I've very much tried to stay out of commenting on politics this go-round. I realize that none of you care and no one reads it. On a personal level, it's very sad to me to watch and participate. The honest truth is that I don't feel like participating because I really wonder how I should even expect my vote to count.
I don't mean that as a Texan with no chance of electing anything but a Republican. I don't say that because of the distrust we should all have over electronic voting machines. I don't even say that because I'm naturally cynical.
I don't expect my vote to count because our culture and our so-called "conservatives" are so able to ignore eloquence and vision in exchange for wedge issues and divisiveness. I can't even exclaim how poor a job Governor Palin showed us this evening. She offered absolutely nothing except division and attack. Never mind that she's unqualified and untested, the American people don't care as long as she can go negative.
This can't win another election. We'll pay such a dear price. Never mind that Christ would be appalled at how socially ignorant and inept we are. We ignore such suffering of our brothers and sisters, but cheer and chant in election years for being "pro-life." We have a major political party who has spent two days doing nothing but attack the other party, while ignoring the real problems of our day and age. If America would only engage their mind and really, truly look around.
Comments
Have you read "Myth of a Christian Nation" by Greg Boyd? If not, you should. You can also listen to his sermon series that inspired the book here: http://www.crossandthesword.org
Posted by: ian at September 4, 2008 10:53 AM
I would not despair at this point, if Obama can get back on message and quit calling Palin a pig (wink, wink). You and he have fallen for the trap of putting Palin at the top of the ticket. She has more experience than Obama has, reason he picked that insider Biden on the ticket. Palin has shown him why he should have held his nose and picked Bill/Hillary. To be against pro-life sounds like a nonChristian idea to me. As Christ said, the poor will always be with you. I would be careful about throwing Christ into the mix. As the good book says, my thoughts are not your thoughts.
Let's just pray that someone is picked that will keep us safe on this 9/11. I remember where I was, doing legal work in downtown Dallas when the downtown was ordered to evacuate. A scary time and still is.
Herb
Posted by: Herb Wright at September 11, 2008 11:21 AM
I think that the Dems use poverty as a red herring to distract Evangelicals. For example, how often have we heard a Dem say, "Jesus had more to say about poverty than about ________." (insert abortion, gay marriage, etc.)
But for Christians, this isn't about playing musical chairs with political issues. It's about crucial worldview issues. And Obama wants to distract from that. Like in the conclusion of his acceptance speech when he said, "we may have different views about how to handle unwanted pregnancies...".
What he's saying is: Surely you can put your moral convictions on hold while you vote so that we can get socialized health care.
But I'm no longer buying the lie that my views on abortion and gay marriage are just "wedge issues" or irrelevant moral judgments that have no place in the political arena.
And I can no longer abide my former party telling me that abortion is ok, but driving an SUV is a sin. Is this not a troubling moral schism?
But in all the fairness, the GOP's collective stupidity about global warming is almost as troubling. The ice shelf is falling off in New Jersey-sized chunks, and all they can say is, "But it's not real! Didn't you read that Michael Crichton book?" Ugh.
Posted by: Hoover at September 12, 2008 01:04 PM