s nature. Some seek solace in bad things — drinking, anger, and social isolation.

The Pope and Senator Obama have merit in standing for hope without Pollyannaism.

]]> By: Carlos Navarro http://blog.ancient-future.net/2008/04/12/obama-and-the-bitter-clingy-religious-folk/#comment-3538 Carlos Navarro Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:04:04 +0000 http://perchristumblog.wordpress.com/?p=1251#comment-3538 Yes, Barak Obama should have been more sensitive. His comment about those “bitter” people in Western Pennsylvania who had lost their jobs will come back to haunt him. Nonetheless, what he said was true. It was their bloated union benefits and their continual demand for even more benefits that drove their employers to take their business elsewhere, first to right-to-work Southern States and later to China and other foreign countries. NAFTA and illegal immigrants had nothing to do with it. If those unemployed folks want to get back on their feet or, at least, avoid passing their misery on to their children, they need to stop scapegoating and face the truth. They might ponder the words of the 1950's comic strip sage, Pogo, who said: "We have met the enemy, and they are us." Yes, Barak Obama should have been more sensitive. His comment about those “bitter” people in Western Pennsylvania who had lost their jobs will come back to haunt him. Nonetheless, what he said was true. It was their bloated union benefits and their continual demand for even more benefits that drove their employers to take their business elsewhere, first to right-to-work Southern States and later to China and other foreign countries. NAFTA and illegal immigrants had nothing to do with it. If those unemployed folks want to get back on their feet or, at least, avoid passing their misery on to their children, they need to stop scapegoating and face the truth. They might ponder the words of the 1950’s comic strip sage, Pogo, who said: “We have met the enemy, and they are us.”

]]> By: Irenaeus http://blog.ancient-future.net/2008/04/12/obama-and-the-bitter-clingy-religious-folk/#comment-3537 Irenaeus Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:49:53 +0000 http://perchristumblog.wordpress.com/?p=1251#comment-3537 Nice Obama-B16 contrast. I didn't even think about it. Being a gun enthusiast from the rural parts of this fair land, maybe I'll pistol-whip Obama and pray for forgiveness afterwards. (Just kidding Mr. NSA information-gathering program. I'm something of a pacifist at heart.) Nice Obama-B16 contrast. I didn’t even think about it. Being a gun enthusiast from the rural parts of this fair land, maybe I’ll pistol-whip Obama and pray for forgiveness afterwards. (Just kidding Mr. NSA information-gathering program. I’m something of a pacifist at heart.)

]]> By: Fr. J. http://blog.ancient-future.net/2008/04/12/obama-and-the-bitter-clingy-religious-folk/#comment-3535 Fr. J. Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:12:25 +0000 http://perchristumblog.wordpress.com/?p=1251#comment-3535 Great post, johnathon, great post! Great post, johnathon, great post!

]]> By: Rob http://blog.ancient-future.net/2008/04/12/obama-and-the-bitter-clingy-religious-folk/#comment-3534 Rob Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:01:59 +0000 http://perchristumblog.wordpress.com/?p=1251#comment-3534 Can't everyone see that this man hates us? If you are not one of his elite circle of friends, then you are pathetic, ignorant and probably a racist. Can’t everyone see that this man hates us? If you are not one of his elite circle of friends, then you are pathetic, ignorant and probably a racist.

]]> By: citizenwells http://blog.ancient-future.net/2008/04/12/obama-and-the-bitter-clingy-religious-folk/#comment-3533 citizenwells Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:52:55 +0000 http://perchristumblog.wordpress.com/?p=1251#comment-3533 I see that same Obama arrogance in his supporters. Several have responded to my comments saying they are an attorney or law student. They picked the wrong person to pick on. I see that same Obama arrogance in his supporters. Several have responded to
my comments saying they are an attorney or law student. They picked the wrong
person to pick on.

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