Flight 93, Christian Courage and the Call to Vote On this special edition of Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, Gary Bauer and former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann continue their conversation marking the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks and examining what they believe those events still teach Americans about courage, citizenship and responsibility. The discussion begins with United Flight 93, where passengers learned that the hijacking was part of a larger terrorist attack and made the decision to fight back. Bachmann highlights the passengers’ willingness to act together in the face of almost certain death and draws a parallel between their courage and the civic responsibility Americans carry today. “They Voted, and Then They Fought” Gary Bauer and Bachmann focus particularly on the fact that Flight 93 passengers reportedly discussed what they should do before attempting to retake the aircraft. To them, that moment represents something fundamental about the American experiment: ordinary citizens recognizing that circumstances required them to act rather than remain passive. Bachmann applies that lesson directly to the ballot box, arguing that Christians should view voting as a responsibility rather than an optional political activity. She urges churches and individual believers to become informed, register to vote and participate in elections. Christian Citizenship and the Direction of America The conversation then turns to the political and cultural direction of the United States. Bachmann and Bauer voice strong concerns about socialism, Marxism and what they describe as an alliance between elements of the radical political left and radical Islam. They argue that Americans should pay close attention to movements and candidates they believe threaten constitutional government, religious liberty and the country’s Judeo-Christian heritage. The views expressed in this program are those of the speakers. Their discussion includes political, religious and cultural analysis presented from a Christian conservative perspective. Why Churches Cannot Remain on the Sidelines A major theme throughout the program is the responsibility of Christians to remain engaged in public life. Bachmann argues that pastors do not have to become partisan political operatives in order to encourage biblical citizenship, voter registration and participation in elections. She and Bauer contend that relatively small numbers of votes can determine important races and that Christian disengagement can have significant consequences for public policy and religious freedom. Christians and Antisemitism The final portion of the discussion turns to the rise of antisemitism. Bauer asks why Christians must reject hatred of Jewish…
