Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Sun, 23 Aug 1992 17:09:35 EST
From:         Kerry Stephenson <KSTE@PURCCVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Barbara's speech
              23 Aug 1992 03:54:24 GMT from <kilroy@GBORO.GLASSBORO.EDU>

Darren:

Have you ever studied political speeches?  The speeches given at the
convention, almost without exception, were political speeches.  They
were not intended to provide details.  They were testimonials, and
they were supposed to be.  Specifics come during debates, when
candidates are responded to and forced to respond.

Marilyn Quayle is truthful in saying she didn't mention Clinton or
Gore.  Whose fault is it if the list of behavior commonly attributed
to the sixties (the various forms of rebellion cited by Marilyn which
included pot-smoking and draft dodging) happen to apply to Bill Clinton?
Marilyn could have written that list any time between 1980 and now, with
no idea who the nominee would be--it is not so much about Clinton as it
is about the culture war that has been a staple of evangelical and
conservative discourse for a decade.  If you ask Jerry Falwell, Paul
Weyrich, Phyllis Schlafly, or even William Buckley to "define" the
1960s, you will get the same list.  And you would have gotten it
long before anybody ever heard of Bill Clinton.  The convention was
a chance for conservatism to speak to the American people in the
same terms it has been using since 1962.  The "culture war"
has been on since Everson, and the traditional conservatives have
been discussing it.  In the past 5 years or so, the discussion has
moved out of the conservative journals and the Christian media and
into the academy. With the Republican convention, it finally
got a hearing in mainstream America.

One of the differences that struck me between the Republican and Democrat
conventions was that when Republicans say "family values," even when
the speaker may not be able to articulate a precise definition, it
was clear that the speaker was referring to something for which he
or she had great emotion and deep reverence--rather like "patriotism"
or "justice."  When the Democrats said "family values," it felt
rather like "public policy"--something abstract and cold, having
little connection to the speaker.

Like it or not, the Republicans *mean* something when they say
"family values," and they see them as being under attack.
The only term I saw the Democrats show emotion or reverence for
was "choice."

There is clearly a cultural divide in this election, and neither side
denies the charges of the other.  Both parties, ironically, are
fielding candidates not historically perceived as extremist, on
platforms that bow to the extremes.  But the Democrats don't deny
that they are the party of feminism, gay rights, and abortion.  And
the Republicans don't deny that they are the party of traditional
families, defense, and the Human Life Amendment.

There are no moderates in this election.  The electorate must make
a choice.  Right or left, there is no in-between.

More importantly, there is no "stay the course" choice, because both
parties promise to radically change the world in which we live.  There
is no option to leave well enough alone.  One way or the other, change
will come.  There will be a new House and a new Senate, and a new
relationship between those institutions and the President, whoever
that president may be.

As Christians, if we choose to vote, we must determine which party
and which candidates best represent the interests of God, not only
the interests of the nation.  Our duty is to God, and to His will.
The Republican platform (and the speakers) mentions God frequently--
but do they mean it?  The Democrat platform mentions God not at
all--but does it matter?

There is a clear social and cultural choice to be made.  Our
question must be:  which direction would God have us go?  Which
culture does God want?  Whose values most honor God?

Our individual choice cannot affect God's ultimate plan, but our
act of voting is a way of serving Him.  Which choice would He have
us make?  These are questions we must ask with much fear and
trembling, with prayer and supplication.  And we must submit our
will to that of God, and pray for His guidance for those who are
ultimately elected.

Love INC,
         --Kerry
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