Moyers Video example essay topic

Moyers vs. Frontline The difference between the Frontline video and the Moyers video is mainly that the Moyers video deals with normative ethics and the Frontline video deals with discriptive ethics. The Frontline video frighten ly describes how George Walker bush came to develop the principles and values which guide his policy making. The Moyers video, on the other hand, dealt with how Sister Joan felt about the president's policies, and what she hoped the conservative Christian right would do to become more succinct with gospel teachings. Both sides have elements of both normative and discriptive ethics, but for the most part, they are polar in motivation. The Moyers video gives a rather surprising account of the Bush policies from the perspective of a very politically active Catholic nun. Sister Joan criticizes the president for everything from his policies on Iraq to the conservative view on abortion.

Sister Joan poignantly displays Bush as an egotistical, confused absolutist who's own agenda is the only one he relies on. Not that Sister Joan is wrong, but the Moyers video paints him not as conniving, but as misguided. At the end of the Moyers video, one has a sense that he truly believes what he's doing is right. When he makes the comment as governor, that God wants him to be president, I think he really believes it. To make a statement like that isn't just megalomania, it's political suicide... unless you actually believe it and happen to be a member of a faith that believes God does things like pick presidents. The president's interest in faith-based initiatives, is perhaps best contrasted against Sister Joan's response to the Conservative pro-life argument.

Bush went against the constitution to allow religious institutions to relieve federal aid for community service programs, without being subjected to federal regulations. Nowhere, however, did he mention what faith would get the most funding. Bush had stated earlier that he didn't believe you were going to heaven without Jesus. He then showed an obvious favoritism towards Christianity when speaking about the new programs in the public forum. If this continues, he will no doubt use his faith over the constitution to begin taking away the rights of citizens.

One of the areas in jeopardy is the women's right to privacy. Sister Joan uses the best response I've heard to the conservative argument I've heard in a very long time: if you " re going to be pro-life, be pro-life, not just pro-birth. One of the problems with the 'new Republicans,' is that they label themselves as socially liberal and fiscally conservative. What that means is that they care about social issues, but not enough to pay for them. Sister Joan gets at the core of that matter, truly outlining how conservatives will often pick and choose their theology, where as people like Wallis, Sister Jan and myself, only want consistency.