The difference between what Kennedy and Lincoln said, they were both very clear. There wasn't anything to interpret. Being a person outside of churches and not always understanding "God talk", I do understand exactly what Kennedy is saying. I may not agree as it's irrelevant to me. But he isn't talking about something (a war) and calling it God's will, he's saying we must do God's work, which I would guess would come from the bible. There's obviously a difference, though Newt can't see it due to his playing martyr.
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Originally Posted by Kennedy
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.
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I can't find what exactly Newt and 'pubs are claiming to be Lincoln's qoute. I did find this from him and I'm guessing it's what they are referring to, or at least close enough.
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Originally Posted by Lincoln
I care not if God is on my side. My constant hope and prayer is that I may be found upon God's side.
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Which again, like Kennedy, it's clear that he hopes that he's doing God's work, not claiming what God's work is.
Now what Palin said..
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Originally Posted by Palin
Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do also what is right for this country -- that our leaders, our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure we are praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan.
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I agree that she didn't claim that the Iraq War is a "task that is from God'; no, she asked them to pray that it would turn out to be. Hope that something will turn out to be true is very different from saying it is.
That part of the speech, though I can understand how some read it otherwise, is not the clue IMO to her mindset on religion. What she said right before that completely contradicts her later claim about not presuming to know God's will.
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Originally Posted by Palin
[T]he reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln's words when he said -- first, he suggested never presume to know what God's will is, and I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words. But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that's a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side. That's what that comment was all about, Charlie.
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Even though she didn't say it exactly in that context, I'll except her claim that's what she meant. But, she claimed in the interview that she would never presume to know God's will, yet just prior to the Iraq comment, she said this...
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Originally Posted by Palin
I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that.
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She claimed that the gas line was God's will. So she does claim to know what God's will is. So when she goes into the next paragraph about the task from God and Iraq, it's easy to hindsight claim she meant this or that, but based on what she said just prior, it's silly to claim to know her intent 100%. It's also silly to claim some unfair anti-relgious movement in this country. She cantradicts herself and her words to follow are ambiguous.
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