You Can Vote However You Like!

You may or may not have heard this kids on CNN or YouTube already, but my husband had me look them up yesterday, and I'm hooked!



Those are some informed, happy and talented kids!

Help is Better than Hate

Can I be both Pro-Life and Pro-Obama?

This week I was told by two people that they were voting for McCain because abortion is just such a terrible thing. I totally agree that abortion is horrifying. I've seen the pictures. I've been pregnant, a joy for me each time. I know people for whom it was not a joy and abortion was the only option they saw available. I wish they would have felt differently, but I will not judge them for their decision, because I have no way of understanding what they were going through.

On the other hand, I really would like the amount of abortions in our country to be reduced. Realistically, I understand the number will never be zero, but what could be done to limit that number?

Faced with the two McCain supporters basing their votes solely on their pro-life convictions, I headed to Google and found some statistics. I was thrilled to find the Matthew 25 Network expressing the views I have held for so long:

Studies Show that Economic Support for Women and Families Reduces Abortion

• Economic assistance to low income families is correlated with a 20% lower abortion rate. Across the entire United States, this translates into 200,000 fewer abortions.
• In the 1990s, states with more generous grants to women, infants and children under the age of five as provided by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program had a 37% lower abortion rate.
• Higher male employment in the 1990s was associated with a 29% lower abortion rate.
• The abortion rate has declined most rapidly from 1990-1996 when there was an economic boom under President Clinton. While rates have continued to decrease, they have declined less rapidly in recent years when poverty rates have been climbing.

What this says to me, is that help is better than hate. When women face an unplanned pregnancy, do we say: "Wow - too bad for you. Don't ask me for a hand out - but you'd better not be a baby killer," or can we say: "Wow - this is a huge moment in your life, here are some programs to help you be the kind of mother you would like to be."

In conclusion, YES, I can be an Obama supporter and be Pro-Life! I haven't even gone into the topic of supporting life in other ways, such as less war, and less pollution. I believe this is a very important point to make this election year! Please don't be a single issue voter, and spread the news that you can support LIFE and OBAMA!

Chills!

Tears and Fears

I am currently listening to the democratic convention in the background as I study for my algebra final. (Although it is slightly behind since I paused it earlier - gotta love the DVR - and Bill Clinton is about to speak.) The enthusiasm of the historic moment was seeping into my thoughts as I figured quadratic equations, reviewed the remainder theorem and synthetic division.

Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by a voice speaking of how great a threat Iran is and that Barack Obama is "Dangerously Unprepared!" Unprepared for what? ..World War III? Why do they think conflict with Iran is better than discussion with Iran? Why is diplomacy being called weakness?

I must admit that my emotions are a bit frayed due to lack of sleep, but I burst into tears before the McCain ad was even finished. Is our country so full of fear and... shall I say "synthetic division" that we would vote for the candidate who is advertising conflict over peace? Say it isn't so....

I'm going to set up a poll in the side bar...will you tell me what you think?


----------Update-----------
Bill summed the diplomacy issue up perfectly:

"People, the world over, have always been more impressed by the power of our example, than by the example of our power!"

-Bill Clinton at the Democratic Convention 8/27/08

Barack the Anti-Christ?

On CNN today it was reported that a McCain ad is hinting - not so subtlety - that Barack is the Anti-Christ! That made me do a double take. What? They mentioned a blog that was dedicated to the topic and they had a post about the ad. I was reminded of a short essay I wrote for a History class last quarter and decided this may be an appropriate time to share it. I first thought that the question the professor presented us was referring to racial cultures, but on reading closer I realized the text was actually talking about the cultural differences between the "blue and red" states of mind and geography.

• I would really love to hear your different views on this.

1. Do you believe the anti-christ is going to be a political figure as presented in the Left Behind series?
2. Do you think Barack or any current figure is possibly the anti-christ?

• Here is the essay question and my answer:

How should the effects of the ‘cultural wars’ on US society over the past 25 years be represented?

This is a hard question to address in any non-biased way, since the cultural wars referred to are still being fought today. "The struggle to define America" continues over the pervasive airwaves, around the water-coolers, and on into family reunions and around dinner tables on a daily basis.

I think that rather than sorting itself out and moving on America has become more divided and emotionally entwined than when the yuppies were first identified in the 80's. While there were definite strong differences between Democratic voters and Republican voters their different ideas about what constituted American Values has only grown deeper over the years to where it has reached the point where conversations between opposing sides almost impossible.

One of the factors in this inability to communicate comes from the mistrust of the other's sources of information. Right wing conservatives believe the "liberal media" distorts facts and sways the public toward secular abominations such as gay rights and anti-patriotism. While those on the left have grown continually more distrustful of the right wing talk show hosts and the opinions they spread as fact. This statement probably identifies my liberal leanings, which were seeded in the 80's when I debated my conservative classmate regarding the 1988 election.

I am not sure how this divide should be represented other than to show the trend toward an increasing animosity within our country. Perhaps more important is where it will lead us in the future. I have heard some predictions of it leading to rebellion against increasing executive power resulting in mass riots and civil war. I do not really think this will happen, although history has taught us that it is a real possibility. Probably the pendulum will continue to swing in one direction and then the other.

The historicism of some causes them to believe it will eventually come to rest in a millennium of good government and peace will fill the land. My own personal historicism causes me to be very uneasy with the amount of influence I have witnessed by religious leaders on our government as I see many fighting for an end to the separation between Church and State. I believe the Beast spoken of in Revelation is the evil power that results when faith and politics mesh. Here is a quote from Revelation 13:11,14, 16, 17 that I understand to illustrate this coercive power:

"Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, and he spoke with the voice of a dragon....he deceived all the people who belong to this world. ...He required everyone - great and small, rich and poor, slave and free - to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark..."

I believe the right wing's push against multiculturalism, and for preserving what they see as true American values, could lead our country to demand conformity from it's citizens. This feels especially ominous as the Executive branch of government expands the power available to it in the case of an emergency. I fear the backlash that could come against the non-conformists if our government pulls out all the stops in response to a natural or man made disaster. Ultimately, I do not look to our government for peace of security. My trust and hope is in the Creator of this world, and His promise to make it new.