>>>>>>Koran don't teach a lot of things most of the leaders of Iran do. Just like the Jimaah Islamiyah here in the Philippines, this group are extremist at best but professing they believe in God. God-fearing people don't do things against God laws, and if they erred, there is always repentance which will lead to forgiveness then to restoration. The physical consequences though must not be lifted until justice is served based on the law of the land.
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>>>>>>A God-fearing person have these characteristics: Patience, Love, Joy, Self-Control, Peace, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Long-Suffering...
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>>>>>>No religion that teaches contrary to the above. In essence, it's generic...
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>>>>>Well, that's exactly my point. SAYING that you love the Qur'an, or the Bible, or the Most Holy Book, or whatever, doesn't prove that you really do. In the case of Sarah Palin, well, I haven't followed her career, but let's assume that she SAYS that she has such-and-such a point of view on the Bible, or that she believes in God, that doesn't prove much either. You have to watch her ACTIONS. Perhaps she has many of those characteristics you mention, perhaps she doesn't (I don't know). But your original message gave the impression that, in your opinion, she was to be trusted BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE BELIEVED IN GOD, not the other way round.
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>>>>I got your point. It's a sad reality here in the Philippines that most of our leaders have all the tools and skills needed to be a good president, but most of them were swallowed by greed because they were surrounded by people who aren't God-fearing. Our president today is not as brilliant as the former presidents, but I think he is doing better than them because he based his decisions on convictions and principles of righteousness. Most of all, he is surrounded by people who stand against unrighteousness and have the moral ascendancy to govern.
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>>>I can understand your view given prior leaders of your country. At least there must be shoes left-over in the stores for the people to buy now. :o)
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>>Are you referring to former first lady Imelda Marcos who has all kinds of shoes in Malacanang warehouse?
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Yes, that was meant as humor :o)

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>>>Noynoy Aquino came across as one of the first honest candidates in a long time. However, he does come from a family of prior leaders, does he not? Isn't he the son of Corazon Aquino and a 4th generation of a family of politicians? I'm glad to hear the Philippines are doing well with him in charge. It's been quite a road to get there hasn't it?
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>Yes. Noynoy Aquino is the son of former pres. Corazon Aquino (deceased) and democracy icon former Sen. Ninoy Aquino Jr. (deceased) who was assasinated in 1983. It's quite a long road to get to our dreamland Philippines. Of course, if Noynoy wouldn't be corrupted along the way, Philippines will be better of in the next 6 years or so. We've tried all types of leaders : brilliant-marcos (20 years), homemaker-corazon-aquino (6 years), militaryman-ramos (6 years), actor-estrada (2 years), and brilliant-economist-arroyo (10 years), but Philippines was pulled-down to its lowest. It runs 2nd to Bangladesh at the bottom of the standing.
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>That's exactly what I want to point out. Remove "God-fearing" in the equation of leadership, then it's almost guaranteed that the nation will go downward spiral. Noynoy is a Catholic but his decisions are not catholic-centric but Filipino-centric. He doesn't favor religious-centric leadership. He mimics the style of JFK in general which is good because Philippines is composed of people with different religious affiliations. And I think favoring religious interest was the biggest mistake of his mother Corazon Aquino when she became president for 6 years. Corazon Aquino was honest enough and sincere but sincerely wrong at times because she was easily swayed by voice of people surrounding her who have self-interest more than the country's interest.