Reply #3: I'm glad you posted the whole thing, because it's a really interesting

[beachmom]

and provocative speech. I'm not sure what I think of it, but it certainly shows how much Barak has thought about this issue. Every time I think I've HAD it with religion -- the religious right, Islamists, etc. -- I then see Bono, inspired by his faith, trying to end extreme poverty in Africa or I look back to MLK who could have never led the civil rights movement or persuaded the masses of that cause WITHOUT faith.

I did like this paragraph:

And even if we did have only Christians within our borders, who’s Christianity would we teach in the schools? James Dobson’s, or Al Sharpton’s? Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Levitacus, which suggests slavery is ok and that eating shellfish is abomination? How about Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount – a passage so radical that it’s doubtful that our Defense Department would survive its application?

The last line had me giggling!! I can't explain it, but I'm always going to love Barak Obama, even if I disagree with him on an issue. He follows his own path, and stays true to himself, and that's what's most important.