Debates always get my attention. I was a high school and college debate student. I have studied argumentation for decades. While the format of the political debates is artificial and not really an actual debate, I will take what I…
Ghost actions
Much has been made of President Joe Biden’s stepping aside in favor of Vice President Harris as the Democratic Party candidate for president. It’s a clear example of how powerful not doing something can be. Tons of ink and hours…
At 88, James Dobson still warning of doom if a Democrat is elected president
This year’s presidential election will forever change America, bringing an end to “the land of the free and the home of the brave,” James Dobson warned in his October letter: Tens of thousands of churches will have nowhere to meet…
69 women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct but he’s changed the definition
As many as 69 women have accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct, yet their stories have faded into the chasm of “another accuser” in the public mind, according to New York Times columnist Jessica Bennett. In a 3,330-word essay for…
Donald Trump and the story of the magical phone app for immigrants
Donald Trump wants everyone to believe immigrants are bad. The formula is simplistic, misleading and false, but it is the sum total of his immigration policy. The simplicity, the impulsivity, and the emotionalism make Trump so tempting: Immigrants are bad….
North Carolina Baptist association sends out letter calling Democrats Marxists
The director of missions for a Southern Baptist association in Eastern North Carolina sent a letter to all pastors of churches in Onslow County urging them to compel their members to vote for “biblical values” in this year’s presidential election….
The Big White Lie: Racist propaganda dishonors the image of God
Sir Winston Churchill famously said, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” This could be applied to propaganda, as it is often based on blatant lies or embellishments. The…
Trump has led white evangelicals and Republicans to doubt election results
Donald Trump’s lies about election fraud have had a corrosive effect not only on Republican voters but especially on white evangelical voters who now distrust the U.S. election system. New data from Gallup show a record-high 56-point gap between Democrats…
‘Who is my neighbor?’
Over the past two weeks, the Trump/Vance campaign has spoken often about an influx of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, and proffered the outrageous claim that these immigrants are stealing and eating the pets of white Springfield citizens. Despite a…
Letter to the Editor: A vote for Harris is a vote for hope
Dear Editor: Not since Barack Obama became our 44th president have I been filled with such unbounded hope regarding our nation’s future. Former President Donald Trump’s deadly insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, and delayed attempts to hold him accountable had…
Calling Donald Trump a ‘good businessman’ illustrates the problem of bowing down to ‘business’
Driving down the road last week, I (Mark) heard a radio journalist interview Hispanic immigrant voters (legal ones, for all you who worry about this) about how they’ll vote in this fall’s presidential election. One made the case that he…
Progressive faith leaders call for renewed attention to 8 principles of faith and democracy
Two hundred faith leaders, including some luminaries of progressive Christianity, have signed a new statement on Christian faith and democracy calling for renewed attention to eight key principles. “The United States confronts a crisis of democracy, and the American church…