Thursday, September 27, 2012

Yale theologian-philosopher Miroslav Volf's Values and Election




Back to my posts on values and election.

Value #13

Value:  No nation represents an exception to the requirements of justice according to which countries should relate to one another. America should exert its international power by doing what is just and persuading rather than exertion of military power, and should pursue its own interests in concert with other nations of the world.

Rationale: 
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

Debate:  The debate should not be whether America is somehow exceptional (and therefore permitted to do what other nations are no, as, for instance, carrying out raids in search for terrorists in other nations). The debate should rather be about what does it mean for the one remaining superpower to act responsibly in the community of nations.

Question to Ask: At the international level, would the candidate renounce double moral standard: one for the U.S. and its allies and another for the rest of the world?

Value No. 1: Freedom to Choose Way of Life

Value No. 2: Concern for the Poor

Value No. 3: Quality and Affordable Education

Value No. 4: Economic Growth

Value No. 5: Abolish Death Penalty

Value No. 6: Speak the Truth in Love

Value No. 7: Eradicate Global Poverty

Value No. 8: Live within our Means; No Reckless Borrowing

Value No. 9: Every Citizen Equal Access to have Say on Human Flourishing, Common Good

Value No. 10: Meaningful employment

Value No. 11: Special Care for the Elderly


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