The Compassion Deficit: Post Mortem of the Faith Forum at Saddleback

I watched the Faith Forum ( or whatever it was called) tonight on TV, and sat documenting the Questions and the Answers. My son asked me" You are not a Christian, why are you watching?" I explained to him that I have watched the Evangelicals put a stranglehold on Issues, and leaders and the last two election processes. (Actually for me at this point I feel like am merely documenting a really bad car accident- merely noting the blood loss and the bandages used.) I explained to my son, I can not control or contribute to the dialogue, but that I can pay attention and note the Answers, because the answers sadly may indeed effect the Future for all of us. He nodded and sat and watched the Discussion as well.

Some of the Questions were disturbing, but some were actually thought provoking. And I thought Obama answered thoughtfully and with clarity. McMaverick pandered, and did his stomp speech and basically tried to convince one and all that being a POW and sharing his tales makes him a better person and ready to lead. Considering he avoided answering most questions it really left me more worried about his mental status. And also what bothered me is that pretty much anything he said recieved applause.He was Militaristic from the very first answer, naming General Betrayus as one of his spiritual heros?

I did also notice that Obama did try to answer honestly as possible and also did indeed try to bring up issues of concern, the economy, the poverty issues and the struggles of Day to Day Americans. He even brought up Issues about Compassion and Empathy being needed to confront the problems we face as a nation. At this point all of us are seeing daily how bad things are here, from friends out of work to friends losing their homes to VETS coming back damaged and lost. We are witnessing daily why we need Compassion.

I have been saying for over 3 years on this blog that we have a Compassion Deficit in this Country. But I also think that if people do not know or realize HOW BAD things are in this Country then the Deficit applies to outside our Country. We have been trying to save our country, and even fight 2 stolen Elections. We have written letters, protested, worked the phones, blogged everything and in great detail. And this Election, yes, we have stomped, knocked on doors, worked phone banks and yes, given hard earned money.And yes, some of us have Watched ALL the debates ( Heaven help us-even the Repug ones )and yes even read all books and websites and educated ourselves and our neighbors. And yes, we have hopemongered, giving each other support and pep talks.And yes, as a Nurse and a Mom I am very serious about What I am doing with this blog..and why I blog, it is no longer "Just a Blog" or "Just Politics".

And yes, I have friends and visitors from all over who come to this blog, from UK, Spain, Japan,Canada, Asia and Down Under, and Scotland, Holland and Wales, most are supportive and understanding that we are trying our very damnest to save what is left of this battered Country. And most more than appreciate that the Bushco Regime Stole the Last Two Elections. They speak with compassion and hope and share our angst and our sadness that our Country is so battered. They understand the silent huge Battle we are waging as Bloggers. And to them I say Thank You and that I am grateful for your insight and your wisdom and your willingness to look at the issues and what we are fighting, a Corporatized Theocracy ( or is it a Theocratic Corporatocracy?)

I hope and pray that OUR Country does find it's Compassion and its Moral Compass again.....until then I am fighting back with my keyboard, documenting the damage day by day...And I try to blog with my head and my heart, and I am listening with my head and my heart, because I am trying to make sure there is way to connect all of us and keep our Humanity Intact...
and maybe give a better Country and Future to our children.
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“Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.”
Frederick Buechner quotes (American Author, b.1926)
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“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
Dalai Lama (Head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Tibetan Buddhists, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, b.1935)
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“It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.” Dalai Lama

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Click the Title to link to Article that has the "Evil " Question dissected.
Art by Imogene Cunninghma, and Julia Cameron.