Barack Obama at the Compassion Forum Part 4

[fatchicksneedloveT00]

MARRY ME CAMPBELL BROWN

[onebystander]

You're reaching out fellows. Learn that the world is not Black and White, Obama speaks the truth and it composed of many shades of grey. Bush gave us a world of simplicity. He told us who were the good guys (Christians, Jews and all business friendly nations), Told us who were the bad ones (essentially muslims). Himself a born again christian (lets not talk about that first life). I don't know about you but I'm ready to assume the world as it is. Go Obama.

[tbonealex]

Obama describes the Indonesia of 1967-71, as being "secular" "moderate" "tolerant" and not "oppressive" while failing to mention how its dictator (Suharto), slaughtered over 100,000 East Timurese. He also failed to say that in the void left after Suharto's recent death, there is a growing movement among radicals in Indonesia to institute shariah law.

[tbonealex]

Just to clarify, I'm aware that the East Timur invasion did not begin until 1975, but Suharto was in power while Obama was there.

[godw1thin]

Good Call, Tbone. Not only was Suharto and his regime engaged in genocide, but when Suharto came to power the CIA compared him to Mao. Also, Britain and the U.S. supplied arms to Suharto well after we became aware of his crimes. However... Obama 2008!

[wasthatrhetoric]

He was talking about the factor of religion in the country, not the regime. He talks all about Suharto's oppression in Dreams From My Father.

[godw1thin]

point well taken, rhetoric.

[tbonealex]

But Obama's point was that Indonesia was a great example of how Islam can coexist with the rest of the world. Suharto had used Islamic fears of communist atheism to incite jihad in a civil war against the previous leader's government.  In the following years, he repressed Islamic political movements which may explain the "moderate" state Obama refers to, but now that he's out over 60% of Indonesians think women should be stoned for adultery.

[tbonealex]

what Obama says around 1:20 is very interesting. it shows that the reason he became religious was for political gain, not because he had a genuine interest in it.

[incipidsigninsetup]

He's been a politician for 10 years and a devout Christian for 20. Nice try though...

[tbonealex]

So are you saying that someone just out of college who later goes into politics must not have had political ambitions prior to that? And if so what did Obama mean in "Audacity of Hope" (p.195-208) when he writes about not having any profound religious belief at this stage of his life but feeling the need to develop spiritual "street cred"?

[wasthatrhetoric]

How about you read chapter 14 of Dreams From My Father, and then you come back and then discuss how he went became religious for political gain. He was wary of religion for his early life, though he was spiritual because of his mother. When he was told to join the church by people in his community, he went, and was overcome by an understanding of how the black chruch represented not just the Black exp., but the white exp. in America and found his religion. Stop twisting his words.

[tbonealex]

10% of Americans are non-religious, but all but 1 person in Congress claim to be faithful. This doesn't add up, some have to be faking. If Obama is also, I don't hold it against him.