I've been telling myself for years now that, politically speaking, I am a moderate. I have known for a long time that the word Republican found on my voter ID card no longer fits me. I'm not ashamed of that word or of many of the positions I used to hold...I view my life as a journey and a process and my personal political awakening has been an important part of that. While I do think that both mainstream parties in America have good things to say, I have to admit I'm no longer a moderate. I'm a democrat - tried and true. That isn't to say I agree with everything in the Democratic party's platform - there are several areas where the platform and I diverge...but I can no longer ruin and hide from the fact that I'm much more liberal than conservative in a political sense. If you want the specifics of how that plays out for me on the issues then feel free to ask.
One thing I can say without reservation is that I am one million percent against the war in Iraq. Before I go any further I want to be sure you understand that I support the people who are fighting this war...I support the troops and their families. I also love the USA and am tremendously grateful to live here and have the freedom my citizenship affords me. However, this war is based on lies and deception and has been from the beginning. I feel crushed under the weight of the reports of our soldiers and innocent Iraqis being killed every single day. I am grieved to see and hear the parents, wives and children of our fallen heroes as they wonder why. I wonder why as well. Why are we there? Why are people dying? Why aren't we getting Osama Bin Laden?
This is no longer about 9/11/2001. We aren't supposed to be the world's police force. We have become the bully on the grade school playground. In the next election please don't let yourself be swayed by pictures of 9/11. They will pull on all of our heartstrings...that was a terrible day and the people who orchestrated it should be hunted down and held responsible. But that is not what is happening in Iraq. I hated Saddam Hussein...and I am glad he is no longer in power. But I am not sure his capture and death was worth the devastation we have wrought in that country.
Here is a song by Pink called Dear Mr. President. It is harsh in some places - harsher than I would be...but there are some though provoking and meaningful sentiments in it as well. Please listen and don't allow your ideology to get in the way.
And please pray for peace.
True Confessions
Friday, June 01, 2007
Posted by Beth at 1:12 PM
Labels: Authentic Life, Deep Thoughts, Social Justice
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3 comments:
Oh Beth, I am *so* with you. It has been a hard road for me - my faith and politics have always been so intertwined. I grew up in an environment (school, church, home) where being a Christian meant you were a Republican - I couldn't understand how a Democrat could even call themselves a Christian.
So now, even though I *know* my transformation is good and right and real and backed by much thought, I still feel like there's a teeny bad part of me that is turning my back on my faith...
Okay - that is way more than you needed!
I could have written your comment word for word. But the more I grow in my understanding of Jesus and the world, the more I realize that neither party has a monopoly on faith and that smart, faithful people can belong to both parties. I have a sticker on my fridge that says:
GOD is not a Republican...or a Democrat.
So true. Thanks Melissa.
Friendly greetings from Germany!
I suppose the main problem with the republicans in the US is their "tactical using of truth" in the last years. This is the case, i think, especially for the neoconservative part of the republicans.
No political party can be sure to hold all of the political truth. The questions of peace and war never never never should be decided on a lie, or a system of lies.
From a (maybe completely wrong) German point of view it looks for me as the conservative movement in America directly went to political extremism in the last 10 years.
But good politics, as far as i knew, should try to find good compromises, should try to be fair to all people, and should try to keep peace.
I looked (in the last 20 minutes) a discussion in "Fox News" with Michelle Malkin (who looks very extremistic for me) with a demokratic counterpart. I was astonished, that the "moderator" O'Reilly don't let the demokrat woman speak out. Systematically.
An important part of the American media is having a problem with fairness. This is my impression - and i hope i am wrong. And there is too much ideology - too less careful searching for the truth - too much hunting for war.
But i am hopeful for the future of America. If a political party is powerful in the American media and politics - it can lie to the people, but you can't lie all the time. The American people do not like that.
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