Wicca Teachings: Politics And Public Speaking Are Hot Topics In College Classes

Politics And Public Speaking Are Hot Topics In College Classes

By Andy Smith

Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of former President John F. Kennedy's inauguration address, which is widely considered one of the greatest speeches in American history. Although many students who are attending college classes today were not alive when Kennedy was in office, his words still resonate with many Americans - young and old. The most repeated line from that 1961 speech is, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

In Japan and Tibet Buddhism has played a more secular role than in other countries, analogous to the struggles of the medieval European church for temporal authority. In Japan the great monasteries very nearly became the chief military as well as the chief political power and this danger was averted only by the destruction of Hieizan and other large establishments in the sixteenth century.

Ignoring the early 20th century class warfare rhetoric, we get insight into the minds of those that believe the government gives us our income. The political class believes that a tax cut is "giving more money" to millionaires. By that same logic, extending tax cuts for individuals making under 200k or couples making 250k is "giving" them money also. Those serving in Congress need to understand that Americans do not earn their income at the pleasure of the political ruling class, but rather "we the people" have allowed our government to take some of our money and freedom to fund the federal government.

Buddhism and Hinduism both have the idea that the monk or priest is a person who in virtue of ordination or birth lives on a higher level than others. He may teach and do good but irrespective of that it is the duty of the laity to support the priesthood. This doctrine is preached by Hinduism in a stronger form than by Buddhism. The intellectual superiority of the Brahmans as a caste was sufficiently real to ensure its acceptance and in politics they had the good sense to rule by serving, to be ministers and not kings. In theory and to a considerable extent in practice, the Brahmans and their gods are not an imperium in imperio but an imperium super imperium. The position was possible only because, unlike the Papacy and unlike the Lamas of Tibet, they had no Pope and no hierarchy. They produced no 'Beckets or Hildebrands and no Inquisition. They did not quarrel with science but monopolized it.

In 1913, the 16th amendment chipped away at the economic freedom that all Americans enjoyed so that the federal government could raise additional revenue. Since then, the Congress has been in perpetual debate regarding how much money they will "give" us or allow the American people to have as it is now in their power to take all of our income.

There is no interference with creeds provided they respect ethical and social conventions: interesting doctrines and rites are appreciated: the Government accepts and rewards the loyal co-operation of the Buddhist and Taoist priesthoods but maintains the right to restrict their activity should it take a wrong political turn or should an excessive increase in the number of monks seem a public danger. The Chinese Imperial Government successfully claimed the strangest powers of ecclesiastical discipline, since it promoted and degraded not only priests but deities.

JFK, like many other politicians, was a strong public speaker. Although it is considered to be one of the greatest fears of human beings, public speech is the focus of many college courses in the U.S. The ability to speak confidently and effectively can help individuals in almost every professional field. Strong communication skills can help during job interviews, business meetings and in networking.