What are the strengths/weaknesses of the candidates statements? Listening to the two candidates for president's opinions and views allowed us to form opinions and analyze the strength and weakness of each candidate. Mitt Romney begins his speech with staggering statistics: the number of people on food stamps for example. His approach is to reduce the national debt which will fix the economy and help the less fortunate. He also plans to create 12 million new jobs, which he believes will create more opportunities. He will make cuts to the national budget, and will stand for faith-based organizations. He concludes with, "You have my word. I will proceed carefully." Romney's statement has strengths and weaknesses. For example, Romney plans to create new jobs for those that are struggling to find work. However, I believe that Romney should make sure to include a plan to train people for the jobs that they want to find: to prepare them for going out in the world and working. Barack Obama begins his speech by stating that he cannot "sit idly by" when he hears devastating stories of a single mother struggling to put food on the table, or a child born into poverty. He stands to protect other's faiths, and insists it comes first, even among the budget crisis. He believes in massive tax cuts, and states that the government can't solve every problem. Overall, Obama has a plan of action and has many great components of his plan. However, he must be sure to assist directly in the issue of poverty and hunger, instead of focusing on tax cuts and the budget crisis.

Project HOME

Project Home works for both justice and charity for the homeless. They temporarily provide with a place to stay, which solely provides for them while they are at the shelter (charity). However, Project HOME has many programs that do not simply provide space for the homeless, but allow them to get back on their own two feet so that they may be able to provide for themselves once again (justice). For example, Project HOME has supportive housing programs that allow people to learn how to be self-sufficient and reach their fullest potential. In my opinion, Project HOME does more than simple works of charity: what they do brings justice to the homeless. Additionally, they provide ‘apartments’ for the homeless, in which they pay a rent. This helps those without a home to feel like they are working for their home. It offers a more affordable solution to regular real estate, and a better solution to living on the streets. The old saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” holds true in this situation. Although other homeless shelters do great things by feeding people and providing them with a warm place to stay, they are not teaching these people how to be self-sufficient and provide for themselves. Project HOME puts the tools in place for these people to live on their own. I think that project HOME’s most important program is their supportive housing programs. It allows these people to ‘break the cycle of homelessness’ and become self-sufficient. The program’s levels of housing offer entry level housing, transitional housing, and permanent housing, to help the individual get back on his or her two feet again. Overall, I think that Sister Mary Scullion is doing great works of charity AND justice to help the homeless. Her selfless acts to help people off the streets are improving people’s lives every day.

I think that it is very admirable that the author of this post is trying to forgive Osama bin Laden for the terrible terrorist attacks of 9/11. He even lost three people in September 11th, and feels anger towards bin Laden as he says, "I lost two dear friends and my wife lost a cousin in the attacks of September 11, 2001. I know I wanted the terrorists to die for what they did." However, due to the immense planning that bin Laden went through to organize the terrorist attacks, I believe he should not be forgiven: at least not yet. Although the attacks occurred eleven years ago, I believe that the wound is still too fresh for forgiveness. To me, forgiveness means completely absolving a person of their wrongs and alleviating any pain they, or we, might have from the instance. Forgiving also means forgetting: not bringing up the situation again to the person even if we are hurt in the future. Forgiveness is part of the Christian story, and it is present in the Bible. Forgiveness is present in both the old and the new testaments. Moses helps his people escape the tyranny of Egypt: but forgives the slave-drivers that killed many of his people. In the New Testament, when Jesus was hanging on the cross, he forgave the Romans for hanging him there. He does this because he says that the Romans do not know what they are doing. Overall, I think that forgiveness is something that must be learned, and attained gradually. To me, it is too early to forgive Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda for the horrible things they have done. But our Christian nature teaches us to learn to forgive, and in this case, gradually and over time. The instances in the Bible show us that we can learn to forgive, and that forgiveness is a very important part of life.