For the next two weeks….www.mychinafortnight.blogspot.com. Check it out.
***Edit: Sorry, I had left out a “t” it should work now!****
Go vote now. It will make you feel big and strong. October 16, 2008
It’s getting ugly kids.
I don’t think I’ve weighed in about politics since I’ve kept this blog. It used to be a frequent theme when I was using livejournal a looong time ago. For those of you that haven’t known me for long, I will admit something. In my past I was very dedicated to the Republican Party. In fact, Alex P. Keaton dedicated. While most college girls had posters of Jeeter, Arod, and Heath Ledger on their dormitory room wall, I had an autographed framed picture of George W. Bush.
But things have changed for me. I can’t exactly pinpoint what it is, but over the course of the past two years, I’ve fallen out of love with it. I can’t stand to watch grown adults bicker and name call for hours on television. It breaks my heart that the votes of politicians are up for grabs to the highest bidder. I fail to see any real leadership coming out of Washington and I wonder where basic human dignity has run off to.
And when I think about voting I wonder if it’s even right for me to vote. Is it ok for me to presume that I know what’s best for a country of people? I mean, I do know what’s best; what would be best would be for all people everywhere to give up citizenship to a country, and become citizens of the Kingdom of God. But since that’s probably not going to happen, let me say that I feel a little like I have to choose to be one or the other; and we all know we can’t love two masters. What I’m getting at is that I don’t think I can love both God and Country.
I think I can love God and appreciate country. Be thankful to live such a comfortable, opulent life. Appreciate the freedoms I have here, particularly the freedom I currently have in writing a blog such as this. Because this would not happen other places.
So Gary and I were discussing briefly voting based on principle this past weekend. And I like that. But then when I think about the two major candidates I have to choose from my alarm goes off on both.
For one, with Obama, how can I vote for someone that was elected to public office to serve a group of people, but one year into a 6 year (I believe) commitment he bails and pursues another office? There’s just something principally wrong with that in my mind. I don’t feel like the guy has really “stood” for anything. And that makes me feel like his vote will always go to the highest bidder. To whatever is most popular at the time and will gain him the most success or favor at the time.
But then we have McCain. And the signs swirling around him that read “COUNTRY FIRST” make me want to cry. As much as I kinda do want to vote for him (mostly because of economic policy because Obama’s stance on the capital gains tax scares the living daylights out of me) I just don’t know if I can. I can’t believe the number of Christians with signs in their lawns that read “country first.” No, no, no. God first. Remember that please.
But I don’t think it’s fair to hold the political arena to my Biblical standards. Because the country is designed for everyone to be able to believe what they want to believe…not what I think they should be forced to believe. God gave us all free will. I don’t think He ever desired for a government to impose His morality on a nation of people. That’s what we’re here for. Not to force people to abide by certain rules, but to show people that the nature of God is definitely a great thing. That if society functioned off of Christ mindedness we’d be in some pretty good shape (I say this as if the church functions this way! Ha!). And I don’t really think lobbying for certain rules and legislations to be passed is the way to convince people of this. In fact, I think it ends up being a pretty big turnoff.
So anyway, I don’t know who to vote for. I can’t decide if it’s legitimate to vote for Jesus buy abstaining from going to the polls. And is it too presumptuous to even believe that my single vote can really make a difference? I want to be a good citizen, because I know that Jesus wants me to be. I pay my taxes…but do I have to go participate in the election of the lesser of two evils? Can I with good conscience support a man that’s campaign slogan reads “country first?” Can I with good conscience support a man that appears to be extremely self-focused and seems to lack true conviction about anything? I don’t know. I feel morally conflicted over this. Insights please…
What’s in your wallet? October 15, 2008
Tagged by Kelsey…
She wants me to list off all of the things in my purse, so here they are. And I promise a new blog is in the works of good sustenance.
(I think you’re going to find this list to be boring and practical. Not unlike myself.)
-My work phone and personal phone
-A small spiral bound notebook for writing down all those little ideas that pop into my head at random moments.
-Two pens; one, my fountain pen that my mom bought me for getting good grades in high school, the other a polka dot one I used to use when I worked at Cracker Barrel, both two of my favorite pens.
-A maxi pad. Well, you know..
-My wallet, filled with credit cards, checkbook, giftcards, my drivers license and cupons.
-Aunt Myra’s Persimmon Pudding recipe
-Camera, just in case
-A small bottle of Tylenol
-Swiss Army Knife (although not that brand)
-A small bottle of Alba lotion
-My FOB to get into work
-My gym member card
-Business cards in a holder
-Gum
-Lancome Vintage Rose lipstick
-A pad of paper for writing down shopping lists
-iPod and earbuds
