Most people observing the American presidential election of 2008 regard health care, Iraq and perhaps immigration as the major issues of the campaign. But Juan Gabriel Vasquez, a columnist for El Espectador of Colombia, believes that there’s one issue that overshadows all the rest.
“Among the things of most concern to citizens, according to the polls, are the war in Iraq, education and public health. But it’s possible that the real challenge for Obama or McCain will have nothing to do with these. Rather, they’ll have to address an item that is directly responsible for the problems in public health, education, and Iraq: religion.”
And how did it all get this way. Vasquez continues:
“Never in the history of the United States has religion had such a definitive presence in the decision-making of government. North American believers like to think that their country was founded on religious principles (God is mentioned in many parts of the nation’s lore, from bank notes to the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag), but the truth is that not even the most notoriously evangelical presidents, from Lyndon Johnson to Ronald Reagan, have ever permitted the design of national policy on the basis of religious arguments. The Bush White House, however, is the closest things possible to a church.”
By Juan Gabriel Vásquez
Translated By Richard Hauenstein
June 19, 2008
Colombia – El Espectador- Original Article (Spanish)
In 1999, a year before the election he (didn’t) win, George W. Bush spoke with several evangelical leaders about his campaign for the Presidency of the United States. “I know it won’t be easy for me or for my family,” he said, “But God wants me to do it.”
And Bush obeyed: if God wants a person to be president, then one must obey: there’s no other option. After (not) being elected, Bush undertook a radical transformation of his country the scope of which, I believe, is far from being fully measured. Among the things of most concern to citizens, according to the polls, are the war in Iraq, education and public health. But it’s possible that the real challenge for Obama or McCain will have nothing to do with these. Rather, they’ll have to address an item that is directly responsible for the problems in public health, education, and Iraq: religion.
Never in the history of the United States has religion had such a definitive presence in the decision-making of government. North American believers like to think that their country was founded on religious principles (God is mentioned in many parts of the nation’s lore, from bank notes to the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag), but the truth is that not even the most notoriously evangelical presidents, from Lyndon Johnson to Ronald Reagan, have ever permitted the design of national policy on the basis of religious arguments. The Bush White House, however, is the closest things possible to a church; and I don’t mean an institution founded for the purposes of Bible study (which apparently, at least half of the White House staff attends). I refer here to the evangelical faith practiced in such a way as to lead a country and to direct its policies on health, education and its war in Iraq.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the U.S. election.
