The Change That Can't Be Changed
by Froma Harrop
The Serenity Prayer, written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, hangs on countless American walls. I grew up with it. Whatever the reader's religious belief, or lack thereof, the prayer packs a world of comfort in a few simple lines. The most popular version goes:
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."
Our presidential contenders only occasionally incorporate these teachings ...
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4 Comments | Post Comment
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Posted by: Pat Tripeny
Comment: #1
Mon May 5, 2008 2:21 PM
Re: Matt
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Posted by: Pat Tripeny
Comment: #2
Mon May 5, 2008 2:27 PM
Reinhold Niebuhr is not the author of the "Serenity Prayer." Please correct this. I believe St. Francis of Assisi is the author.
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Posted by: Matt
Comment: #3
Thu May 1, 2008 11:13 PM
Eliminating the federal tax on gasoline would provide at least some measure of immediate relief at the pumps. It is a short-term solution. Conservation is fine, but A) it's not enough to make an appreciable dent in the issue of high fuel prices - even if everyone in America started driving a Prius tomorrow, in 6 years we'd be right back where we started. And B) discussing alternative fuels is great, but right now technology simply hasn't brought us a viable alternative...and these high fuel prices are going to kill our economy while we wait. The answer lies in the elimination of ethanol subsidies, an end to ethanol mandates, an easing of federal and state regulations on fuel blends....as well as more drilling and more refineries. Eventually technology will bring us something else at an affordable price- fuel cells, electric cars, something...but that's probably decades away. In the meantime, I'm spending $50 to fill up a medium-sized passenger car and it is running me broke. McCain's proposal is the only thing I've heard from the presidential candidates that makes even a lick of sense.
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Posted by: Casimir Kukielka
Comment: #4
Thu May 1, 2008 4:52 AM
St Francis of Assisi predates Reinhold Niebuhr in application of the prayer, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."
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