News for September 8
September 8, 2008 by Barbara
Filed under News and Analysis
Watching Words
The New York Times last week created an interactive bubble graphic showing the types of words used at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, how many times they were used and who used them. For Dems, “change” was the most-spoken word (89 times); for the GOP, it was “God” (43), and GetReligion takes notice. Also, if words lead to actions and ultimately to destiny, as the old saying goes, it may be wise to pay attention to a post by cognitive linguist and political word analyst George Lakoff, who breaks down the Palin Decision by examining it through the conservative frame.
New York Times: “Republican speakers have talked about reform and character far more frequently than the Democrats. And Republicans were more likely to talk about businesses and taxes, while Democrats were more likely to mention jobs or the economy.”
GetReligion: “Michael Paulson of The Boston Globe was all over this story the night of the speech. On his tremendously useful blog Articles of Faith Paulson notes that McCain had the “most religious references of the four acceptance speeches.” He also caught the irony of that fact.”
Tikkun: “The Palin nomination changes the game. The initial response has been to try to keep the focus on external realities, the “issues,” and differences on the issues. But the Palin nomination is not basically about external realities and what Democrats call “issues,” but about the symbolic mechanisms of the political mind-the worldviews, frames, metaphors, cultural narratives, and stereotypes.”
Choose Generosity, Not Exclusion | Progressive Islam
In America today, we are encouraged to believe in the myth of scarcity – that there just isn’t enough – of anything. But in the story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, Jesus, who the Muslims call Isa, found himself preaching to 5000 (not including the women by the way) at dinner time, and there didn’t appear to be enough food. … But Jesus took the loaves and the fish and started sharing food. There was enough for everyone. There was more than enough. What was perceived as scarcity was illusory as long as there was sharing, and not hoarding.
World Probably Will Not End Next Wednesday | Foreign Policy Passport
Next Wednesday (Sept. 10), scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Switzerland will switch on the $6 billion Large Hadron Collider, a 27-kilometer particle accelerator that will create physical conditions that haven’t existed in the universe since the big bang. It all sounds totally awesome, unless you’re one of the very few people who think that the LHC will create a black hole that will expand to consume the planet.
- Related link: Why the Fascination With the End of the World? | BBC News
- Related link: Premil Sarah? | Spiritual Politcs
Community Organizers Speak Out About ‘Actual Responsibilities’ | Faith in Public Life
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s remark last night — that her experience as “a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities” — reflects the fact that many of our political leaders have no idea what community organizing is or how it impacts the lives working people in communities across America every day.
Barbara Schwartz is the editorial director at the Xenia Institute. She lives in Oklahoma City, Okla., and currently is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa.
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Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] for the GOP vice president’s spot. Between reaction by community organizers to her comments last week at the Republican National Convention that “her experience as ‘a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, [...]