ReviewSecular liberals and religious conservatives will find things to both comfort and alarm them in Jim Wallis’s God’s Politics. That combination is actually reason enough to recommend the book in a time when the national political and theological discourse is dominated by blanket descriptions and shortsightedness. But Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, offers more than just a book that’s hard to categorize. What Wallis sees as the true mission of Christianity–righting social ills, working for peace–is in tune with the values of liberals who so often run screaming from the idea of religion. Meanwhile, in his estimation, religious vocabulary is co-opted by conservatives who use it to polarize. Wallis proposes a new sort of politics, the name of which serves as the title of the book, wherein these disparities are reconciled and progressive causes are paired with spiritual guidance for the betterment of society. Wallis is at his most compelling when he puts this theory into action himself, letting his own beliefs guide him through stinging criticisms of the war in Iraq. In his view, George W. Bush’s flaw lies in the assumption that the United States was an unprecedented force of goodness in a fight against enemies characterized as “evil.” Indeed, although both the right and left are criticized here, the idea is that the liberals, if they would get religion, are the more redeemable lot. Wallis’s line between religion and public policy may be drawn a little differently than most liberals might feel comfortable with, and while he pays some lip service to other faiths most of his prescription for America seems to come from the Bible. Still, for a party having just lost a presidential election where “moral issues” are said to have factored heavily, God’s Politics is a sermon worth listening to. –John Moe
God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It
Election
ReviewTom Perrotta is a remarkably astute observer and writer of the adolescent experience. His Bad Haircut: Stories of the Seventies is a delightful collection of coming-of-age stories, which give insight into the joys and agonies of adolescence. In Perrotta’s first full-length novel The Wishbones, a 31-year-old musician can’t quite cope with the responsibilities of adulthood and instead lives an extended adolescence. Perrotta’s much-anticipated second novel Election again successfully ventures into the adolescent psyche.
The book is set in a New Jersey high school amidst a hotbed of political activity: students are voting for their school president. Perrotta’s cast of characters are exaggerated but convincing. They convey adolescence as it often is–sometimes painful and frequently awkward. Tracy is the popular girl, smart and pretty, but she isn’t quite as perfect as her classmates assume. A sordid affair with a teacher lurks in the shadows. Paul is the jovial football jock, but his parent’s divorce has left him hurt and vulnerable. Then there is Paul’s younger and geekier sister Tammy, the tormented underdog struggling with her sexuality. Plot develops through a series of mini-chapters, narrated by the main protagonists. There are also frequent interjections from Mr. M, the all-around good teacher every kid loves–the kind of teacher Hollywood loves to enshrine in sentimental flicks. A genuine crescendo of excitement and anticipation consumes the reader, as we eagerly await who has won the election. This is a novel of teenagers on the brink of adulthood, and is probably best appreciated by grownups with enough perspective on their own adolescent experiences to be able to take the bitter with the sweet.
POLITICS
POLITICS
http://www.france24.com/en/taxonomy/emission/18012
http://www.france24.com
Duration : 0:17:3
Fears over election deadline
The upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo are on course to be held on November 28 as scheduled, according to the United Nations mission head. But some observers fear violence and have doubts over whether the electoral deadline can be met. Duration: 01:03
Duration : 0:1:4
My Announcement
Elizabeth Warren announces her decision to run for U.S. Senate so she can fight for hard-working Massachusetts families.
Duration : 0:1:35
How could the Senate grow under the rules set by the Constitution?
A. The President could mandate more senators per state.
B. The Senate could vote to expand.
C. The population could grow enough to require more senators.
D. More states could be added to the Union.
D. More states could be added to the Union.
What’s the difference between the Politics section and the Election section?
During the election, Politics talks about the election, but so does the Election section. After the election, Politics goes back to regular politics, but so does the Election section.
I don’t get it.
Bonus Question: Why do you prefer hanging out here as opposed to the Politics section?
There is no difference in my opinion.
I hang out in both places because they are so similar.
How do the election candidates get selected to run in the final race?
How do I get Obama in the election race rather than Clinton? Is there a pre election that decides who is the final candidate? Clinton is a hypocrite and I can’t stand her. Obama is the only one that I can see that actually has some common sense.
Depending upon your state, you’ll have either a primary or a caucus. Some states require party registration in order to participate.
Your best bet is to contact your county elections board, look for their number in the blue pages of your phone book. They’ll be able to tell you the specifics.
Also, beyond voting, you can visit your candidates web site and find ways to volunteer, contribute, and organize.
Star Wars Clone Wars: Clone Trooper Senate Security Figure SDCC Exclusive
Product DescriptionThis San Diego Comic Convention exclusive Senate Guard action figure, developed by Hasbro, is a brand new sculpt complete with red deco – and the very first Clone Wars figure available in the world sporting all-new The Clone Wars blue and white packaging! It’s a great and highly accurate depiction of the Senate Guard, as seen in the new animated series.