tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post116762365093293568..comments2024-03-10T10:54:59.776-07:00Comments on Ben Witherington: President Ford and Rev. FordBen Witheringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1168118872353753852007-01-06T13:27:00.000-08:002007-01-06T13:27:00.000-08:00East Timor-- Did it occur to you Donald that there...East Timor-- Did it occur to you Donald that there were more factors involved than you seem to know about? Like for instance the fact that our country was in no mood or place to be prepared to be sending troops into another southeastern jungle situation? And frankly, there are a lot of complaints I have about Kissinger who was the architect of such policy. To accuse someone of being complicit in genocide when he had just learned the hard lesson that we do not have an inalienable right to invade someone else's country without permission or a request for help is a bridge way too far. The same applies to the complaint about Jimmy Carter.<BR/><BR/>BW3Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1168095557910667092007-01-06T06:59:00.000-08:002007-01-06T06:59:00.000-08:00Ben, that is very interesting. Thanks for the hist...Ben, that is very interesting. Thanks for the history.Jonathan Moorheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03687367307942260277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1168090419356056372007-01-06T05:33:00.000-08:002007-01-06T05:33:00.000-08:00I have never have had strong feelings on Ford one ...I have never have had strong feelings on Ford one way or another. But people had plenty of time to critique him while he was alive, I don't think it's asking too much to focus on his positive qualities during his funeral/mourning, just as any of us pastors would do at any funeral we officiated. Apparently though, his critics here are most outraged that he didn't fight enough wars and drop enough bombs, and also didn't believe that the U.S had the ability to make the rest of the world behave.Bill Barnwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519140832310178588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1168023905607846902007-01-05T11:05:00.000-08:002007-01-05T11:05:00.000-08:00Well said, Dr. Ben...as usual! Thanks for sharing...Well said, Dr. Ben...as usual! Thanks for sharing your personal story and insights. You already know I feel much of the same way.<BR/><BR/>Many blessings to you and your family in Kentucky!Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12899277480213850775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167934864022333742007-01-04T10:21:00.000-08:002007-01-04T10:21:00.000-08:00Thank you, Ben, for sharing these personal and pre...Thank you, Ben, for sharing these personal and precious memories with us. May God continue to use you to bring comfort and courage to others in the new year.<BR/><BR/>-billBill Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06604123892329482768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167911035241325932007-01-04T03:43:00.000-08:002007-01-04T03:43:00.000-08:00Thanks Art for sharing, you are right about all of...Thanks Art for sharing, you are right about all of that. <BR/><BR/>There was an interesting interview this week with Ford's Supreme Court nominee, Justice Stevens. He was considered moderate and middle of the road then by Republicans, and today he is considered a liberal by the Bush wing of the Republican party. This is not because Stevens has moved to the left. Its because unfortunately a large part of Evangelical America and its Republican political friends have become reactionary.....<BR/><BR/>BenBen Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167885756779215832007-01-03T20:42:00.000-08:002007-01-03T20:42:00.000-08:00Ben,Thanks for a loving post about Mike and your e...Ben,<BR/>Thanks for a loving post about Mike and your earlier experience with President Ford. While I might not agree with some of President Ford's decisions, I respect the courage represented in his decisions, especially given the difficult position he was in when he assumed office. In the main, history has justified many of his decisions.<BR/><BR/>As for Vietnam, you rightly argue that we should not have been there in the first place. After the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu, this nation signed on to allow national elections to be held in Vietnam. But the Dulles doctrine, which posited a domino effect should SE Asia fall to communism, prevented that election from ever happening. But this country's withdrawal from Vietnam did not lead to a communist takeover all the way to the shores of Australia.<BR/><BR/>We also have to remember the circumstances that led to an American buildup in Vietnam. Namely, the report of shots "fired across the bow" of a Navy ship, a report later shown to be less than true. (Sort of like assurances that we knew were WMD were in Iraq.) The US Senate, in a 98-2 vote, sanctioned a buildup of American military might and action, and we were on the slippery slope to military disaster.<BR/><BR/>Today, while my son serves in Afghanistan, I see too many parallels to the events of 40 years ago when I began my college teaching career and saw my students or siblings of my students drafted into military service. <BR/><BR/>Still, the issue is not to berate Ford for what he did or didn't do. It is to recognize a man for service given to this country, both while in office and afterwards. Many, I'm sure, were surprised when President Carter cited the number of projects the two of them had worked together on. Too much about our current politics is divisively corrosive, and I am heartened by the legacy of Ford and Carter to find ways to work together for the common good.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, again, Ben. I also enjoy reading your column in Bible Review/Biblical Archaeology.<BR/><BR/>artarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06427207476427880966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167869986595973152007-01-03T16:19:00.000-08:002007-01-03T16:19:00.000-08:00Ben~ What an awesome way to end your post, by bles...Ben~ <BR/>What an awesome way to end your post, by blessing his tribe.<BR/>I appreciate that pure form of respect.<BR/>Thanks for your thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167854785158043882007-01-03T12:06:00.000-08:002007-01-03T12:06:00.000-08:00I just read the original post. After watching all ...I just read the original post. After watching all the coverage of Pres. Ford's death, the national mourning, and the funeral, this reflection really adds a human interest angle to the Ford presidency.<BR/><BR/>It seems like Gerald Ford was the "accidental president" if ever there was one. What should not be overlooked is that he came to the presidency during one of the most difficult times in our nation's history. Given that, I think he handled his 29 months in office well. George Will has a recent column in the Washington Post where he argues that Ford is exactly what the nation needed at that point.Andrew C. Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00219444874913518106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167853558411865982007-01-03T11:45:00.000-08:002007-01-03T11:45:00.000-08:00His email address is Fordmg@wfu.edu. Tell him I s...His email address is Fordmg@wfu.edu. Tell him I said 'hey'. (I'm now a senior at the University.)Scott Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305590186245680695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167853447848629382007-01-03T11:44:00.000-08:002007-01-03T11:44:00.000-08:00For Ben, Katie Day, and Susane,I know Mike Ford b/...For Ben, Katie Day, and Susane,<BR/><BR/>I know Mike Ford b/c I've worked with him at Wake Forest. He is now the Director of Student Development thereScott Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305590186245680695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167842533321256262007-01-03T08:42:00.000-08:002007-01-03T08:42:00.000-08:00http://www.thesignsofthetimes.net/wbcvideonews/wbc...http://www.thesignsofthetimes.net/wbcvideonews/wbcvideonewsJohnRandallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16406341378934044818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167842348659524642007-01-03T08:39:00.000-08:002007-01-03T08:39:00.000-08:00For a completely shocking look at Ford, look at th...For a completely shocking look at Ford, look at the video this fundamentalist Baptist church put together. They say Ford is worse than Saddam Hussein! Listen to this pastor on the video, he is very serious:<BR/><BR/>http://www.thesignsofthetimes.net/wbcvideonews/wbcvideonews.htmlJohnRandallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16406341378934044818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167840312728098852007-01-03T08:05:00.000-08:002007-01-03T08:05:00.000-08:00I knew Mike at Wake Forest, and I knew Gail, only ...I knew Mike at Wake Forest, and I knew Gail, only just as an acquaintance. Mike dated my freshman roommate for a while. I would love to be able to send my condolences to Mike and Gail, but I have no idea how to get in touch with him. Does anybody know?susanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357456789059088044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167835789537912732007-01-03T06:49:00.000-08:002007-01-03T06:49:00.000-08:00Thanks Ben. I was a classmate of yours at GCTS. ...Thanks Ben. I was a classmate of yours at GCTS. I remember the not-so-secret-service guys reading Argosy in the library. Then, Gail (a friend from high school) and Mike came to my own wedding along with their entourage. It must have been tough for them to have any semblance of a normal twentysomething, grad school existence. Do you know where they are now? I too have lost touch with them. <BR/><BR/>Katie (Donna) DayKatie Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17987797595784339862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167797855269946452007-01-02T20:17:00.000-08:002007-01-02T20:17:00.000-08:00What a great post and great memories. Thanks for ...What a great post and great memories. Thanks for sharing them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167778179391110242007-01-02T14:49:00.000-08:002007-01-02T14:49:00.000-08:00Hi Jon--- You are quite right, I meant Leighton Fo...Hi Jon--- You are quite right, I meant Leighton Ford, sometimes my brain spells aurally rather than visually, which seems to happen regularly with musicians-- spelling how it sounds. And you are probably right, since many Presidents have done worse. What is overlooked however is that we were in a horrible war which caused no end of conflict at home, as well as abroad. Nixon's faults in the Watergate mess were magnified because of the other things he had made mistakes on.<BR/><BR/>My real hero in that whole period was Sam Ervin, the Senator of N.C. who was not about to let those boys off the hook. I remember so well his saying to John Dean who had been busily lieing on the witness stand-- "God is not mocked Mr. Dean, whatsoever a man soweth, that he shall reap as well." He was right.<BR/><BR/>BW3Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167777819596428572007-01-02T14:43:00.000-08:002007-01-02T14:43:00.000-08:00First of all Traditionalist, the Vietnam war was s...First of all Traditionalist, the Vietnam war was something we should never have been involved in in the first place, it was never a declared war at all, and we simply lost. Get over it-- we lost that war. We were not capable of fighting a guerilla war then, and we seem to be very little better at it now. <BR/><BR/>To Mark I say you must not be a very good student of history. There were the Watergate hearings and we know perfectly well what Nixon was guilty of, not the least of which was lieing to the American public, covering it up, lieing some more about the breakin at the Democratic headquarters etc. We could debate whether this was an impeachable offense, but we won't. What President Ford was concerned about was the state of our nation, which was in a lot of turmoil between the war and Watergate. Not for Nixon's sake alone but for the nation's sake somebody had to stop the bleeding, and Ford was brave enough to do. It is of course true that Ford made some mistakes, including with the Kurds. His advisors let him down at various points, and he accepted the blame. <BR/><BR/>Having lived through that whole period,and having heard some of the story from the inside as well as the outside, I stand by what I said about President Ford. <BR/><BR/>BW3Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167777712094523692007-01-02T14:41:00.000-08:002007-01-02T14:41:00.000-08:00I think you meant to type, LEIGHTON Ford, no?I think you meant to type, LEIGHTON Ford, no?Jon Risinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14949115149854967199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167777575225373952007-01-02T14:39:00.000-08:002007-01-02T14:39:00.000-08:00Do you suppose that President Nixon --- to you: "T...Do you suppose that President Nixon --- to you: "Tricky Dick, who schemed and lied and got caught" --- was guilty of little more than many other presidents, who simply were never called on the same actions? Just wondering.Jon Risinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14949115149854967199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167656451615945942007-01-01T05:00:00.000-08:002007-01-01T05:00:00.000-08:00I appreciated your comments as well. I am a bit t...I appreciated your comments as well. I am a bit too young to remember much of Gerald Ford's time in office (My earliest memories of the presidency are from the Carter years). My earliest thoughts of Ford were Chevy Chase's impersonations on Saturday Night Live. It is unfortunate that it is after death that people realize what an important and respected man he really was. You might be interested in an article on the Christianity Today web-site from 1974 anticipating Ford's presidency. It is interesting to look back on. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/decemberweb-only/152-42.0.htmlSJBedardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02858451603363183786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167647807223644152007-01-01T02:36:00.000-08:002007-01-01T02:36:00.000-08:00Ben, Amen. I appreciate your sharing and thoughts ...Ben, Amen. I appreciate your sharing and thoughts here. With all respect to President Carter, I would have liked to have seen him in office for four more years. But he was there for a special time, and from what I'm picking up seemed specially suited, in character and philosophy to the work and challenges at hand. Thanks.Ted M. Gossardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1167645285059782032007-01-01T01:54:00.000-08:002007-01-01T01:54:00.000-08:00Ben,What a fascinating post! Hearing this only in...Ben,<BR/>What a fascinating post! Hearing this only increases my respect for President Ford.Jim Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01439815249502910190noreply@blogger.com