What would Jesus do?

I see that Barack Obama has quit his church. Apparenrtly, because the preachers are a bit too controversial. That's probably a wise move. But my guess is that Obama will remain a Christian. I'd encourage him to become a free-thinker. That's what I did. I used to be a Christian. I was even a member of the board of deacons. In a church of the same denomination as Obama. Maybe I was even more controversial than the minister. Though I have to admit that he was way out, too. Turns out that Christianity isn't liberal enough for me. And besides, I don't want to be told what to think about religion. I'm what some might call a freelance monotheist. That means I believe in god. But I define god -- the way I want to define god. And I'm pretty tolerant when it comes to religion. I like that fellow Jesus. I'd like to sit down with him some day. Maybe over a beer. And almost every day now, I kind of talk to him. And I ask him, what would he do? And he tells me that he's really a free-thinker. And that many Christians have a rather distorted conception of his message. --Jim Broede

...a happy religion.

I've attended many church services. In all kinds of churches. And I returned to the ones that had clergymen who delivered interesting sermons. Stimulating sermons. Most of these pastors were more like poets than traditional ministers and priests. They talked in laymen's terms. And often, they used humor. They made their congregations laugh. And they talked about love. Also, most of these churches had good music. Often, they brought in talented musicians. The other day I watched a video clip of a Catholic priest on the pulpit of an interracial Protestant church in Chicago. And I saw the congregation hooting and hollering with laughter. Almost rolling in the aisles. And I thought to myself, "Now there's a church I'd like to attend. These folks believe in a happy religion." --Jim Broede

...the goodness of most Americans.

I have a new hero. He's the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Catholic priest. In Chicago. I'd attend his church any day. He's my kind of guy. A straight shooter. With a biting sense of humor. And he's a liberal. And a staunch friend of black people. And a supporter of Barack Obama. Pfleger, who is white, joked about Hillary Clinton being upset over Obama's strong showing, saying in a mock version of her voice: "I'm white. I'm entitled. There's a black man stealing my show."

Yep. That's right. Obama is stealing from Clinton what she has long coveted. The Democratic nomination for president. By winning it fair and square. But Clinton maintains she'd be the stronger candidate. Because she can corral more white votes. Especially from white blue collar workers. Many of whom say they won't vote for a black man. Just because he's black. Hillary Clinton likes to think that a white woman has an advantage over a black man when it comes to a presidential race. Maybe it's Clinton's way of saying we still have a racist society in America.

But I'm still betting on Obama and the goodness of most Americans. --Jim Broede

I've learned to appreciate...

It's a dark and dreary day here in Minnesota. But still, it's a nice day. An opportunity to sit down and write. To reflect. To think about life. And how nice it is. Oh, I just happen to be in love. With someone. With life. And so every day is wonderful. Yes, even on a cloudy day, I get my share of sunshine. From within. That's a benefit of being in love. Makes one happy. An optimist. I find so many things to enjoy. To savor. I get completely absorbed in today. In the moment. Makes me feel more alive than ever. I've even learned to appreciate a dark and dreary day. --Jim Broede

They do it nicely.

I'm really liking what I'm seeing on the Alzheimer's message boards. Civility. Care-givers are acting nice to each other. Even when they disagree. Wasn't always that way. There used to be a lot of bickering. Derogatory remarks. But new ground rules have been adopted. We're supposed to be nice to each other. And that's very refreshing. I can post now without being berated. For having a point of view that might be different from the majority. There's a greater level of tolerance. And when folks disagree, they do it nicely. Or not at all. --Jim Broede

Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I'll tell you what I like about Barack Obama's campaign for the Democratic nomination for president. He's attracting young people. Lots of 'em. The under 35 crowd. And first-time voters. I'm an older voter. Been around for 72 years. I've seen lots of elections. And I'm gonna vote for Obama, too. As a way of getting out of our national nightmare. The George Bush Era. McCain is really McBush. Just a wee bit little different version of our horrid nightmare. I want to be able to dream again. Of a nice America. Where we work for the common good. For an end to preemptive war. For universal health care. For education benefits for our young people and our veterans. For more spending on our nation's infrastructure. And for far less spending on national defense. And the narrowing of the gap between the rich and poor. Yes, when it comes to our national politics, I see a ray of hope. Maybe for the first time since the John F. Kennedy Admnistration. Maybe I'll live long enough to see the turn-around. Wouldn't that be wonderful? --Jim Broede

...a shameful blemish on America.

I think we Americans have lost interest in the war in Iraq. That is, if we ever had a keen interest. Because it's a war being waged by volunteers. Rather than draftees. That's too bad. That we no longer have conscription. Because if we did, the protest to the war would have ended it by now. George Bush and his political cronies wouldn't get away with waging such a preemptive and obscene and senseless war. We're letting the hired hands fight the war. The volunteers. Plus the contractors hired by the U.S. government. Like the Hessians in the old days. Soldiers for hire. The saddest part of all is that not enough Americans are raising a moral outrage to the war. Oh, a few are. But only in relatively token ways. We really need a protest that takes to the streets. In the cities. In the towns. Even in the countryside. Of course, when George Bush leaves the White House, there'll likely be a return to sanity. And the war will be gradually phased down. But it's taken far too long. That war will go down as a shameful blemish on America. --Jim Broede