Confusing diplomacy, spiritual cowardice:
As a preacher I appreciate a well-crafted and well-delivered speech. So I enjoy political conventions and presidential debates. In addition the possibility also exists that some politician will stick his foot so far in his mouth that toe jam will come out of his ears, and I don’t want to miss that.
The recent democratic national Convention did not offer much fodder for our nation’s comedians, and you may not have agreed with some politicians’ stance on an issue, but for the most part the speeches were well thought out and delivered.
One thing Sen. John Kerry said keeps gnawing at my psyche. He said: “I don’t wear my religion on my sleeve.” He then went on to quote President Abraham Lincoln with these words, “I don’t claim to believe God is on our side, but I humbly pray that we are on God’s side.”
We cherish religious freedom. It would be improper for a presidential candidate to force feed us his specific religious belief, doctrine, or creed. As president of this great land, a man must stay generic and diplomatic in regards to religion, I understand that.
Lincoln was a man of God who also said, “No man has the right to consider himself educated until he has read the Bible.” Lincoln also said, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is of greater value than a college education.”
If Mr. Kerry would have said that he spends the first hour of every day in Bible study and prayer seeking God’s will for this country and pleading for wisdom to lead his people, then he would have earned the right to quote Abraham Lincoln.
Mr. Lincoln earned the nickname “Honest Abe,” and he didn’t earn it by confusing diplomacy with spiritual cowardice.”
PRINTED IN THE TOLEDO BLADE: August 11, 2004