The Circle of Protection

       The Circle of Protection is an excellent idea because many Americans are struggling financially in our current economy. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has a five part economic plan to create 12 million jobs in office by the end of 2016. He aims to reduce budget deficits and poverty, but to do so he must make budget cuts. Also, he supports means testing, in which money goes to those in need and less goes to those who are well off. He wants to help the sick and elderly, and and the poor and homeless for generations to come. President Barack Obama’s Christian faith guides him to support the Circle of Protection. He believes that everyone should have access to education, food, and a secure retirement. His office of faith-based and neighborhood partnerships has expanded to work with groups around the country to help the needy. Obama intends to pay down the nation’s debt in a responsible way without penalizing those who already have money. He wants to create an economy that works for everyone in America and continues for posterity.

       Compared to the Church, Obama and Romney have similar views because they do not want to take from the rich and give to the poor by simple charity but instead create a long term plan that will provide justice and aid to those impoverished.

       I think that both candidates have strong plans, but the matter of who actually executes their plan will be interesting to see in the coming months.

Project HOME

       Project HOME works to eradicate poverty and homelessness in the Philadelphia region and tries to educate the homeless about how to end the cycle. I believe that in general Project HOME promotes justice rather than charity because they provide information and resources to better the lives of the homeless and rid them from their addictions and illnesses. They give families a house to call home but do not enable the homeless, instead trying to help them find permanent housing on their own.

      Traditional homeless seem to focus on temporary housing rather than a permanent, stable lifestyle for its residents. Therefore, Project HOME is a better model because it looks to improve the entire lives of the families rather than just a short-term solution.

       I think the most important program they provide is the education for addiction. Addiction seems to be a vicious cycle for those who live in poverty because it seems like an easy and temporary escape. People who are addicted waste any money they do have on drugs or alcohol rather than food, so I think it is necessary to educate, especially the youth, about how to avoid that dark path.

September 11

     On September 11, 2001, our entire country was forever changed. Many lost their lives, as well as family members, friends, coworkers, etc. The mourning process lasted many years and is still going on to day, but thanks to the hard work of construction workers and planners, a new building has been erected in honor of September 11^th and the lives lost.

       Osama Bin Laden was the terrorist behind all the destruction and sadness that occurred on September 11. He formulated the plan to destroy the twin towers, and all of the other plane crashes. Despite his malicious intentions, I believe that the American people as a whole should forgive Osama Bin Laden because the more hatred we foster in our hearts, the less we are able to move on and rebuild what was lost. Although his actions should never be forgotten and he will always be remembered as a terrible man, I think that letting go of the stress that comes along with hatred helps the healing process. It is much easier for me to say to forgive him because although I am an American, I was not directly affected by the tragedy. I am sure that those whose families and friends died struggle every day to forgive and put Osama Bin Laden behind them.

      Several examples in the Bible can support the decision to forgive Osama Bin Laden. The Prodigal son is a story of forgiveness in which the son strays off the wrong path and betrays his father, but his father lets him back in. This story relates because although Osama Bin Laden was a terrorist, God may let him back in the Kingdom if he was truly sorry, which I do not believe he was. In Matthew 5:24, it says “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” This verse demonstrates that despite the tragedy, we should forgive Osama Bin Laden for his horrendous deeds, but not forget the repercussions they brought to our world, because he is a child of God even though he disobeyed him.