On Colin Powell

I was pleasantly surprised to hear Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama Sunday on Meet the Press. He fervently delivered his well thought out reasons behind his endorsements. He answered the questions that will definitely arise in the wake of his choice such as if this is nothing more than an Africa American endorsing another African American, which was quite insulting by the way. Just as insulting to think that every woman would support Sarah Palin simply because she is a woman. Colin Powell also answered the question of how he feels in relation to the differences in opinion on key issues such as a timeline for a withdrawal. But the part of his endorsement which surprised me the most was when he eloquently voiced his disapproval of the negative direction the McCain campaign has taken. He distanced McCain from some of the negative tactics, but his point was not only well taken, and should have been made a long time ago. But as the saying goes, better late then never.

Powell spoke passionately against the insinuations by some Republicans that Obama is a Muslim.

"Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian," he said. "But the really right answer is what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, 'He's a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists.' This is not the way we should be doing it in America."

Powell went on to paint the illustration of a young U.S. soldier who sacrificed his life fighting in Iraq:

I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards--Purple Heart, Bronze Star--showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life. Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way. And John McCain is as nondiscriminatory as anyone I know. But I'm troubled about the fact that, within the party, we have these kinds of expressions

Unfortunately, these have been the tactics of the conservative right for some time now.

Sen. Barack Obama proclaimed before a national meeting of the United Church of Christ, that some right-wing evangelical leaders have exploited and politicized religious beliefs in an effort to sow division. He then went on to say,

Somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart. Faith got hijacked, partly because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, all too eager to exploit what divides us.....

At every opportunity, they've told evangelical Christians that Democrats disrespect their values and dislike their church, while suggesting to the rest of the country that religious Americans care only about issues like abortion and gay marriage, school prayer and intelligent design....

Senator Obama hit the nail right on the head. The Christian right will tell you that the battle is between Godly conservatives and Ungodly liberals. That couldn't be further from the truth. The Republican Party has transformed what used to be a common thread uniting just about all Americans, into an exclusive department of the GOP. An area that they have sole jurisdiction over. Political pundits will have us believe that Americans fall into two categories. One being the good, Christian, Christ loving, patriotic, red blooded Americans who voted for Bush, loves God, and wants nothing but the best for this country. The other being, evil, Christ rejecting, unpatriotic, blue state, animals with no standards, principles, or morality as a whole, side with the terrorists, and do not want the overall success of America. This is the reason they continue in their attempts insisting that Senator Obama is a Muslim, because this tactic worked so well in the past.

I do not need to repeat the story of how republicans such as Ronald Reagan, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Ralph Reed, or Karl Rove and George W. Bush mobilized the army of Christian foot soldiers. They were successful in their attempts contort the teachings of Jesus from love and compassion to greed, corruption, intolerance, and a holier-than-thou philosophy that offends me as a Christian.

The election in November 2004 was not, although that's the way the republicans spun it, between one party with moral values and the other without it. It wasn't a good versus evil battle. Nor was it a fight to preserve Christian values in this country, and to stop the crumbling of our society as we know it into the destined future of revelations. It was simply a battle between two parties, both of which were driven by moral values, but only one of which spoke about them. Why, you ask, were the Democrats so reluctant to talk about their faith? Why were they so afraid to speak about God, morals, or their belief in Jesus Christ? That my friends, is the million dollar question, and it may have cost them the election.

Senator Obama illustrates the situation as,

Evangelical Christians are the heart and soul of the Republican Party's grass roots base. A core following continually mobilized by a network of media outlets that technology has only amplified...Democrats meanwhile are scrambling to get religion. Even as a core segment of our constituency remain stubborn; secular in its orientation. And fears, rightly no doubt, that the agenda of an assertively Christian nation may not make room for them or their life choices.

It's almost as if Democrats are afraid that if they admit to being a Christian, they are going to be thrown to the lions, and persecuted for their beliefs. Ok, maybe a little dramatic, but they do act as if they will be wrongly associated with certain political stances due to their belief in God. They have allowed the Republican Party to completely brainwash them. Smother them in a blanket of fear. Senator Obama has broken away from this as he has repeatedly expressed his devotion, love, passion, and commitment to his faith, and yet, the Republican machine still attempts to convince the entire nation that he is a Muslim. Which brings me back to Colin Powell's point, if he was Muslim, what would that mean? Would that mean that his policies were no longer legitimate? Would it make his plan for improving education through increased funding, investing in early education, paying teachers higher salaries and in turn demanding a higher standard no longer valid? Or would it make his plan to actually bring back diplomacy to our foreign policy null and void? Would it destroy his plan to bring about universal health care? Would it obliterate the tax breaks he plans to give to 95% of working families once he is in office?

Republicans put the stamp of Christianity on their politics, and it sounds nice, even if it is far from the biblical teachings of Jesus Christ.

There is nothing Christian about consistently and unswervingly lying to the American people time and time again, about something as important as going to war.

There is nothing Christian about invading and ultimately destroying an entire country that neither threatened nor attacked us. Or invading a country for the reason of revenge, revolt, the desire to exploit, dominate, rob, or force conversion or compliance at gun point.

There is nothing Christian about torturing prisoners and/or conquered people of war.

Accepting a policy that prisoners are no longer guaranteed any form of protection, resulting in a re-interpretation of the Geneva Conventions.

There is nothing Christian about murdering innocent civilians by the thousands.

There is nothing Christian about a war that doesn't bring about peace. Especially if the aftermath of the war brings about a situation much worse than if the war would not have occurred in the first place.

There is nothing Christian about denying the 45 to 50 million American people who don't have health insurance.

There is nothing Christian about refusing to protect and preserve God's creation by linking with other nations to do something about global warming , one if not the greatest environmental danger attempting to destroy the very formation of God's construction.

There is nothing Christian about allowing 35 to 40 million Americans who continue to live in poverty .

There is nothing Christian about capital punishment. Murdering someone who you feel does not deserve to live and making it a law, is not in accordance with the bible.

There is nothing Christian about allowing the one out of every six children in this country to go to bed hungry.

I applaud Colin Powell for having the courage and commitment to be able to cross party lines and endorse the person who he feels will be better suited to lead this country. I tip my hat to Collin Powell for having the bravery to publicly denounce the dirty politics that his party has adopted (although this is not the first time) in an effort to instill fear in the hearts and minds of the American people as a tactic to winning the election.

Comments

[ourays]

Hi Etan You may not remember me but I went to elementary school with you( Monte Cassino) . My brother had terrible heart problems and could never go out to recess. You used to stay in at recess with my brother. I think that was so amazing of you. We heard about your heart surgery. You are such a strong person. My brother has been treated at the Mayo Clinic all his life. I just wanted to thank you for helping my brother feel normal!!! Thanks!!!!!

[Daune]

Rock on, Etan! You always were my favorite Orange man. Nice use of sources.

[jagoneely]

This was very insightful, and well written. I printed out a copy for my mother-in-law, as I couldn't articulate my thoughts as well as you did here. Especially the Christianity observations. I've been saying that for years, and the nastyness of many high-profile religious leaders has turned me completely away from religion. I wonder how many others have walked away from God because of those who claim to know him, and because they have made him a Republican.

[saami]

Thank you for reminding us of how un-Christian the McCain/Palin beliefs are. Perhaps they should re-read the Bible to see what Jesus said about Peacemakers and those who help the poor and those in prisons. Beautifully written.

[dynagirl7371]

I have to admit, I let the bacon burn on Sunday morning while I waited for Colin Powell to finish the reasons for his endorsement. When he said (and I paraphrase here) "Who cares if he's Muslim"?, the hairs on my arms stood up. Thank you, everything holy, for being truthful about that. Isn't that one of the things our establishing politicians dictated our country be founded on? Being free to choose you path of faith?

I'm not a Christian; not because I don't want to be, but because I can't surrender that Jesus died for MY sins. I cannot blindly believe that there has been no other righteous prophet (or son of God, call them what you will). According to the Christian faith, I disqualify myself. I can't entirely believe that there is no other spiritual path that is righteous. But I don't think I disqualify myself with God, Alah or the creator.

I grew up in a family where my father is Muslim and my mother Christian. I learned as a very young child that their faiths seemed divided only by the differences of ceremonies and the celebration of Christmas. Both of my parents are respectful. Both of my parents are reverent; they both love their families. Neither are terrorists. Islam and Christianity are very different; the people are not.

I liked your post. You haven't forgotten what it means to be an American. Thank you for speaking out.

[recless]

I became an atheist about the time that Reagan and the right-wing took over the term "Christian" for themselves. I was raised Christian. It has been a surreal trip, watching the religion I was raised in raped and pilliaged for the power it could give what has become the neo-con elite. I may not believe in God, but I am well aware that their vision was never in alignment with what the Bible teaches of Christ. The question I have now is the same as I had then. What took Christians so long to catch on to the fact that they were being used and screwed over?

[jmpurser]

I would praise Mr. Powell for his ethics, intelligence, and decency that he has demonstrated in his endorsement of Obama. But the evidence that he actually has these qualities now raises the question of where they were for the rest of his career.

Where were they whenPowell, who wouldn't have had a career without affirmative action, joined the political party who attacked affirmative action as part of their policy of open racism to win the south?

When this man, who saw first hand and personally benefited from the Army's policy of inclusion for blacks, was faced with the challenge of gays in the military did he pass on the gift he was given? No, he became part of the "don't ask, don't tell" team.

And finally, when it became clear that Bush was lying about the "threat" from Iraq where was Powell's ethics, intelligence, and most importantly decency, when he carried those lies to the UN? He had to know he was betraying the troops and his nation in service to a political party. On that day, where was Powell's humanity?

[wayoutleft]

the powell endorsement is really a lagging indicator that barack obama has crossed to the right wing, pro-war foreign policy camp- much like the domestic drilling switch was a lagging indicator of his shift to the right domestically.
now, for the right, and for obama, the powell that lied the united states into an ongoing five-year imperialist war no longer exists. abu gharib no longer matters. middle east imperialism will continue on a totally bipartisan basis with total support for domestic surveillance and proxy torture overseas. it's basically redundant to drag in christianity. it already has been responsible for exploitative war for centuries. copping to christianity now can only re-emphasize moral acceptance of this agenda. since the press can't adopt the new empty christianity required; it's tack has become that the wars in africa and the mid-east no longer exist.

[Hipployta]

Excellent post. Both of them point out that religion is a personal choice and not being Christian shouldn't demonize someone or affect their character. Though I remain disappointed in Mr. Powell for waiting until after the 2004 election to leave the party I am pleased with is endorsement. I would have loved if he had point out that Mr. McCain does NOT support the military but I suppose that would have been too much to ask.

Siobhan

[orianna]

Nicely spoken. Regarding the ability of the Rove politicians to win over masses of people who are not served by the GOP agenda, we need to see what they do gain from such a poor party choice. This is their need for religious beliefs to be expressed. So why not create an religious/ethics advising board to the president, who the people get to elect? Seriously! This ethics team of ministers and priests and rabbis could help set agendas for issues of social justice, etc.... but, keep the religion separate from government in other than a wise muse forum... people get what they want and the government isn't crippled by God fearing mob mentality.

[JacqueItch]

Good post.
I like what you say about the attempt to undermine political policy by using faith as divisive tool.
You are in IMO accurate about this.
But I still do not believe that Colin Powell ought to be given an exoneration for his hand in the militarism of the US in the Mideast.
Does it not seem the honest and honorable thing to have done ----after he realized how much the info was cooked----to publicly denounce what had happened? to have argued that our leaders had mislead us, including himself? to have created an accountability for the wrongdoing and demanded an immediate cessation of Mideast military operations?

He did not do these things.
He expressed his concerns, alluded to dishonest plans, made reference to mishandling of data -----but did not fully go on the soapbox and spill his guts to indict everyone connected with this most criminal of activities.
I don't think Powell deserves to be let off the hook on this.
Maybe I am wrong about this, and I should more carefully review what he said and did, but my memory of Powell is that he was a reluctant collaborator, a collaborator nonetheless.

[mdowning]

well stated, sir. i was relieved to finally hear someone of stature say "so what if he were muslim?" it amazes me that there is a widespread acceptance of this bigotry in what is considered a first world, developed country, and i believe it's a sad commentary about the true state of the nation.

i think that you contributing your voice to the discussion is important and i hope others follow suit. and i hope colin powell continues to raise the topic, as he clearly remains a man of honor and conscience.

[customgreen]

Watching Colin Powell talk about his reasons to vote for Obama was like reading my own thoughts. Who hasn't said in their own mind....So what if he were a Muslim? I wish that we could extract religion from politics, but we cannot. Colin Powell has the same type of gift that Obama has an so few others. They can explain their ideas in a forceful way without being forceful. They have superior skills of comunication that we so desperately need in these troubling times. His remarks regarding the picture he saw was something I had not heard about. I looked up the picture and it was truely powerful. Christian or not Christian, what a bad frame of reference. Thought, examination, questions, varied opinions...That's what I want my President to do all the time. No more shooting from the hip, no more inuendo of holier than thou, no more my way or the highway.

[nivek]

My apologies for misspelling your name sir.

[nivek]

Thank You Eton, for pointing out again that religion is being used as cover and wedge by the Bush administration. The list of contradictions you sight make it plain. Republican propaganda has been effective at reaching inside America's Christian community. Congregations are being influenced to vote and advance a conservative agenda that is anything but conservative. Maybe fewer, (or at least quieter) professions of faith made by Democratic voters can be partially attributed as an aversion to mixing the institutions in practice. Case in point, the Rev. Huckabee. I believe this is perhaps the most lasting, if not destructive thing to come from these Bush years.The attitudes are hardening among a growing number of people to the point where discussion is avoided and consensus is impossible.

[seriously29]

Good job Etan. I am an alum of Booker T. Washington high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma and my son just graduated in may 2008 in which he was MVP of BTW's basketball team. My son met Eton at an event held in the Field House at school and was highly impressed with Etan.

Again, great job and wish you the best. HORNET PRIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cheeselesspizza]

Etan- Brilliantly written essay. I'll have you on my fantasy basketball or fantasy politics team any day.