makeshift pulpit

Ok, so, in talking with some people I have found that some people are voting for Palin because she is a woman, a pretty woman, or Obama because he is black or because he is more attractive than McCain and is more well spoken.  But really none of these are reasons to vote for someone.  (duh, right?)  Well, I think a good part of America isn’t as analytical about their decisions as they should be.  We as a country should take this time between now and elections to define ourselves as individuals and our beliefs, whatever they may be.  I am not saying believe what I believe (of course the world would be a better place) but I am saying pray to whatever higher power, meditate, read scientific studies…whatever you find foundation and truth in, and have a defined set of beliefs to base your decisions on.  This will be helpful in more than elections but right now it will guide the direction the country will go in.  If you need a little bit of help, how do you feel about:  Government’s role in our everyday lives, taxes, welfare, who’s job it is to feed the hungry, accountability for personal decisions, a woman’s right to have an abortion, an infant’s right to live, our right to have guns, how much should minorities influence the majority’s freedom, how should we treat our resources/earth, how much should government be involved in our children’s education topic-wise, how much should government be involved in our ability to worship how we choose, healthcare, government studies verses private studies, how much should we as a country be involved in other country’s affairs, at what point should we intervene when there is a possible threat to our freedom, should we care if another country is suffering—these among other things are things to figure out.  Find out what you believe, list them in order of importance, and then find who agrees with you on the things you feel matter most.  Then vote for that person regardless of what they look like, what gender they are, etc.  After all, isn’t our blindness to color and gender supposed to be one of our cherished attributes or at least one of our greatest goals?  I say get over your prejudiceness of women, blacks and even the old white guys.  So, draw a line in the sand for yourself and see who is on your side.