He taught that “the soul takes on the character of what it loves,” writing, “to see what a people is like, we should look at what they love.” The church father shared this view in City of God, where he presented love, not law, as the thing that binds a society together. “Biden was honest in the speech, acknowledging that unity would not be found in agreement on every policy proposal, but in shared purpose and affection.”Īs Biden listed America’s common values, like opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honor, and the truth, he quoted a teaching from Augustine-“a saint of my church”-that “a people are a multitude defined by the common objects of their love.” “It drew on the deepest sources of meaning Biden could draw on, including faith,” said Wear, who served under President Obama. ![]() Michael Wear, founder of Public Square Strategies LLC and a previous White House staffer, called the inaugural address “a soulful appeal for a substantive unity” and the best speech of Biden’s life. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real,” but told Americans that “history, faith, and reason show the way of unity.” ![]() In his first remarks as president, Biden continued to use the “soul” language that was the mantra of his campaign, saying, “My whole soul is in this, bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation, and I ask every American to join me in this cause.” He acknowledged that, “speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. In his inaugural address calling for national unity, President Joe Biden turned to Christian teachings, including the Psalms and Saint Augustine, to acknowledge the pain of the current political moment and his desire to bring Americans together around common values.ĭespite the adjustments made to this year’s ceremony, the event offered the typical display of American civil religion-prayers and appeals to national aspirations-with nods to Biden’s Catholic faith throughout.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |