On the heels of the current election, another series of competitive encounters is getting under way: basketball. There are parallels.   » Read more…

What would a “servant leader” look like as president? The concept is simple. This is a leader who strives to serve the people whose lives his or her decisions affect. We need a president who is not simply looking for ways to enhance his own wealth and situation or the wealth and situation of his friends, colleagues and supporters, but who genuinely works to improve the lot of all and especially the lot of the poor and disenfranchised.   » Read more…

The starting point for my political views is the question of what is best for my country and for the world. At one time in history, a person’s allegiance was to his or her city, for example, Rome, Venice, Ragusa, Paris or London.   » Read more…

My perspective of the appropriate role for Goshen College in encouraging political engagement:

If one is truly interested in establishing a more just society, public service should be one of the very good options provided to students at Goshen College. Public policy has great potential to change society for good or ill.   » Read more…

Personal reflection on GC’s faith/politics influences on me since 1943:
Stimulated, nourished and challenged by the Goshen College environment, I find myself, like a host of faculty colleagues over many years, a committed peacemaker. Since my case is not untypical, it may speak, in part at least, for a whole institutional ethos.   » Read more…

General Petraeus and President Bush are right. So is President Ahmadinejad. Bad relations between the U.S. and Iran are a major international crisis of our time. Into a volatile mix of Iraqian chaos, peak oil, uranium enrichment and domestic election campaigns, Washington and Teheran persist in striking sparks that could ignite a catastrophic regional war.   » Read more…

What would a servant leader as a U.S. president look like? A servant leader as U.S. president would be one engaged in respectful listening to those with differing points of view based on an understanding of the history and culture from which they speak. A servant leader would seek advice while working cooperatively and creatively to reconcile differences.   » Read more…

How did my Goshen College experience influence my views on political issues? At Goshen College, I have been become more aware of the U.S. influence on the rest of the world. Our views and our policies affect people around the globe.   » Read more…

How does my faith inform my political views, engagement and assessment of candidates? Growing up, I recall the intrigue of listening to Uncle Frank who talked “politics” when he came to visit. Our family did not get involved in the election of governmental leaders.   » Read more…

How does my faith inform my political views, engagement and assessment of candidates? I hope my “political views, engagement and assessment of candidates” proceed directly from the five convictions I previously stated. I proceed, but not with anything resembling ultimate faith in, or commitment to, political processes.   » Read more…

How did my Goshen College experience influence my views on political issues? As a student at Goshen in the latter 1950s, I moved within in an intellectual and spiritual climate much invigorated especially by: (1) the “Anabaptist vision” emphasis of seminary dean Harold S. Bender; and (2) the social ethics of Guy F. Hershberger, which for Mennonites brought a fresh emphases on applying Biblical pacifism to a wide variety of social issues   » Read more…

What is there about this presidential election that is important to you and has you wanting to vote or be engaged?

My vote will go to a peace candidate. I hope for improvement in our relations with the world’s nations. I expect enough economic understanding to cope with   » Read more…