How did this forum serve the large percentage of Americans who do not believe in God or who are agnostics?
Hillary filled her allotted time with what was a rather incoherent almost seamless "me...me...me" monologue about herself and her "Jesus moments". Somehow she doesn't seem to be the turn-the-other-cheek type to me. Every opportunity she gets, she tries to scratch Obama's scabs.
Obama fared slightly better, which wasn't too difficult, following Hillary's lead.
Right from the getgo though, his CNN interlocutors put him on the defensive about his gaffe in San Francisco. And of course, since they were there to talk about religion, he had to answer yet again, that question about his early education... you know the "Madrassa" one. Didn't you know that Obama went to Catholic school in Indonesia? But the Muslims he saw while he was living there, not that he was mixing with them personally of course, but you know they made him realize that they aren't all terrorists after all by golly. Some of the women were actually out walking in the street, even holding jobs!!
What did the voters learn about Hillary and Barack from this forum? That they can both give impressive lipservice to their faith and spirituality if it turns out to be politically expedient? It almost appeared as if they were being called to testify before a modern day inquisition. What if Hillary and Obama had just said outright that he or she didn't believe in God? Never had and never would? Would voters accept that as a viable prerogative?
One's spirituality or belief system is not skin deep, and it's a testament to the superficiality of our political system that we have to put some spin on that last untouched area that really should be left between each person and their conscience, or if he or she chooses to view it as such, his or her maker.
"Religion and Politics do not mix," a small piece of advice from someone who grew up in Jerusalem and who has observed the politics of religion and fear.
Jamal Dajani produces the Mosaic Intelligence Report at Link TV
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