The Shape of Things » politics

Seattle Viaduct

Shane Schnell — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:47:37 +0000

Since I moved to Seattle in March 2006 I have been hearing this discussion on what to do with the viaduct. I have talked to everyone who will listen, but I think this video sums up my view perfectly.

Enjoy!

Via StreetFilms

I’m over the Huffington Post…

Shane Schnell — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:41:10 +0000

There was a time when I thought the Huffington Post was a interesting website, primarily because it wasn’t the typical news site (existing newspaper/channel) and I like all things new. Since the beginning of year I have noticed that the journalism on this site has been on a gradual slide towards uselessness… which to me equates to less frequent visits to the site. Today I came home and was surfing the web to catch up on the latest news and found this article:

Is Sarah Palin’s Lipliner A Tatoo?

It’s sad to say, but that will be the last article I read on that site.

Gas-Tax Holiday

Shane Schnell — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:26:01 +0000

I am curious about something… if McCain and H.Clinton get there way and suspend the federal gas tax (18.4 cents/gallon) for 3 months, what spending are they going to cut?

I think people love the idea of less tax, but with that comes responsibility to decrease spending.

Does anyone know the "fine print" of this proposal?

If you were born after 1958…

Shane Schnell — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:25:56 +0000

You have never had a chance to choose a candidate from a presidential ballot that didn’t have the last name “Bush” or “Clinton” on it. In fact 1996 is only the only year you have had no Bush on the ballot.

I think it is quite unhealthy to have two families controlling our country for such a long time period.

Another tidbit of information to chew on. Let’s say Clinton gets elected this year, and then re-elected in 2012. Guess who will be legally able to run for the presidency in 2016… Chelsea Clinton!! She will be 36 that year. Alright, so maybe that is too unlikely. Well, don’t forget about the current Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. He would be 63 and ready to redeem the Bush name!!

Don’t put people in a box

Shane Schnell — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:11:35 +0000

Obama isn’t getting the “Latino vote”
Huckabee has the “white evangelical vote”

My blood starts to boil when I hear those types of words coming out of peoples mouths. People are more valuable… more complex than the marketing firms and political analysts out there care to believe. I’m in the 25 – 40 demographic… I’m White… I’m a Christian. Does that mean that I will vote or buy the same durable goods that every other Christian whitey in their 20′s or 30′s??? I highly doubt it. The problem is they don’t want to know us… they just want to label us.

I know that it would extremely convenient to just be able to label each person, put them in a box on a shelf and forget about them… but its not that easy. Deep down at our core we want to know and also… we want to be known.

So please… don’t put people in a box.

Sports Illustrated

Shane Schnell — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:21:54 +0000

I have always enjoyed reading Sports Illustrated every week, but lately I have felt like I get enough sports news on websites and rss feeds. I want something different. I have been thinking of possibly subscribing to the Economist, but I am open to different options.

I enjoy current events, politics, religion, business/investing and economics. I want a magazine that isn’t liberal or conservative, I want something that is thought-provoking but not slanted right or left. I would also like it to be a weekly magazine.

Any ideas?? Leave me a comment if you have any recommendations.

Is Barack Obama Muslim?

Shane Schnell — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:21:22 +0000

As I was enjoying the sound of Kelly’s voice in the other room as she talked on the phone with a friend… I heard the subject of politics come up. This surprised me a bit due to the fact that she generally doesn’t talk politics all that much. All of sudden she walked downstairs and said… “Is Barack Obama Muslim?”

I said “No, he is a defiantly a Christian, where did you come up with that?” Her friend’s Grandpa had told her that he was Muslim.

Do we live in a country where even though there is 40 minute video called ‘Reconciling Faith and Politics’ on http://www.barackobama.com we can get issues so confused? Are we that uninformed? Am I uninformed?

This is a testament to the importance of pursuing and living in a diverse community. A place that challenges your thoughts and convictions. A place where tough issues can be discussed as respectful adults.

I feel like I am in that place… though I often take all the knowledge and thought around me for granted. I am known to be quite hard-headed, but I am learning a lot about tough ‘gray’ issues and a lot about myself.

For example… even though I haven’t been able to formulate my thoughts just yet, there is an interesting debate going on at my pastors blog regarding the “Gay Conversation“.

What are you thoughts people? Are we uninformed? If so… why?

Clarification

Shane Schnell — Wed, 02 May 2007 05:35:06 +0000

I want to thank Joe and David for commenting on my post regarding Religious Pluralism. However, I do want to clarify my thoughts…

I fully support the separation of Church and State, and also the first amendment. My question was a theological one, not a political one. Let me restate it:

By saying that we live in a Pluralist society are you saying that the Gods of Hinduism, Islam, etc… exist? And if so, by acknowledging their existence are you negating your faith in God?

I’ll leave you with two quotes:

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

A.W. Tozer in the Knowledge of the Holy

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

Religious Pluralism

Shane Schnell — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 05:22:58 +0000

Yesterday was the first of what I am sure will be many debates between the countless (eight) candidates vying for the democratic presidential nomination.

I haven’t paid attention to the views on the most of the candidates, but I did have a chance to view this speech by Barack Obama: Reconciling Faith and Politics

His comments about us living in a pluralist society got me thinking. If you believe in Jesus Christ as your savior, can you also believe we live in a pluralist society? Let me try and unpack this for you.

On one hand you have Jesus Christ saying the following in the book of John

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

On the other hand the theory behind religious pluralism:

In its strongest sense, religious pluralism holds that no single religion can claim absolute authority to teach absolute truth.

Obama’s response to his opponent’s claims in the 2004 Illinois Senate election that “Jesus wouldn’t vote for Barack Obama” was the following:

I answered with what has become the typical liberal response in such debates, namely I said that we live in a pluralist society and I cant enforce my own religious views on another and I was running to be the Senator of Illinois and not the minister of Illinois.

So what are my views on Obama’s stance on Faith and Politics?

Obviously his statement was a very well crafted political stance on a tough issue. He said it with conviction and I was really pumped up after hearing it. I was saying to myself… this guy is a strong Christian. But the more I studied the issue and really thought about it, all I see is another politician who is very gifted in public speaking. He was right down the fence, but he made it sound like he was on everyone’s side.

No thanks Barack. I like my leaders to stick there neck out… take a risk. Someone like Jesus Christ.

Pro-War? Anti-War?

Shane Schnell — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:41:10 +0000

As I was sitting on the plane waiting for everyone to sit down I looked outside and saw something that I had never seen before. 4 fire trucks, 2 police cars, and a hearse. I was immediately drawn into the situation. Who could it be? Who is this important? After a few minutes I could see the casket… covered in an American Flag. Red, White, and Blue.

I can’t really tell you why but my mind went straight to my Dad. My Dad was in the Vietnam war. I was feeling quite afraid that “what if my Dad had died in the war”. Then I was getting mad that we have troops in Iraq. But then I started thinking that unless my Dad was brave enough to go to war I might not have this comfortable life.

Pro-War? Anti-War?

In Seattle at this point in time its seems to be very popular or hip to be Anti-War. I guess my feelings is that it is as subjective a topic as anything else. I would tend to say I am more against the current war in Iraq… however I am in favor of the war in Afghanistan, the pending war in Iran??? I haven’t decided my views on that just yet.