St. Paul, Minnesota
I will never forget attending a meeting in Washington, where both President George Bush and his wife Laura, spoke.
Laura Bush opened the event she was beautiful, eloquent and brilliant.
She blew us all away!
And then there was President George Bush.
He wasn’t very brilliant. He was `ok`, but definitely not amazing.
But what brought us all over?
It was the simple fact that although George Bush didn’t bowl us over – to tell the truth he came across as being pretty nutty - Laura Bush sure did.
We just loved her! She was real and just like us.
I think we all concluded `He sure doesn’t have it, but if she was with him, he must be pretty good too!`
I have met John McCain many times in conjunction with working to try and get his support for the Assyrian Christians in Iraq.
He is always prickly, mean and short tempered.
A typical reaction to asking for his support for Christians in Iraq would be `we don’t support any particular group.`.
Not exactly a `one of us` comment!
In fact there might be a bit of history that makes him so `prickly`, particular to those of us of faith.
My father, Kennu Joseph Senior, knew John McCain Senior.
A second Generation Admiral, commander of the Pacific Fleet, he was a strident advocate for freedom.
Often when he would meet my father he would say `Pray for my son! He is away from God.`
John McCain Senior, was known as a godly man, rising up early in the morning to spend a hour or more in prayer, apparently much of it for his wayward son.
I think I share the same reaction of most conservatives of not being particulary excited about John McCain.
Why have we reluctantly supported him?
Because lined up with Barack Obama, he is clearly a choice of the lesser of two evils.
But, Sarah changed everything!
We may not be particularly exited about John, but like Laura Bush with George, if she is on his side, he must be ok!
Why? Because she is one of us!
Just listen to her words!
`They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America.`
`By the grace of God ... the special confidence of those who have seen evil, and seen how evil is overcome.`
`I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way.`
`But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart. `
What was so difficult about listening to the Democratic Convention?
They didn’t use our language and the few times they `prayed`, you could run a knife through the thick, icy atmosphere.
For people of faith, real faith it is words like `the Grace of God`, `a Servants Heart` and `prayer`, said in passing that grips our hearts.
We know for all the human frailties and the brilliance of campaigns and political rhetoric, at the end of the day we are at best Servants of God.
For some reason we will only understand in Glory, God chooses each of us, in spite of ourselves.
What finally put just about everybody over? The simple fact that she is `normal`, too.
Married, five Children, struggling to balance everything and a daughter that got pregnant before she was married.
Thank goodness for that sweet daughter. That really convinced me she is truly `one of us`.
Being people of faith, doesn’t mean we are perfect. It simply means that we see the world through glasses of hope, belief, faith and a higher purpose.
It means that we struggle every day with the same problems, disappointments and human failings as does anybody except for two special words, quoted by John McCain when asked what was meaningful in his life.
He replied `I believe in forgiveness and redemption`.
People of faith are not better, but simply forgiven and redeemed.
Is John McCain one of us?
Not quite yet, but with Sarah and the prayers of a special father on his side he is on his way!
Ken Joseph Jr.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Prime Minister Maliki Speaks!
In a wide ranging, interview, Iraqi President Nouri al Malaki appeared upbeat about the future of his country in contrast to the daily `bad news` coming from Iraq.
`I fully understand why bad news makes the news` Maliki said. `It is the nature of the world we live in.
At the same time, I think it is important to let the world know that things in our country are improving dramatically.
Our unemployment rate has gone from nearly 70% to now under 30%. Our most recent growth rate was 3% and we have seen, in particular as a result of the recent Baghdad program a dramatic drop in so called sectarian violence.
Speaking through an interpreter, but often breaking in to confirm a comment, Maliki was in control.
`What is particular encouraging to me is the changes we have seen in our security forces and the trust from our people once again.
We are finally seeing individual citizens provide information to our forces which has changed the situation dramatically in rooting out those who are determined to ruin our country.
` Maliki stressed three key goals. National Reconciliation, Economic Development and Expanded Security as the way forward.
In spite of much information to the contrary, we are seeing a return to the Iraq we all once knew when we considered ourselves all Iraqis and not belonging to a particular sect or group.
Recently we have brought back large numbers of former members of the Baath Party who were not involved in any problems in the past and this has significantly helped to bring our people together` he said.
`Economic development is taking place at a good rate. Part of the reason we are here is to encourage even more investment into our country.
The monthly income of our people has gone from about $20 a month to now over $200. The dramatic rise in electrical use is one good sign that the economy is taking off. The stores are full.`
At the same time, Maliki saw security as the major concern going forward.
`We need good and reliable security and we are doing all we can to expand the security forces so they can take charge. The key is the trust between the people and the security forces. This is where we have seen the most progress.`
Describing the current military situation as `moving from sectarian to outside interference` Maliki stressed that the so called `Baghdad Plan` was working.
`We are seeing a dramatic drop in the sectarian conflicts and see our major challenge as that from the outside including Al Quaida and remainders of the Baathist groups.` he said.
`I think we are the only country in the region with a Human Rights Ministry - we have suffered much in the past, all of us and the Human Rights Ministry is dedicated to rooting out all forms of abuse. It is a positive sign`
Reacting to the question of a timetable, Maliki strongly objected saying `There is no timetable for the Multinational forces to leave. We are working together with our friends to bring security under control. The only `timetable` is that of our forces and our nation as a whole being able to assume responsibility for our situation.`
Reacting to large numbers of refugees in neighboring countries, Maliki said `We do not consider them refugees. they are displaced and we are doing all we can to create a situation where they can return.
They are our responsibility and we do not need help from others to take them in - they will return home.` Speaking to the minorities, many who in fact are in neighboring countries including an estimated nearly 500,000 Assyrian Christians Maliki said `I have a bias towards the Assyrian Christians.
They are the indigenous people of our country and our our most nationalist and good people.`
`We want them to be inside the country and active and able to retake their rights. We will do all we can to help them. At the same time, if they feel they need an area, a province of their own as the Constitution provinces
I support this fully` The Assyrian Christians have made a formal request for a Province in their homeland which many see as the only way to persuade the many outside the country to return.
The Assyrian Province, under the same legal framework as neighboring Kurdistan is seen as a key to bring the Northern part of Iraq into stability.
Commenting on the death of Saddam Hussein Maliki said `In the end he was charged only for the deaths of a hundred people.
He should have been charged for the deaths of the hundreds of thousands he really killed. We gave him a long and fair trial. It is unfortunate that pictures of his death were shown, but we are not used to doing this and we have learned a lot.` With daily flights from many part of Europe and the Middle East, Iraq is slowly returning to a more normal state.
At the same time, the Prime Minister was clear that any discussion of timetables for withdrawl of Multinational Forces would be disastrous. `In the end we will be able to take care of ourselves. Meanwhile we need the help of our friends to stand against those who want to harm us.
Ken Joseph Jr.
`I fully understand why bad news makes the news` Maliki said. `It is the nature of the world we live in.
At the same time, I think it is important to let the world know that things in our country are improving dramatically.
Our unemployment rate has gone from nearly 70% to now under 30%. Our most recent growth rate was 3% and we have seen, in particular as a result of the recent Baghdad program a dramatic drop in so called sectarian violence.
Speaking through an interpreter, but often breaking in to confirm a comment, Maliki was in control.
`What is particular encouraging to me is the changes we have seen in our security forces and the trust from our people once again.
We are finally seeing individual citizens provide information to our forces which has changed the situation dramatically in rooting out those who are determined to ruin our country.
` Maliki stressed three key goals. National Reconciliation, Economic Development and Expanded Security as the way forward.
In spite of much information to the contrary, we are seeing a return to the Iraq we all once knew when we considered ourselves all Iraqis and not belonging to a particular sect or group.
Recently we have brought back large numbers of former members of the Baath Party who were not involved in any problems in the past and this has significantly helped to bring our people together` he said.
`Economic development is taking place at a good rate. Part of the reason we are here is to encourage even more investment into our country.
The monthly income of our people has gone from about $20 a month to now over $200. The dramatic rise in electrical use is one good sign that the economy is taking off. The stores are full.`
At the same time, Maliki saw security as the major concern going forward.
`We need good and reliable security and we are doing all we can to expand the security forces so they can take charge. The key is the trust between the people and the security forces. This is where we have seen the most progress.`
Describing the current military situation as `moving from sectarian to outside interference` Maliki stressed that the so called `Baghdad Plan` was working.
`We are seeing a dramatic drop in the sectarian conflicts and see our major challenge as that from the outside including Al Quaida and remainders of the Baathist groups.` he said.
`I think we are the only country in the region with a Human Rights Ministry - we have suffered much in the past, all of us and the Human Rights Ministry is dedicated to rooting out all forms of abuse. It is a positive sign`
Reacting to the question of a timetable, Maliki strongly objected saying `There is no timetable for the Multinational forces to leave. We are working together with our friends to bring security under control. The only `timetable` is that of our forces and our nation as a whole being able to assume responsibility for our situation.`
Reacting to large numbers of refugees in neighboring countries, Maliki said `We do not consider them refugees. they are displaced and we are doing all we can to create a situation where they can return.
They are our responsibility and we do not need help from others to take them in - they will return home.` Speaking to the minorities, many who in fact are in neighboring countries including an estimated nearly 500,000 Assyrian Christians Maliki said `I have a bias towards the Assyrian Christians.
They are the indigenous people of our country and our our most nationalist and good people.`
`We want them to be inside the country and active and able to retake their rights. We will do all we can to help them. At the same time, if they feel they need an area, a province of their own as the Constitution provinces
I support this fully` The Assyrian Christians have made a formal request for a Province in their homeland which many see as the only way to persuade the many outside the country to return.
The Assyrian Province, under the same legal framework as neighboring Kurdistan is seen as a key to bring the Northern part of Iraq into stability.
Commenting on the death of Saddam Hussein Maliki said `In the end he was charged only for the deaths of a hundred people.
He should have been charged for the deaths of the hundreds of thousands he really killed. We gave him a long and fair trial. It is unfortunate that pictures of his death were shown, but we are not used to doing this and we have learned a lot.` With daily flights from many part of Europe and the Middle East, Iraq is slowly returning to a more normal state.
At the same time, the Prime Minister was clear that any discussion of timetables for withdrawl of Multinational Forces would be disastrous. `In the end we will be able to take care of ourselves. Meanwhile we need the help of our friends to stand against those who want to harm us.
Ken Joseph Jr.
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