| Thoughts on recent political information... |
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Recently I have seen many people who, through bulletins, group posts and other means have been faithful to give information regarding various political candidates (primarily concerning the upcoming Presidential elections), and I for one am thankful they do it. Now I'm not talking about the people who do a lot of "dirt-digging" -- the kinds of "info" that talks about "did you know that when ______ was 19 they got a DUI and smoked pot?" kind of useless information -- as far as I'm concerned that stuff, sad to say, is the kind of dirt that a big majority of U.S. citizens have in their past.
I'm talking about the people who have done some research to find out useful information regarding who a person really is, not just what kinds of stuff they've done. What drives a person -- the stuff that their handlers often cover with lots of "mainstream" stuff, especially in election years -- is the kind of thing that people need to know, and the thing that people need to keep foremost in their minds when considering who to vote for in these (and any) elections.
A basic thing to keep in mind is this: "If I know _____ is what has driven a person in the past, and after they're elected they show that _______ is still what drives them and isn't just a 'part of their past', will I feel stupid for voting for them?" A great example for this upcoming election, especially since the subject was brought so much to the forefront in the past 8 years, is the issue of a person's personal religion. Not what's on the surface, the stuff the handlers and political minds have put in place to make one thing look like another -- as in the case of Mr. Obama joining the United Church of Christ when so much of his upbringing (primarily by his second father) was in radical Muslim schools -- but what the reality of things actually is.
Diversity in this arena definitely will certainly be the headline in this year's primaries -- we have the aformentioned "Islamichristian", a Mormon, some Roman Catholics, an Evangelical preacher, as well as an assortment of other denominations and "self-denominations" (i.e. those who just do whatever they desire, with "a little of this and a little of that" mixed together to form an "individual" blend of faith).
After reading one bulletin today from a friend talking about how so many people today -- a little over six years later -- are angry and upset with President Bush for doing the exact same things he said he would do as he stood atop the rubble in the middle of where the World Trade Center towers once stood, it makes me wonder if people would have rather he been more "Gore-ish", giving a slap on the wrist to those "misguided individuals" and not taking the fight to them. While pondering such a thing, it reminded me of a movie that came out back in '96. The movie had a pretty well known cast in it -- the star was a guy named Denzel Washington, I think some of you have heard of him :D -- and it was titled "The Siege".
If you've never watched "The Siege", you need to. Seriously. Why? Because the movie portrayed a whole group of terrorists that eerily reflect exactly what the radical Islamic terrorists you read about in international headlines every day keep talking about: terrorizing America from the inside out, with many individual "cells" (that experts agree today there are already several thousand already inside US borders waiting for the command to strike) instead of a few massive armies that will do the damage. Allowing the fight to leave the host countries (and yes, regardless of what Mikey Moore and his ilk try and tell you, Iraq was and is one of those host countries, although thankfully not nearly as much today as it was a few short years ago) and come to American shores would....well, watch the movie. You'll see.
So it kinda makes you think seriously about who you vote for. Taking that aforementioned principle of looking at who a person was previous to election time and "putting on the shelf" the stuff they've tacked onto it to look good makes for an interesting look at the candidates, much fresher than what you'll see at the debates and all. You'll see real people who reflect a lot of what "early America" (i.e. the Founders and their following generation) represented, integrity and character, a genuine reliance upon their Creator and a desire to "love thy God will all your heart...and love thy neighbor as thyself". You'll also see some shady characters, skin-deep personas, dangerous potentials and self-promoters.
I have a general idea of the few people I would seriously consider for Presidential office, and a pretty long list of people who I can guarantee I will not vote for. Hopefully after reading this, you'll go and look at the candidates in the "real light" of who they've been before election year and be able to see through a lot ofthe smoke and mirrors to the very few who are actually people of character, people who aren't easily swayed (a la the absent-this-round 2004 prime candidate Mr. Kerry), people who have a good grasp on what America actually needs even when sometimes it's not what the general populace wants (how many good parents give their kids caramel apples the day after getting braces? It might be what the kid wants, but it sure ain't good for them).
Vote sober-mindedly, vote conscientiously, vote Biblically (where possible), and above all: at least vote. Choosing not to vote "because there aren't any good candidates" (which isn't true, btw) is just leaving the election in the hands of those who are voting for bad candidates, and none of us wants that.
So go get "The Siege" and watch it. Then take a sober look at ALL the candidates. Then go vote. This nation is on a precipice this year, and this could very well be the year that decides whether America recovers herself or begins her final descent. Seriously.
In His service, and yours,
jason† |
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