So I'm totally looking forward to watching tonight's debate between the VP candidates.
For tonight's drinking game, I'm thinking my words will be: economy, medicare, middle class, small business, Obamacare, and tax plan. I promise, it will be a non-alcoholic beverage!
Although I live in one of those "key battleground states," I'm pretty sure where my vote is going. That being said, I still, naively, enjoy watching the exchange of ideas and concerns that happens during these debates. Tonight will be particularly interesting for many Catholics, with both of these guys being of said faith. I expect the blogosphere will be teaming with analyses as to which candidate will more appropriately embody Catholic teachings on social issues come tomorrow morning. People will be angry and won't that be a real win for us, the faithful! It's not that I don't get the concerns on either side, I really do. On one hand, I think Biden genuinely wants all people to have what they need, but is fearful of judging another person's choices. He's all for expanding "entitlement" programs but doesn't tow the "Catholic" line when it comes to abortion. Ryan, on the other hand, seems to take a more conservative bend on Catholic moral teachings concerning abortion. Like Biden, I think he genuinely wants to help people who are underprivileged, but sees the solution more in providing an environment for those individuals to better rise to the challenges and pull themselves out. And, for many Catholics, this is a real issue because doesn't Christ come down to our level to pull us up and out of all of our various situations? This view doesn't reconcile to many Catholics' view of social justice. I see both sides. One side basically says 'what's the point of fighting for the unborn when we have so many people in need,' while the other side says 'there's no point in guaranteeing needs of those people if we can't even guarantee them life.' And no, I'm not lumping this into a democrat versus republican thing. I'm just saying these are the two sides I read most frequently in blogs and their comm-boxes.
So really, I'm hoping that by the end of the debate tonight, I'll have a better understanding of where these guys are. I'm hoping to see more humanity and compassion from both than has been portrayed so far. I want to see evidence of both of them really wanting what is best for this country. I'd much rather vote for a candidate instead of against one. And I'm really hoping and praying for peace tomorrow. You know that old expression, "charity begins at home?" For us Catholics, peace and charity are going to have to begin at home tomorrow. I'm hoping we'll be prepared to see Christ in both candidates, as well as be able to recognize their human weaknesses and shortcomings as just that.
For now, I'm trying to decide between white grape juice in a wine glass or ginger ale in a frosty mug for my debate watching tonight.
Oh, and I'm sooooo looking forward to a video like this after tonight's debate!
For tonight's drinking game, I'm thinking my words will be: economy, medicare, middle class, small business, Obamacare, and tax plan. I promise, it will be a non-alcoholic beverage!
Although I live in one of those "key battleground states," I'm pretty sure where my vote is going. That being said, I still, naively, enjoy watching the exchange of ideas and concerns that happens during these debates. Tonight will be particularly interesting for many Catholics, with both of these guys being of said faith. I expect the blogosphere will be teaming with analyses as to which candidate will more appropriately embody Catholic teachings on social issues come tomorrow morning. People will be angry and won't that be a real win for us, the faithful! It's not that I don't get the concerns on either side, I really do. On one hand, I think Biden genuinely wants all people to have what they need, but is fearful of judging another person's choices. He's all for expanding "entitlement" programs but doesn't tow the "Catholic" line when it comes to abortion. Ryan, on the other hand, seems to take a more conservative bend on Catholic moral teachings concerning abortion. Like Biden, I think he genuinely wants to help people who are underprivileged, but sees the solution more in providing an environment for those individuals to better rise to the challenges and pull themselves out. And, for many Catholics, this is a real issue because doesn't Christ come down to our level to pull us up and out of all of our various situations? This view doesn't reconcile to many Catholics' view of social justice. I see both sides. One side basically says 'what's the point of fighting for the unborn when we have so many people in need,' while the other side says 'there's no point in guaranteeing needs of those people if we can't even guarantee them life.' And no, I'm not lumping this into a democrat versus republican thing. I'm just saying these are the two sides I read most frequently in blogs and their comm-boxes.
So really, I'm hoping that by the end of the debate tonight, I'll have a better understanding of where these guys are. I'm hoping to see more humanity and compassion from both than has been portrayed so far. I want to see evidence of both of them really wanting what is best for this country. I'd much rather vote for a candidate instead of against one. And I'm really hoping and praying for peace tomorrow. You know that old expression, "charity begins at home?" For us Catholics, peace and charity are going to have to begin at home tomorrow. I'm hoping we'll be prepared to see Christ in both candidates, as well as be able to recognize their human weaknesses and shortcomings as just that.
For now, I'm trying to decide between white grape juice in a wine glass or ginger ale in a frosty mug for my debate watching tonight.
Oh, and I'm sooooo looking forward to a video like this after tonight's debate!