[upbeat music]

On November 19th, 1863, as the towering yet stooped Abraham Lincoln peered across the killing fields of Gettysburg, he declared, quote, "It is for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.

That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.

That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Close quote.

Lincoln's challenge was to save democracy.

As we see it today, was it worth it? Bishop Robert Barron, in this most political of years on democracy, the good, the bad, and the ugly, now.

What is democracy? We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

But yeah, we have to watch our elected officials, and we have to be aware of that tendency toward corruption, absolutely.

Uh, what, what concrete steps would you take in Congress to protect family farms from federal regulations, foreign land ownership, trade policies that hurt producers?

Uh, yeah, just anything to cut regulations on farmers.

Uh, one, one big regulation, or one regulation that we have in place is, is, is the DEF fluid that goes on, that goes in this equipment now, the, uh, diesel exhaust fluid.

Uh, when the warranty runs out on a, on a piece of new equipment, uh, you start having trouble with that DEF.

Even the, uh, service mechanics that come from the dealership, they can't fix it.

They gotta start changing out parts.

It's, it's, it's a nightmare for farmers.

Uh, w- what are some things that you're really proud of that you've been able to accomplish, and what are some things you wish you could take back?

Eighth generation, uh, eighth-generation farmer, and, um, so i- is that one of the biggest difference bet- differences between you and Senator Taylor?

Yes, sir, and I'm al- also a, a small business owner.

I do have a construction company.

We move, uh, move, uh, site work and utilities, move earth and, and things like that.

Um, yeah, and I, and I'm from the, uh, uh, the rural part, well, part of the rural part of the district.

But as you know, this district s- stretches from Bedford County in the east all the way to, uh, to Memphis, but it's mainly made up of small town Tennessee, r- rural community, communities, farming communities.

And, uh, I just, I think I'm a better fit for the, for the district than what, than what he is.

So talk a little bit a- a- about that.

How concerned should we be here, and what are you going to do about it if you're elected?

Well, I'm going to be elected, and look, this district is plus 20 Republicans, 20%.

Republicans go out and vote on Election Day.

A Republican will be elected.

I've stood toe-to-toe with Justin Pearson, with Justin Jones in the State House.

I've seen them act a fool.

I know what they do.

Yeah, I'll be real quick here.

Notre

Dame.

And listening to, because of a child of mine, listening to the architectural program they're talking about.

And they were so much about the notion that... basically designing something purely for function, designing something with disregard, if not a fashionable disregard for the aesthetically pleasing.

It is dead and gone as soon as the paint dries, as soon as the concrete hardens and so on.

And yet, and it's also something, to some extent, it's deadening to the soul, like you just mentioned.

So as you said, we all know, when you travel to Europe, you go to these incredible churches, hopefully attending Mass there, but you're also walking through them, and these cathedrals, they lift you to a soaring new level that a modern bunker-style function over form type of does not do anything.

Yeah, it's wonderful.

Todd Warner is Bishop Robert Barron.

Segment one, the nature of beauty.

In book one of his sublime poem, Endymion, John Keats writes, quote, a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Its loveliness increases.

It will never pass into nothingness, but still will keep a bower quiet for us and a sleep full of sweet dreams and health and quiet breathing.

Therefore, on every morrow, we are wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the earth, in spite of despondence, of the human dearth of noble natures, of the gloomy days, of all the unhealthy and over-darkened ways made for our searching.

Yes, in spite of all, some shape of beauty moves away the pall from our dark spirits.

and