My friend forwarded an email from her mother to me. She said it was entertaining; such a smart working woman (like her mother) still strongly believes in God, and that's the reason why she is supporting McCain. It was quite personal, but for me, it was apparently interesting to see how religions are involved with politics in America.
Religions and politics are totally divided and no one tries to mix it together in Japan. There is no God in Buddhism, and there are too many Gods in Shintoism (almost the same as Greek mythology) anyway. Speaking of Emperor, I think that he was believed as God by those brain-washed people during those war eras. Before and after, we always know he is important and symbolized, but he is just another individual like us (except those super-right-wing minorities). Emperor has absolutely no power over politics in Japan right now. Instead of religions, moral issues are involved with politics in Japan, but it's debatable as well.
By the way, I really like the Mr Colin Powell's comment about what America is. That makes me want to be a part of it.
"I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the [Republican] Party say... such things as 'Well, you know that Mr Obama is a Muslim.' Well the correct answer is, 'He's not a Muslim, he's a Christian, he's always been a Christian.' But the really right answer is, 'What if he is?' Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is 'No,' that's not America."
