Dr. Ben Carson has said that a Muslim shouldn't be president. His comments aren't acceptable.The Constitution guarantees equality before the law. While we all know that the social reality lags behind that ideal - and so does the law itself, on occasion, when unfairly applied - we have every right to expect that a U.S. President will faithfully execute his/her office to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution. There will be no religious test for public office. None. Anybody who can't be reconciled to that requirement, has no business running for president.
New UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn refused to sing the National Anthem at a service commemorating the Battle of Britain. He is against the monarchy, which is his prerogative. Perhaps he doesn't want God to save the Queen. Question: he is a member of Parliament. Did he take the following oath, required of all MPs before taking their seats? Could he explain why he took a monarchist oath, but refused to sing a monarchist anthem? He is entitled to be a republican and work toward the abolition of the monarchy. He is not entitled to misrepresent himself. To be an MP, he doesn't have to be a monarchist, but he must be loyal to the constitution as presently constituted, even if he subsequently works to change it. Additionally, he is a pacifist. That is very sweet, but is it his intention to disband HM Armed Forces? People are expressing disquiet over the implications of admitting refugees. I will respond by saying there have always been "issues" when dealing with migrants. But particularly, as Jews, the better angels of our nature must prevail. We need to do the right thing. We have been refugees countless times and it behooves us to be generous and compassionate - we of all people. Lest I seem to be a total Casper Milquetoast, I hasten that one of the "right things," aside from sheltering refugees, is to deal with the cause of their exile - by smashing ISIS. Enough. *Serious* question: do you believe that humans have free choice? My thoughts. Yes, but to a limited degree. We have physical and psychological/cultural limitations. I can't decide to break a world record in running if I am a lousy runner. I might "will" myself into breaking a record, if I am a reasonably good runner. The often repeated "positive thinking" affirmation "you can be anything you want to be, if you only want it enough and try hard enough" is a cruel hoax. It isn't so and saying this is likely to be damaging, adding guilt to disappointment. "I didnt get to be {fill in} because I didn't really try hard enough." To illustrate that latter point, I said to a friend who was born in Poland "you can be president, if only you try hard enough." As expected, he replied that, having been born abroad, he is not eligible. I countered that if only he wanted to be president badly enough, surely he could get the constitution amended to allow it. Absurd. Possible, but highly unlikely. On the other hand, a positive attitude - optimism - and a "can do" enthusiasm will help enormously to bring results. There is something to "the power of positive thought." There are psychological limits. You can do what you will, but you can't will what you will. |
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