Blair shuns US religion politics

[JI7]

<Religion should not play the same role in British politics that it does in America, Tony Blair has said.

In the questions session after his speech, Mr Blair was asked about reports that Alastair Campbell had once told an interviewer who asked about Mr Blair's faith: "I'm sorry, we don't do God."

Mr Blair said faith was very important on a personal level but could quickly become misinterpreted.

"I don't want to end up with an American-style type of politics with us all going out there and beating our chests about our faith," he said.

People were defined by their faith but it was "a bit unhealthy" if it became used in the political process. >



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4369481.stm

[supernova]

1. Gotta agree with Tony there.

I wish we could get back to that attitude.

[femme.democratique]

2. How ironic that Britain, our former Imperialist Oppressors...

...is now a considerably more democratic and free nation than our own. Scary.

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. It's called "learning from history" . . .

.
.
.

Something the USA has failed to do . . .

(sigh)

[donheld]

21. Does that mean there is hope for us?

I can only have faith

[tom_paine]

9. Yep. Britain still is in the Free World. Amerika is NOT in this group

We can argue about whether we belong to the Second World or the Thrid World, but from almost every persepctive EXCEPT the day-to-day living coniditons of the average Amerikan Imperial Subject (that's always the last to go), Amerika belongs to one of them, NOT the First (Free) World.

Not anymore.

[Selteri]

15. By the dead low literacy rates and other levels

We are a second world country, mainly because we do give a pittance to those.

Out Jobless rate of 14-18% in a number of states that are considered to be 'industrial states' such as Ohio's 14% jobless rate (Yes that is 1 in 6 Ohioans are unemployed and seeking a job.)

This country is falling into becomming a third world nation. At the rate of decline, should things continue to decline we will fall to being what could be called, "An advanced third world country" AKA we still have our industry, but people don't work it anymore, people are starving and dieing because of poor infrastructure.

Our infrastructure is already rated to be a D! There are no first world countries, unless you count the US, that have an infrastructure ranking of D. That means our government is wasteful and corrupt, our schools are falling apart, our hospitalization is a sham, our roads are falling apart and our utilities are falling apart.

We need to rebuild!

[Briar]

4. He also said:

"I would like to see you play a bigger, not a lesser, role in the future," referring to Faith groups (and of course has already backed Faith schools).

Having his cake and eating it?

[AP]

19. I'd like to see faith groups in the US play a bigger role in progressive

social programs too.

Liberals do practically nothing to try to organize liberal christians. Meanwhile, the RW has their tentactcles deep into the churches.

Dobson is the most listened too and syndicate program on the radio, and basically all it does is echo the same RW metaphors that Republicans use to convince people to support Republicans.

Progressive faith groups have messages that should totally resonate with all progressives, and we should all be thinking like Tony Blair. Keeping religions out of politics doesn't mean we need to turn our backs on people who share progressive goals just because they believe in God.

[MrModerate]

22. I think liberals do practically nothing to organize liberal christians

Because they're uncomfortable with religion. I know I am. If I have an appeal to a broadly liberal audience, I can communicate; if I have an appeal that touches an issue of faith, I'm pretty much silenced by my unwillingness to appear a hypocrite.

This is a flaw in the big tent idea and highlights why we need to find a way to reach across such divides. I'm open to suggestions.

[AP]

25. Read Jim Wallis's book God's Politics.

Also, recognize that Democrats believe that people are free to believe whatever they want, and if everyone working for the same goals (reducing poverty, looking after the least among us, rendering unto Caesar's what is Caesar's, etc.) then it doesn't matter if your motivation of the same exact actions is a belief in god or secular humanism, or pure social/self-interest.

[MrModerate]

26. I can live with those reasons:

God, or secular humanism, or social/self-interest.

However, how does that address the original poster's concern -- organizing liberal christians?

I think we all agree that the far-right wingers have organized themselves to a point where they can effectively mobilize near-right wingers and centrists to support RW causes even when it's not in the NRWs and Cs interests.

Chiefly through marginalization of the center-left and demonization of the far left (basically by lumping us all together).

But the current administration/power structure is actively destructive of the goals of the left, the center, AND the near-right (witness the overreaching in the Schiavo case).

How do we get these people back? I used to think that Schimpanski and Co's sheer incompetence and arrogance would alienate this larger block of voters, but it didn't work last time -- the results were close enough that it was still possible to steal the election. If we had won the support of more centrists and NRWs, the numbers would have made election theft impracticable.

I'll have to look at the book you recommended to see what the author has to say.

[AP]

27. Coordination, organization, money, effort, publish books --

thats how the RW has honed an effective RW-religious sword.

[CottonBear]

5. Doesn't some British paper money have a picture of Darwain?

that would never happen here.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Yes - the ten pound note

He's also buried in Westminster Abbey, which is effectively the national church, along with Newton and a few other scientists (so are a few writers, politicians, etc. - http://www.westminster-abbey.org/faq/faq_burial.htm ).

[CottonBear]

12. I've been to the Abbey. It is so beautiful!

I was very impressed with all of the important people who are buried there. I don't believe that we have anyone buried in our national cathedral in DC. (I need to check on that.)

I attended a Wednesday evening service at the abbey. The boys choir was angelic. We got to sit in the Choir, which is the area in the middle of the abbey with the pulpits and the pews that face each other.

How's the weather there? My friend and her husband just flew to London last night for a 2 week honeymoon. They have use of an apartment near Victoria Station.

edit: oops! The correct name is abbey not cathedral.
Thanks for the link. I'll bookmark that one.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. warm, but it's just got wet again

we had about 70 Fahrenheit and bright sunshine last weekend, but it's now cloudy.

[CottonBear]

14. That's the same weather we have in Georgia now.

Warm and sunny one day then cool and rainy the next. Sunday was the Vernal Equinox. I am so glad that spring is finally here. I'd had quite enough of winter weather, thank you!

[JI7]

20. here it is

[Spazito]

6. This is bullcrap, imo, he is saying what he needs to say,,,

because he is up for re-election not because he really believes it. He is a clone of bush and will say one thing and do the opposite as has been proven already.

He is a fundie in his own right, imo.

[renaissanceguy]

7. Your comment sounds pretty accurate.

Europe in general has a more secular attitude toward government. If he starts acting like a wingnut, voters will be turned off by it. They're already pissed at him for the whole Iraq war.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.19272593

[Selteri]

17. Pretty sure he'll be on his way out from what I'm hearing

over the pond from friends.

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. No - everyone expects him to be re-elected

and at the moment, his majority in Parliament looks set to be about 100 seats - which means that the old-fashioned Labour MPs won't be able to stop him doing much. This will mean that he can choose what time he leaves (he's said he wants to remian PM for most of the next parliament) rather than being forced out by his party early.

See eg today's opinion poll: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,9061,1443221,00.html

[Laurab]

24. Exactly what I was thinking

He doesn't want to be dragged down by his relationship with bushco. He is a fundie when it suits him, but now that he is looking to re-election, it is not beneficial. He has learned well from the shrub.

[salin]

8. Yet Blair... invoked God

before Parlaiment and the country - as in he felt right with God per his decisions and actions in the invasion of Iraq due to WMDs... during the height of the "sexed up dossiers" hulabalu. Funny how selective he is. He sure used God to demonstrate/sell to the public the "strengths of his convictions" per wmds and the invasion.

[lebkuchen]

11. Bush also invoked God in his trip to Germany

despite Schroeder having gone public, as Blair has, that he didn't feel politics and religion mixed. Nevertheless, Bush bade everyone a "God bless you" after his pre-luncheon speech in Mannheim. He left the stage before his final comment could be translated, as if to say, it didn't require translation. Very rude.

I don't see Bush's merging of religion and politics being a detriment to his and Blair's relationship. Probably just the opposite.

[_TJ_]

16. Blair is a snake IMO

But he talks some sense too. He's dead right about this.

[MrModerate]

23. More of a poodle, actually

But at least he didn't check his brain at the door when he dropped his drawers for Schimpanski.

One of the odd advantages to having an official religion with the Queen as its sponsor is that regular politicians can largely ignore it.

[NVMojo]

28. very interesting ...the lapdog speaks ...