Mike Pouraryan
The Saddleback Civil Forum w/Barack Obama & John McCain
:
I wish there were more like Rick Warren....
I had reported on the upcoming forum, sponsored by Saddleback Church in Lake Forest California featuring Senator Obama and Senator McCain. It was hosted by Rick Warren, the Senior Pastor for Saddleback Church. It concluded about an hour ago local time in California. As I listened to both men, I found both Senators to be thoughtful and truly prepared. I also found both of them to have truly grown throughout the campaign. I have some profound disagreements with Senator McCain's vision, but I got a sense tonight as to why the country is split down the middle and the polls are as close as they are.
As I listened to both Senators, I found them to both believe in America and the promise that America is. I also was amazed at how Pastor Warren was able to conduct the forum in such a manner. The questions posed to both Senators were not "soft-ball" at all. They were tough questions that have gone to the heart of the stark choices we face as a country. In my view, Pastor Warren is a profound example of what is so right about America and so beautiful about America. I have continued to struggle and wonder civil discourse cannot be the order of the day. Pastor Warren proved that it can.
Over the ensuing hours and days, the punditry will be hard at work with their analysis. For instance, right after the conclusion of the forum, CNN had its' team of commentators ready to go at it to discuss everything from the gestures to the actual analysis of the questions. I have purposefully refrained from listening in and analyzing the post-mortems on this to avoid potentially comprising my own views on it.
Ronald Reagan used to refer to America as the Shinning City on a hill. To this outsider, the civil discourse was another reaffirmation of my belief in I will be refraining from listening in to such analysis and will be reporting on the candidates views. May this image be the order of the day.....(Source: http//news.bbc.co.uk, retrieved August 16,2008)
As I listened to both Senators, I found them to both believe in America and the promise that America is. I also was amazed at how Pastor Warren was able to conduct the forum in such a manner. The questions posed to both Senators were not "soft-ball" at all. They were tough questions that have gone to the heart of the stark choices we face as a country. In my view, Pastor Warren is a profound example of what is so right about America and so beautiful about America. I have continued to struggle and wonder civil discourse cannot be the order of the day. Pastor Warren proved that it can.
Over the ensuing hours and days, the punditry will be hard at work with their analysis. For instance, right after the conclusion of the forum, CNN had its' team of commentators ready to go at it to discuss everything from the gestures to the actual analysis of the questions. I have purposefully refrained from listening in and analyzing the post-mortems on this to avoid potentially comprising my own views on it.
Ronald Reagan used to refer to America as the Shinning City on a hill. To this outsider, the civil discourse was another reaffirmation of my belief in I will be refraining from listening in to such analysis and will be reporting on the candidates views. May this image be the order of the day.....(Source: http//news.bbc.co.uk, retrieved August 16,2008)
Am I expecting too much? I don't think so.....
