April 15, 2007

• Hope in politics

  I’d like to ask all of my readers, with an open mind, to take a look at their leisure at this video clip and then a gander at what I have to say (in either order of your choice).

  A Believer in Jesus First
  

  You know, I’ve never really taken a label upon myself in my political stance. Surprisingly that actually has made some friends of mine frustrated with my, like my older half-brother Jay. It wasn’t enough that I could say “Yes, I agree with some of the things you feel, if not all.” or “Yes, I voted for the same person you did”… the fact that I didn’t adhere to the tenants of the republican party whole-heartedly made him want to ‘convert me’ fully. My own Dad is so whole-heartedly a democrat that if I find out the most hard-line and core democrat stance I’m pretty sure I can go to him and here why it’s right. And of course, of all the upcoming democratic candidates for president, he’s for one of the hard-core ones- Hillary Clinton.

  I’ve heard it said before that while we should celebrate our country as Christians, we should first and foremost remember our citizenship is not of this world! We are all brothers and sisters in Christ alongside Chinese Christians, alongside North and South Korean Christians, alongside any and every nation- America is not on a ‘level’ above other nations. America is not “the Christian nation” that God favours- God has his own plan and he raises up the rulers he chooses to for reasons he chooses. He does show favour at times to countries where Christians are praying- just like there are Christians praying in China, all over the country. There are Christians praying in Africa, in Lebenon, in Saudi Arabia, in South America, AND in the United States of America.

  So just as I do not cling ardently to my nationality as a believer, neither do I dare cling to a party. There are believers in Jesus Christ who walk with the Holy Spirit that claim the republican party, there are those who claim the democratic party. I do think moral issues play a big party- I personally made my first two presidential votes (and thus far, only) for George Bush, and morals influence my voting. But I don’t adhere to a party- I prayerfully choose a person.

  That said, I feel there’s a staleness going on in our countries leadership- BOTH parties. There is a republican candidate coming up now that supports moral positions that appal me. So I decided to learn something more about a candidate a little while ago that shocked me by making it as far as he has- I was thinking early on “Wow, this guy is rather cool, but I wonder if he’ll make it very far with the way politics are played”.

  Barack Obama

  I’ll never claim to be a political ace. Personally, the only reason I know anything about politics or even desire to is because I feel that I have a responsibility as a Christian to be involved enough to know the choices I have and to make a responsible vote and influence in the world I live in. Unlike some, I really don’t like debating politics or check it regularly except when I need to. When voting time comes up, then I take an interest and seek to make the best choice. It is only when I am really, really struck that I tend to jump into the topic or share my feelings a lot.

  For the first time since I have been able to vote, I have finally found a candidate that I really, completely like. I’m sure he’s not perfect, but we’re all only human- and yes, he happens to be a democrat. An intercultural man who is partly black (and a true ‘African American’, actually), so far I believe he has Christian beliefs, and most importantly he has a new style of politics that you might expect of an independant rather than either party. He’s someone that nobody expected to even make it into senate, much less to the level of running for president. And before I even heard him speak, just hearing about his stances and positions, I got this feeling that the Holy Spirit sometimes gives me that says “This is the person you’re going to vote for”.

  Of course as I’ve seen some video clips and learned more, I realise this is not only the ONLY candidate thus far I can justify voting for, but even if there were some really convincing and good ones out there besides him I would still jump on it. Even if Bill Cosby, Arnold S. Governator, the late Billy Graham, etc were running (well, Bill Cosby would get some serious consideration from me depending on his political views, heh, but I doubt he has the necessary experience) I’d still vote for this guy at this point.

  Politics is a serious and very controversial subject. I’m sure everyone who reads this all has their views and points. It’s rare to find someone who is admitedly like me and doesn’t side strongly with a certain party. All I ask is you take a glance at Barack Obama’s video above and maybe his site and see what you think. Personally, between Rudolf-the-long-nosed presidential candidate who supports gay rights not to mention has a very questionable history of choices and statements, Hillary Clinton, and others… I think he’s worth considering briefly regardless of your affiliation.

  I don’t get political much, and I appreciate your time. Oh, and if you are interested in more, I can post some youtube links with some interesting Barack speeches… like a very powerful one regarding civil rights I found.

  -Patrick

  • 5:11 pm
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