During a presentation at St. Rita School in Alexandria, Sen. Sam
Brownback, R-Kan., shows a picture of the brain as he tells
students to develop their minds and their souls. (HENRIETTA GOMES
| CATHOLIC HERALD)
Students cheered as Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., entered the multi-purpose
room at St. Rita School in Alexandria last week during an assembly to
kick-off a distinguished speakers series.
Instead of answering questions from reporters on the campaign trail, the former
presidential candidate for the 2008 election fielded questions from second- through
eighth-graders.
In the relaxed setting, students were given the chance to ask the senator questions,
which ranged from “what are your greatest achievements as senator?” to “what
kind of car do you drive?”
When asked who he hopes to see win the 2008 election, Brownback joked that he
was hoping he would be president. Brownback, who announced that he was running
for president last January withdrew his bid in October due to “insufficient
funds,” according to his Web site. “We ran out of money,” he
told the students.
Rebuilding the family would have been one of Brownback’s top priorities
as president, he said. Families, he told students, are the biggest asset to the
country. Raising a good family is one of his own goals, said Brownback, who has
five children, two of whom are adopted. Now out of the running, he told students
he is backing Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
When asked about one of his greatest accomplishments as senator, he told the
students about the successful passage of his bill against human trafficking,
a modern form of slavery.
Raising an awareness of the dignity of life is key in changing the culture, said
Brownback. It is imperative to “look at people as being incredibly dignified.
Every person has dignity,” he said. The only way to change the culture
is to lead by example. “I’ve got to change myself in order to raise
the level of human dignity.”
A well-formed soul and developed mind are needed “for the good of this
country,” he told the attentive students.
Holding up a picture of the brain, the senator told the students that the human
brain is one of God’s most complex and intricate creations. “You
are fearfully and wonderfully made,” he said quoting the book of Psalms.
“God has made us a spiritual and physical entity,” he said,
encouraging the students to develop their minds and their souls.
Brownback told the students that 5 percent of the world’s population live
in the United States with 20 percent of the world’s economy.
“To whom much is given much is required. We’ve got to help other
people,” said Brownback, who came into the Catholic Church in 2002.
It is his faith that guides his politics, he said after his talk with the students. “You
can’t separate who you are from what you stand for.”
Henrietta Gomes can be reached at hgomes@catholicherald.com