Well, we had the last presidential debate last night. I was a little more discouraged about either candidates willingness to give specific answers to many of the questions. It reminds me that I agree with Jim Wallis who says that "the right gets it wrong and the left just doesn't get it".
One topic that came up that I think needs to be talked more about is the topic of abortion and life. Unfortunately we have heard the same things from both sides that we have already heard before. I am pro-life, in all facets, yet I believe that both the right and the left have used this subject as a political football to score points and attack the other side. When are we going to find common ground to sit and talk about what it means for this country to respect life in all situations? When are we going to see that pro-life also means anti-war, pro social justice, caring for the poor, equality among classes and races? When are we going to stop the debate strictly on ideological grounds and begin taking a look at what actually drives young women to have abortions? When are we going to have leadership that takes a fresh look at this issue?
I have to say that Sen. Obama showed some flashes of leaning toward a real look at this issue, but in the end he fell back to the mainstream Dem. platform; for political purposes I am sure. John McCain, a professed anti-abortionist, used language that attacked and separated rather than begin a real national conversation.
So, what do you think? Were any of you encouraged about the candidates treatment of this issue? What do you think of this issue? What should our response be as Christians? How can we the church set asied the old and tired political conversation around the idea of abortion and truly live out a pro-life stance in this world?Labels: abortion, presidential politics, pro-life |
