Of course, the “evil people” that McCain “looked in the eye” were human beings that he was just previously trying to bomb.

little gal,

There is also the life experience of understanding that there exists evil in this world that can’t be negotiated with, and can only be killed. Someone who has looked that evil in the eye is much more prepared to lead our military than “community organizer”.

You mustn’t know too many people who work on the front line in human services, because we all see/say the same thing. Oh and I’m not talking about someone who works as a community organizer for a year or two and then runs for public office…

“It’s one thing to provide care for those who truly need assistance, but big brother “great Society’ government hands out food stamps, healthcare, housing, etc to many able bodied people who do nothing but sit on their dupas…except of course to make more babies, but I guess this involves laying on one’s dupa.”

I can just imagine the love you exude in your work.

I agree very much with what you say…I also think that because of McCain’s position on the war in Iraq that he feels (or was coached) to talk about his experience. I think there is a misperception regarding those who serve in the military as warmongers. Although there may be a GI Joe type here and there, there is something very deep and noble motivating many who join up…

In a parish not far from where I grew up, there are many firemen and policemen. Very many of the sons of these men join up after highschool because they have been raised in the tradition of service; military service is seen as an obligation, a giving to one’s country. The pastor was affected so much by this that he became a military chaplian and is doing his third tour in Iraq. He is not the only priest in my diocese who has joined the military chapliancy.

There was a point in McCain’s speech when he was talking about his love of country and how he learned this during his captivity. His eyes became misty and I thought what a rare moment and priviledge it was to see this.

MarK:

As someone who has been a social worker for many years, I will tell you that the entitlement and other assisatance programs that the government provides is crippling people. They develop a sense of entitlement and demand more and more, while they make no effort and no changes. It’s one thing to provide care for those who truly need assistance, but big brother “great Society’ government hands out food stamps, healthcare, housing, etc to many able bodied people who do nothing but sit on their dupas…except of course to make more babies, but I guess this involves laying on one’s dupa. There’s a big difference between government providing a safety net and a permanent dole. Our federal social service programs need an overhaul.

Is that right, Donna?

Oh, I forgot. Just don’t become a community organizer! ;) You’ll get the flesh-clawing of the Barracuda….

One thing, I do know is that all the combat vets I have known hate war. Why wouldn’t they? They’ve suffered much more from it than any of us have. Good Lord, I’ve never seen a friend of mine ripped to shreds by a bomb and I’ve never had to shoot anyone. I thought much of McCain’s speech was a zzzzzzz, up until the end. When he made the simple statement, “I hate war” I believed him. He’s not a pacifist, certainly, but this cartoonish picture of him as a bloodthirsty warmonger is something I’ve never bought into.

McCain’s heart came out at the end, when he called people to serve. Not just in the military (he considers it a honorable thing to do, which I know many VN people do not), he also called on people to enter government and make it better, to help an illiterate adult to learn to read. In other words, don’t wait for the government to help you, get up off your butt and make the world better yourself.

I am fundamentally at odds with the Dems because they encourage a victim mentality, which leads to a sense of entitlement. Last night, McCain was calling on us to go out and do things themselves and help others themselves – to fight, and not just with an M16. I found myself quite touched watching the old guy, which is the last thing one expects from a McCain speech.

Let’s try again: You asked the other day if there was any evidence that Sarah Palin had ever “opted for the poor.” You seemed to be asking for something specific that Sarah Palin has done, not access to her internal state of mind. Thus, I offer an example: the education funding reform mentioned above. Are you simply incapable of ascertaining whether or not that counts as a good thing?

No, it’s not “semantics and evasion.” One major topic of my study is the Church’s teaching on the option for the poor. I know what it means and what it does not mean. It does not mean “doing something for the poor.” It means a certain type of conversion.

If you will not take the Church’s teaching on the option for the poor seriously, it is clear that you are not able to apply it to the case of Sarah Palin, nor will you be able to provide any evidence that the option for the poor has anything to do with her approach to government. It’s a shame that you seem to want nothing to do with the Church’s teaching, have no desire to understand it, and will not let it challenge your politics.