Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Uncle Joe

(65,899 posts)
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 05:49 PM 11 hrs ago

James Talarico, the soft-spoken Democratic teacher winning over Texans

(snip)

"This is a spiritual battle. Between selfishness and service. Between greed and greatness," he said.

(snip)

"Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in America," Talarico said during a blistering attack at a recent campaign rally in San Antonio.

Talarico comes from modest economic roots and a deeply Christian family. He credits his mother, who fled an abusive relationship when he was an infant, for instilling his values.

(snip)

Talarico "was a public-school teacher in San Antonio before he was a politician. That's not a resume line. That's a value system," Cogdell said in a statement to AFP.

(snip)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/james-talarico-soft-spoken-democratic-020742880.html

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
James Talarico, the soft-spoken Democratic teacher winning over Texans (Original Post) Uncle Joe 11 hrs ago OP
James Talarico is what Texas needs ... right now! FakeNoose 10 hrs ago #1
I like the cut of this man's jib. MarineCombatEngineer 5 hrs ago #2
And, in 2023 he delivered the most effective sermon against Christian Nationalism I've seen pat_k 4 hrs ago #3

pat_k

(14,323 posts)
3. And, in 2023 he delivered the most effective sermon against Christian Nationalism I've seen
Mon Jun 15, 2026, 12:08 AM
4 hrs ago

If you haven't seen it, it's a must watch.



. . .
He told us we would know them by their fruits.

Jesus includes.

Christian Nationalism excludes.

Jesus liberates.

Christian Nationalism controls.

Jesus saves.

Christian Nationalism kills.

Jesus started a universal movement based on mutual love.

Christian Nationalism is a sectarian movement based on mutual hate.

Jesus came to transform the world.

Christian Nationalism is here to maintain the status quo.

They have co-opted the Son of God. They've turned this humble rabbi into a gun-toting, gay-bashing, science-denying, money-loving, fear-mongering fascist.
. . .

If this was truly a Christian nation, we would love all of our LGBTQ neighbors. If this was truly a Christian nation, we would make sure every child in this state and in this country was housed, fed, clothed, educated, and insured.

If this was truly a Christian nation, we would never make it a Christian nation because we know the table of fellowship is open to everybody, including our Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and atheist neighbors.
. . .

The closest thing we have to the kingdom of heaven is a multiracial, multicultural democracy where power is truly shared among all people. Something that's yet to exist in human history.
. . .

When someone asked Jesus to name his most important commandment, he cheats and gives two -- two that he says are related. The first is to love God. The second, he said, "Is like it: love they neighbor as thyself." It's like it because when I recognize the divine image in myself, I can't help but recognize it in my neighbor; whether they're Christian or not, whether they're religious or not. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus specifically defines neighbor as some different from us, racially, economically, politically, religiously. God loves diversity; God loves variety. Just look around this beautiful planet of ours.
. . .

God is so much bigger than our human categories. God is not a Presbyterian. God is not a Christian.

God it not a noun at all.

God is a verb.

God is not a being.

God is being itself.

God is love.


And that's why Jesus is against anything that gets in the way of that love between neighbors, including religion.
. . .

That's why he says sinners will get to the kingdom of heaven before religious people do. Sorry to everyone here. I know you came all this way.
. . .

The kingdom of God inverts the power dynamics of "all the kingdoms in the world."

True strength is vulnerability.

True status is equality.

True wealth is sharing.

And we as Christians are called to realize that kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven," not by force, but by faith.

Jesus asked us to have the faith of a mustard seed, trusting that by living and dying for love we give birth to a better world.

That's not easy to do.
. . .

Christian Nationalists are more committed to the love of power than the power of love.

And it exposes a lack of faith because the opposite of faith is not doubt. Doubt is a healthy part of any faith.

The opposite of faith is control. When we stop trusting God, when we stop trusting love, we start taking control for ourselves.

Christian Nationalists want to control what we read, who we marry, where we travel, when we have children. They want to control our minds and our bodies.

"O ye of little faith."
. . .

Latest Discussions»Editorials & Other Articles»James Talarico, the soft-...