Joe Biden on restoring the soul of our nation

[Gothmog]

As a person of faith, I really like this essay

Link to tweet

In 2020, we must decide: Who do we want to be?

My faith teaches me that we should be a nation that not only accepts the truth of the climate crisis, but leads the world in addressing it. Pope Francis is right in “Laudato Si’”: “Never have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last two hundred years." As president, I’ll launch a $1.7 trillion clean energy revolution to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, creating 10 million jobs and starting to heal our imperiled planet.

My faith teaches me that we should be a nation where the hard-working, middle-class families who’ve made us strong have a real chance to thrive. That’s why I’ll make sure that we reward work, not just wealth, in our policies and in our values. I’ll make sure that we provide every family with access to fair wages, quality health care, good neighborhood schools and a stable retirement.

And my faith teaches me that we should be a nation that once again welcomes the stranger and shows a preferential option for the poor, remembering how so many of us and our ancestors came here in a similar way. I’ll end Trump’s abhorrent asylum policies, protect “Dreamers” and provide a road map to citizenship for the nearly 11 million undocumented people living in and contributing to our communities every day.

Trump doesn’t understand these things, because he doesn’t understand America. He doesn’t know what it means to live for or believe in something bigger than himself.

[Stuart G]

1. K and R nt

[OhZone]

2. Love Biden!

<3

[Cha]

3. Mahalo for Biden's essay, Goth

[badhair77]

4. I'm in.

trump is the antithesis of my faith.

[cilla4progress]

5. Joe seems to be really finding

His place in history. And embracing it.

[elleng]

6. Nice and all,

and I may support him, but my belief in nature teaches me ALL these things.

[B Stieg]

7. +100

[LakeArenal]

12. My faith in science teaches me all things.

What difference does it make where we learn right and wrong? So long as we do.

[Hekate]

13. We are stuck with a vocal and publicly pious citizenry, of whom the modern Evangelicals are...

...just the latest (and most politically dangerous) manifestation. The Christian religious impulse in America has always been a driving force, for good (Abolition of slavery; settlement houses in tenements for floods of poor immigrants; all kinds of early social work) and for ill (the rabid, even murderous, anti-choice movement).

We will never be a really secular society. The best we can strive for is learning how to get along with respect, which suits me fine. However, despite the best intentions of the Founders, we are always going to struggle with the idea of there not being any "religious test" for public office.

So what I look for in people are those who live ethical lives, which is how my Unitarian ex-Catholic mama raised us. What I look for in candidates are those, who in addition to being ethical and Democratic, can communicate with those who've been told all Democrats are anti-religion, and anti-Christian -- but who are open to persuasion, particularly when faced with the realities of Trump.

You "may" support Joe? Well, thanks for that ringing endorsement. Meanwhile, I hope his sincerity of belief and action will sway both the religious and secular voters who are sickened by Trump.

[elleng]

15. I wrote I 'may' support Joe to deflate any thoughts that my belief in nature

was/is ANTI-Biden; it's not. I appreciate his sincerity of action.

I'm afraid that we've somehow lost our years of being CLOSE to a secular society, and I fear for my grandchildren's futures.

[emmaverybo]

8. Thanks, Goth. Biden has been eloquent in expressing his campaign's major theme-- that the 2020

election is a “struggle for the soul of America.”

He has consistently, from a launch that cited Charlottesville as a defining moment in his personal decision to run and in Trump’s anti democracy presidency, outlined how we must restore our American ideals. In this theme, he has sounded a more profound, inclusive, and resonant message than his rivals who have concentrated on a suite of policies borne of ideological goals or seemed not to find a message that at once transcends policy and is unifying.

His message has spirit, is aspirational, and full of optimism. Obviously, many are inspired.

Organized religion does not own faith. Atheists can have faith. Biden has it and I have faith that a Biden presidency will restore American values here, strengthen democracy abroad, and with sound liberal policies in health, education, climate change, trade, civil rights for all, justice reform, immigration, and foreign policy improve the lives of millions domestically and internationally.

A promise of a plan in every pot is easy. But fulfilling the multiple responsibilities of the presidency in the wake of overwhelming damage and neglect while also building political consensus for policy change is not easy, especially for anyone in need of on the job training.

Biden understands what the job takes. And he has, as he has conveyed again and again, faith in the American people to move beyond wreckage and the divisive nature of hatred into a better future. One might say his message is faith-based, yet secular.

I will vote for blue no matter who. In the primary, it is thus far Biden in whom I have the most confidence, or, it could be said, faith,

[Hekate]

14. Very nicely said. Thanks, emmaverybo.

[NBachers]

9. Joe

[Karadeniz]

10. He's a good man who knows that it's doing good that is the only thing that matters, not wealth,

Big houses, popularity, indulging ourselves. All Trump's values are perfectly convoluted, inside out.

[brer cat]

11. K&R

[NotHardly]

16. I am tired of 'faith' and am ready for someone who actually thinks critically...

This purity test of pandering to mythical sky guys does nothing for us except divide. Religions (political, economic, or just mythical sorts) have always been a rally for violence against any other "belief" system. Action over rhetoric.... I remember Joe in the Anita Hill hearings and his mouthing platitudes this year.

[calimary]

17. Well okay then.

That clinches it for me. I’ve been leaning toward Joe Biden for awhile, since being orphaned by Jay Inslee’s withdrawal.

I feel like making it official after reading this latest message of his.

I do reserve the right to change my mind but for now, in all practicality, I think he’s the best bet.

[Gothmog]

25. Welcome aboard the Biden express

[calimary]

30. Thank you, Gothmog!

I think we need some serious healing, nationwide, whenever that great day dawns when the donald can no longer do anything to hurt or con or otherwise rip off anybody.

I think we need the kind of survivor of dreadful tragedy that Joe Biden is. He understands agony and loss and the injustice of it all. He is not just sympathetic but empathetic.

Those qualities seem like just what America needs - because more than anything else, we’ll have a lot of healing to do.

[Hortensis]

18. This is a huge reason why I decided Biden was the right candidate,

not just the overall best and most electable.

As I said elsewhere, for me, saving our government of the people, by the people, and for the people is #s 1-100 on any list of 100 priorities.

[PatrickforO]

19. Okay. Pretty compelling. Should Biden end up the nominee, then

this will make me feel a bit better about supporting him. Even the waffling about healthcare in the second paragraph suggests Biden would at least try and fix the ACA by negating all the GOP sabotage of it.

As to the climate and immigration policy paragraphs, I can readily get behind those. Even though purists might say 2050 is too late for zero carbon emissions, at least we'll be DOING SOMETHING. And, you know, once policy reinforces the tipping point that has already been reached, we might well come in early on that.

[FakeNoose]

20. "My faith teaches me" ...

... we will never hear these words from Donald Chump. EVER!

Thank you Joe Biden for showing the way.

[Gothmog]

24. 'Trump has brought us some very dark days -- but in this darkness, I have faith:

Link to tweet

[Mme. Defarge]

21. Amen.

God bless America
Land that I love.

[Thekaspervote]

22. Thx for posting!! Really good read

[Gothmog]

23. Scripture is clear It's not enough to just wish the world were better. It's our duty to make it so--

Link to tweet

[R B Garr]

26. K&R!

The words of a true leader.

[BeyondGeography]

27. Is his faith telling him to reclassify student loan debt for bankruptcy protection?

Link to tweet

[Pachamama]

28. Joe Biden

[TCJ70]

31. In 2020 we must decide who we want to be...ok.

I don’t want to be Joe Biden. I don’t want someone who, for some stupid reason, thinks Republicans will turn some magical corner with Trump gone. I don’t want someone who will approach them like they’re acting in good faith. I don’t want someone who will let them off the hook for their criminality and intransigence.

Thanks for helping me clear that up, Joe. Now please stop pandering to Republicans.

[Peacetrain]

32. The importance of community..no one understands that better than Biden...

and for many who in the religious community.. that is their core.. community. Trump does not have a clue