The US election on November 8th will be a most intriguing affair. Will it be Clinton who is ahead in the polls or could Trump just pull off the biggest upset in US politics? The third debate between Trump and Clinton took place on Wednesday night. It was another bitter affair. Trump called Clinton a liar, a criminal and other dreadful things. He claimed that the election was rigged in favour of Clinton. The second debate was a bitter affair with lots of personal abuse being fired about – by Mr Trump. Mr Trump promised that, if elected, he would put Hillary in jail. She referred to his much quoted remarks about women. Trump strikes me as bombastic, out of control, dangerous. I would be seriously worried about the future of this planet if he gets elected. Trump has all the characteristics of a fascist bully. What sickened me most about his performance during the second debate was the way he stalked Hillary Clinton obviously trying to intimidate her by standing close behind her.
It is interesting to look at their claims to be people who belong to the Christian tradition. I read in an article after their first TV debate, “Both pay lip service to a bland form of Christianity that has become America’s national religion.”
Hillary Clinton’s Christianity consists of vague platitudes about Jesus being a good role model and “I have learned from my Christian faith to do as much good for others as I can.” Donald Trump belongs to a mainstream Presbyterian church famous for a pastor, Norman Vincent Peale, who preached and wrote about the power of positive thinking. Trump doesn’t feel he has done anything for which he needs to ask forgiveness, and when he “eats his little cracker and grape juice” he feels “very, very tremendous” about himself.
Not only was religion absent from the debates, there was also no discussion of values, principles, morality. There did not even seem to be any evidence that either candidate had ever studied or even reflected on such matters.
As one writer stated: “Christian theology has implications for every aspect of human society. Christianity includes a deep and far reaching philosophy on the meaning of life, the innate dignity of each human being, the eternal dimension of marriage, the family, the environment and the whole human experience.”
Given that they wish to occupy the most powerful office in the world, it would have been encouraging if there had been an indication they had given the matter of the Church’s social teaching some thought. Instead, Hillary Clinton trotted out some polished phrases about her plans and programs while Donald Trump assured us that he had some “very, very tremendous ideas” to bring “millions and millions of jobs” back to America. When it came to urban violence Trump called for law and order, while Clinton waffled about community relations. When it came to dealing with the challenge of Islamic jihadists, Trump said, “I have a really, really great plan.” and Clinton said, “I have a plan too.”
Trump’s great plan to keep Mexicans out is to build a big wall between the two countries. As Pope Francis said it is not walls we should be building but bridges.
These two aspirants to the office of President of the USA would hardly inspire many young people in the US or in the world today. It would look like we are in for an uncertain and unsettled future.
What?… I usually look forward to reading this Blog… Why the Christian theme? Shows a complete lack of understanding of what is going on in America, unless it’s your goal to take your own view and find a way to feel disappointed that it’s not yours. Sad!
It was so much more civilised in the 18th Century when John Wilkes supposedly told the Earl
of Sandwich that he would no more dare to embrace the Earl’s principles than his mistress
as he would assuredly die from hanging or the pox.
Joe, I agree with your description of the unseemly guy Trump is – I possibly would have gone even further myself.
But the alternative – Hillary – just take a gleek at the picture Jude so thoughtfully supplied. Is that the face and expression of a sane person? Not in my book.
I would say ‘God help America’, but their downward spiral has been entirely self-inflicted!
If it were all so easy to sort out this mess….. When I look at the state of politics in America and even closer to home , all I see is a form of circus …politics reduced to play-acting and a popular entertainment. Oh…sure one of these candidates will win and go to the White House but after the hubbub dies down ,life will go on as before.Whoever gets into power will be held in check in any case and nothing too radical will be allowed to happen .The odd shooting in some school wil l still happen now and then and so on…..After four …or possibly eight years , either one of them will be out on their arse with a little name-sticker “Ms/Mrs President “, for life.I don’t get too offended but I do ask myself what exactly it is in their egos that drives these individuals to want to even do it at all. At their age , surely there has to be something better to spend precious time on….Simply put …would you want to do it?
I beg to differ that there was no discussion about values, principles or morality. In fact Trump put it to Clinton that she was all for abortion, even up to a day short of a full term pregnancy I.e abortion at will. Alas she ducked it as she has done with every allegation put to her as of late.
The election may or may not be rigged but one things for sure, a very important tool in getting one elected, the media, is certainly rigged in favour of Hilary Clinton.