opportunity knocks
the election is over and i'm relieved to know that president bush will be in office for four more years. no, he's not perfect, but he's a man of conviction, moral resolve and, yes, compassion. i have been working on a paper dealing with the state of welfare in our country and what can be done to change it from a "hand-out" to a "hand-up." specifically, i am looking at how religious institutions can partner with the government and corporations to establish what are known as mediating structures in order to personalize social services and provide a holistic approach to caring for the poor.
the stark contrast, legion as they are, between bush and kerry came ever the more real to me in the final days before the election. during the last week, the research for my paper led me to the "faith-based initiatives" that were established under president bush. to be fair, the early form of this initiative began under the clinton administration with charitable choice. however, with the establishment of the office of faith-based and community initiatives, president bush put feet under the movement and the motivation to make it a reality. though I doubt that a president kerry...shudder...would have tried to abolish the initiative, with the level of work that still needs to be done, i find it very doubtful the will would be there to accomplish much else.
nevertheless, the real issue is what am i personally going to do about the issue. it is so easy to offer my platitudes on the essential and worthy work of caring for the poor, all the while having no intention of actually doing anything, personally. as much as i disagree with a welfare state that simply hands out checks, further creating nothing more than a country full of welfare junkies, nothing will change unless concerned human beings decide they are going to do something. our society is full of people who have no motivation nor understanding of how to get themselves out of the situation in which they find themselves and we have to figure out some way to help them learn and change. for christians, it is our calling...when paul left for his ministry, the last thing he was told by peter and john, was to remember the poor. will i ever make the real change needed to put my money where my mouth is and reach beyond myself to the people all around me who are in desperate need? unfortunately, i can't answer that. however, i do know this...the bush administration gives us at least four more years of great opportunity. the question is what will we do with it?
the stark contrast, legion as they are, between bush and kerry came ever the more real to me in the final days before the election. during the last week, the research for my paper led me to the "faith-based initiatives" that were established under president bush. to be fair, the early form of this initiative began under the clinton administration with charitable choice. however, with the establishment of the office of faith-based and community initiatives, president bush put feet under the movement and the motivation to make it a reality. though I doubt that a president kerry...shudder...would have tried to abolish the initiative, with the level of work that still needs to be done, i find it very doubtful the will would be there to accomplish much else.
nevertheless, the real issue is what am i personally going to do about the issue. it is so easy to offer my platitudes on the essential and worthy work of caring for the poor, all the while having no intention of actually doing anything, personally. as much as i disagree with a welfare state that simply hands out checks, further creating nothing more than a country full of welfare junkies, nothing will change unless concerned human beings decide they are going to do something. our society is full of people who have no motivation nor understanding of how to get themselves out of the situation in which they find themselves and we have to figure out some way to help them learn and change. for christians, it is our calling...when paul left for his ministry, the last thing he was told by peter and john, was to remember the poor. will i ever make the real change needed to put my money where my mouth is and reach beyond myself to the people all around me who are in desperate need? unfortunately, i can't answer that. however, i do know this...the bush administration gives us at least four more years of great opportunity. the question is what will we do with it?
Labels: David C. Price
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 11/05/2004 04:21:00 PM
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