By: Jaci Rose – September 2008
First and Foremost, a dedication is in order:
For my Grandmother, Boots, who God has used to help me find the passion calling out inside me. Because of you, I am being made into the person God always knew I could be. I will always love you, for you have shown me unconditional love. ~ Jaci Rose
This Dissertation is also dedicated to the American People, for whom I love; For whom each has been weathered and for whom each has been restored. United, we have seen our share of glory and endure our struggles waking up each tomorrow. We have been through prosperity and push through our pain but nevertheless - We endure. Together we march forward in this Great Nation we call home; Changing lives - one good deed at a time.
PREFACE:
It was with the recent unfolding of an email about Sarah Palin I learned what Jaci Rose, a 27-year-old mother of two who has been repeatedly humbled by Christ, both in times of privilege and despair, found out what I was made of.
I realized through my response when I hit “reply all” to 41 of my grandmother’s friends I offended and angered people I care about which was not my intent (despite good marketing efforts using the subject title: “Guaranteed to Make you Mad”). Rather, it was an effort to help others come to revelations I myself have seen and been humbled by - both in a worldly and spiritual sense.
Perhaps it is because I come from privilege that has made life so difficult for me. I was once blind but, now I see the world from a new perspective; one well aware of my surroundings.
Everyday, millions of American people feel angered and helpless. Everyday we hear soldiers are dying and dismiss it as simple combat, those soldiers didn’t want to die; they just wanted to serve their country. Everyday our sons and daughters call home talking about how tough our current times are, unsure of their families fate. Everyday another mother withered and worn is conflicted on placing a burden on her children by asking to be cared for or by entering a nursing home for comfort and care despite social security running dry and medicine bills mounting. Everyday we are inundated with headlines reading stock-market decline and national lay-offs. Everyday we believe we can’t change the world.
I challenge you to help me change the world and our perspective in 32 days or less and to do so using prayer and our Christian faith – that our hearts may be open.
I will share with you my dissertation of what I see in this election as relates to our faith and why it’s important not only gain perspective before we decide but seek Truth (in a Biblical sense). I am convinced I can change the hearts of men in less than 30 days through issues, my own experiences, cited history, and our faith using Scripture from the Bible. I invite you to prove me wrong.
This dissertation was written in the form of a letter to a woman who I admire in so many ways. Before I begin, I would like to open with a brief passage to better understand our circumstances.
Making One’s Calling and Election Sure
2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of Lord Jesus Christ. But, if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
I Believe: A Dissertation on Christianity and the 2008 Election
My Dearest Grandmother,
who has kept the very fiber of this family in its loving existence - Together,
First and foremost, this is a more compassionate letter unlike the email “Guaranteed to Make You Mad” and I hope in some way that in the end I will have forged my “Rite to Passage” as an adult, as a Christian American, and as a valuable asset to this family (even though I know in my heart I’ve always held such place).
Although it is political in nature, it is not so much about being right or wrong as it is about actual issues I’ve experienced and how I see the world as an America today and also as a devout Christian trying my best everyday to adhere to biblically binding laws set before us. We all grow differently in our faith, in our own time, and in our own understanding. Here is where I am at in my faith as of today, a day in September 2008.
As a Christian, I see something flawed in the approach millions of people are taking by choosing a candidate for the sake of Christianity without having used a biblical context in doing do. These same people have been swayed by spin and pr tactics that only a politician could create. I invite you to go beyond words and see what I see.
Here it goes.
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I too wish to change the world. I wish for it to be a life free for all to enjoy. Your son is not alone in his fight for making a stand and being a part of history. With the exception of Amendment 1, I can’t say there’s a specific policy or allocation of funds (that I’ve seen) that I disagree with. I too am Republican.
I too believe in freedom. I too believe in God. I believe in compassion. I believe in setting a Godly example.
How many of us take for granted that it was because of a mother’s love, a stranger’s generosity, a government grant, or a simple charity that has gotten us through the storm and allowed us to continue on our journey to where we are going and to what God has planned for thee?
Free-market economy and the dream for the “American Dream” is the foundation on which we started. Let us not forget it originated through bloodshed and violence. It came with consequence and life lost. In such, the bible clearly states until the end of time, “nations will rise against nations” and we can only hope our bloodshed in our current war has not been created in vain (Mark 13:8 [NIV]).
It’s now been hundreds of years and we are civilized society. A society that values our faith, that loves our family, and who cares for others in need. But, what if in order to survive our problems today it meant killing ourselves: Killing ourselves through division of socio-economical classes and poverty? Killing ourselves through working four jobs instead of two or three? Killing ourselves because we can not sustain our families with the stress of a harsh economy dictating dual-incomes, more time at work to achieve.. you must achieve.. to succeed as we must succeed …to climb the ladder…. don’t go home to the family that loves you or you will be replaced and lose your job….work…work…work…
More families will be broken and more children lost in the mix of struggle and pain. Currently, children are being left to their own devices under the pretext of “playing” all day, often 12 hours in a daycare. They too need to be loved – the right way. With mom and dad both present and active in their lives.
(In Biblical Context: Proverbs 28:15 “The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” Although this verse is talking about a mother’s responsibility to correct her children with good measure, I believe in modern times this can also be translated into a mother’s need to be ever present in a child’s life in order to have the ability to carry out such instruction.
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I believe compromise is the answer to all things in conflict.
With compromise we find both parts of an argument relevant, logical, and significant as relates to each other. In finding the middle ground, both parties give up something to achieve - Something. There is no loser in compromise.
Thus, providing a win-win outcome.
I believe there is room for compromise in all situations with exception to one thing: Our Faith.
I do not believe one should ever compromise their own faith in order to save an economy, to gain better political ground, or to steer a country in a specific direction. With that I will again say, one presidential candidate I believe has exemplified his faith both in his platform and his method of thought, while the other, not seemingly so.
(Again keep reading to discern who is who.)
With this election, I believe there is room for compromise.
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Allow me to point to some undertones that have been set in this election first before moving on to more in-depth issues needing discernment through reasoning and perspective. I will address a few highlights of a previous email.
The reason I am upset by McCain’s running mate choice is because it is the Republican Party (Christian Conservatives) who continue pushing the FCC to sensor messages we receive today. I agree (to an extent) with this message because we’ve pushed the envelope to unrespectable levels. Each generation has taken our constitutional First Amendment Rights to the extreme without keeping a level of respect; Thus, we learn respect for one another, respect for parents, respect for elders, and respect for children is not something our constitution proclaims – just our faith. We continue devaluing one another both through actions and inactions. Who is the greater threat. I can not answer.
Influential Republican Party candidates pushed to cancel Zoey 101, a hit TV show for kids starring Britney Spear’s little sister, who at 16 became pregnant. Rightfully so. Since pregnancy her ratings have doubled! It had an estimated 7.5 million viewers for the season finale last year (HollyScoop). The target audience is 12 – 17 in age. In 2006, prior to pregnancy, Jamie Lynn Spear’s won Favorite TV Actress and was nominated again post pregnancy in 2007. She also won Best Young Ensemble Performance that same year for Young Artist Awards. In 2008, Zoey 101 was nominated for Best Family Television Series (Young Artist Awards).
Now, Bristol is headed toward the White House in the same position only this time, Republicans are defending it. The campaign staff proclaimed it a stand against abortion. I argue differently. It was a personal choice and in my opinion the right one but, not something (a platform) to be used for political gain in a Christian light in Jesus’ name.
We all know pre-marital sex goes against our Christian faith. I am transparent when I say Bristol and I are no different. I firmly believe youth have less resistance to peer pressure and desires than adults. I gave in at 18. I too have been shamed at my own life decisions of pre-marital sex, only I made the decision to wait until college to make the “wrong” choice. Even though at the time I thought it was with the man I would marry (which was my justification), it was wrong. He is not my husband.
I felt much shame (instead of joy) at becoming pregnant before marriage. Despite it was with a man whom I was verbally engaged to, the family did not know about our plans and it was wrong. I should have waited. It was a formality and nonetheless, I set a bad example for the youngsters in our family which weighed heavily on my heart for several years. So many times I wished I kept my secret a little longer despite an over anxious to-be grandma (my mom) who wished to tell the world in her excitement. Pete bought my engagement ring the week prior to us finding out I was pregnant but, even with the news waited because he’d already arranged big plans to make the proposal special for me in the coming weeks.
Regardless of when, my decision to engage in pre-marital sex was wrong and went against my faith. I knew it then. I know it now. I accept it. I reaped what I sowed. I suffered the consequences – be it a lack of intimacy with my husband in the spiritual sense (mostly because I’d already been there before) or simply because my marriage came crashing down two-years into it – which as some point I deemed as God’s punishment for my misdeeds. You decide, but alas, like so many others, I’ve sought forgiveness and resolve in this department. I will not judge another for having made the same mistake I once did, regardless of her age.
A bad decision, no matter what that may be, is not something to be used for political gain because of the example it sets; An ungodly one.
I believe America is right in discerning what is right and wrong and who we choose to exemplify as our American ideals. Christianity indeed says not to judge. Put into a biblical context we can take that a step further into saying “Do not judge and you will not be judged.” – Luke 6:37 (NIV). Biblical translation of this verse tells us, “Jesus did not relieve his followers of the need to discerning right and wrong but, he condemned unjust and hypocritical judging of others.”
Thus, I have not judged the person as I am not in a place to do so rather, I am discerning the example we set for American youth and the exploitation of such a decision for political gain.
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Star role models are making it seem okay and “cool” to be pregnant at 16. The difference is those girls aforementioned have life handed to them. Their families are in good financial situations and millions of young girls don’t seem to make that correlation. I see a problem with this message.
This is something I’m passionate about and is how my first published news article ever came to be. From my involvement in helping B.E.T.A. of Titusville, an organization committed to supporting women facing a crisis pregnancy, I have seen a great deal of compassion and also hardship. B.E.T.A. is giving an alternative means to abortion – they offer support through resources, clothing, baby necessities, and counseling. I love what they do because they do not preach one thing and in the same breath turn their back leaving girls abandoned and hopeless. They practice what they preach. Same with JMJ Life Crisis Center in Orlando – which is why I chose to try and help them as well when we lived in Avalon Park in Orlando. Ironically, both have roots in Catholicism perhaps because “life” is so important to us.
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In regards to the issue of abortion and our candidates, I learned Barack Obama opposed abortion (the same as I) before he supported it. He has much of the same concerns I have: circumstances of rape, drug addiction, incest, and mother’s own risk of fatality (Obama).
The Ten Commandments say, “Thou shall not kill” in Exodus 20:13 (NIV) and again in the New Testament in Matthew 5:21 (NIV). I see no compromise in that.
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I myself have been plagued by the issue of abortion because after soul-searching and in my own walk in faith, concluded that all babies, no matter born or unborn into death are made whole in man’s image and restored to eternal life. The latter has been recognized by the Pope in modern times (despite that I have never thought differently). Mary Baxter, a Christian writer, had a vision about this mystery and shared it with the world in her book A Divine Revelations of Heaven. She only spends three or four pages on it however, explains this situation plainly as stated above expanding on this issue.
Even though children are blessings, we also know there is a moment when science meets faith in the production of life; If a child is created in sin without an outlet for Christ to enter into the hearts of either child or mother, is then there a possibility to entertain the idea that there is another side of Christianity at work?
I believe all people to be inherently good, however, I can and will entertaining the idea that with sin comes hopelessness and a sense of being lost, both for victims of sin and for the sinner itself; That we can not judge nor, have all the answers if we have never sat in the position in which they sit.
Thus, like many plagued by this ever important topic, I have only questions of thought and morality and our Christian faith. Spending much time, I still have yet to find the topic of abortion in the bible under any other context other than “murder” unspecific to unborn babies. This leaves me with more questions.
I wouldn’t say a child from wedlock, an adulterous affair, or other circumstances is less good than any other child created from love, devotion, and in Christ. As we know, children bring a special joy with them, having hearts open to the world that surrounds them. However, there are hundreds of thousands of American Christians who believe in shielding themselves with the Amour of God (the Word of God) and in the instance of pregnancy through sin, that an unborn child would be at risk to the work of the enemy, being some sort of mental, spiritual, or physical hindrance - unless 1. Acceptance of Jesus, 2. Rejection of Satan and all of his ways, and 3. A sincere effort of repentance is made. That’s not to say bad things don’t happen to good people as we know very differently however, that thread of belief exists among Christians today.
This is not my disposition nor an understanding at where I stand in my walk in faith but, it presents another community in Christianity who are also devout and sincere and who see the world differently than I.
I don’t believe any of us truly have all the answers. Nonetheless, it’s given me something to think about and I ask you also to draw conclusions in your own thought as relates to your views on rape, incest, etc. In an instance of unfortunate circumstance, that there could be an ability to unleash what should have been inherently good, to produce something inherently… not so good.
Alas, this enters us into the realm of what contemporary Christians call the “spiritual divide.”
But that’s enough doom and gloom because our focus is on: Do we choose life or death? Policy or no policy? Action or inaction?
The bottom line - all in all abortion is life lost which goes against our Christian faith.
How does this relate to this election? You may find yourself stumped such as I because I do believe Barack Obama is closer to this side of the issue than what McCain claims to be. I think it will take careful consideration of the following to see what I have seen as relates to our American government.
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President Bush has been in office for 8-years and abortion is still legal – something he doesn’t believe in as neither do I (with exception of the circumstances aforementioned).
This inability to change the law concerns me and should you.
To garner some insight into this situation I will quote a paragraph by Kevin Phillips, author of “Bad Money,” to better assess Conservative Christian Values versus Real World Politics:
“Nearly a year earlier, many different public concerns – a quagmire in Iraq, and Republican sex scandals and attendant moral hypocrisies – has taken over the 2006 midterm elections, returning control of Congress to the Democrats after twelve Republican years.”
Congress has been made up of the Republican majority for 12 years. Given six years to push the issue, it lays dormant where it’s been since the Clinton Administration changed the law. The bottom line: abortion still exists.
This is cause for alarm and brings me to the conclusion of either it hasn’t so much been a real concern as it was a platform to be voted in on or, that the President indeed did push for it but was denied that ability by Congress.
In either situation, I can only expect and conclude the same end result in any future presidency despite attempts otherwise on this issue.
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That’s not to say efforts are hopeless in this matter as there are things as everyday citizens we can and will continue to do to help educate and/or be a part of a solution; Something seemingly very important to Obama as well (made evident in his book “Audacity of Hope,” under the chapter called Faith). I was pleasantly surprised by his approach because it’s as if he said all I’ve ever felt and tried to write about but the words were not my own. In essence, with this issue he put my heart on paper as he took into consideration that in America, we are all free of religious persecution and one value system (Christianity) may not apply as cohesively as we’d like across the board.
Late pregnancy abortions is another huge topic of debate so let us briefly discuss:
As Christians, we believe a fetus has a soul from the moment of inception, regardless of the stage it is in, thus meaning, it is no more sinful nor respectful to abort at an earlier stage rather, just easier to stomach that way. This is disgusting and gross, but it’s real. It can’t be argued any other way because believe me, I wish it could. It makes me sad that there are doctors who would perform such a task, however, there are.
On the issue as a whole, at some point, we have to leave accountability to the mothers making those difficult choices (who will stand before God on judgment day as we ourselves will do).
Let me clearly state again that I’m pro-life and I do not make those claims in vain. I am the product of what could easily have been an abortion had it been legal at the time. I openly speak out on this fact with perfect strangers and about my desire to adopt to give life a chance, even with two children of my own. There is still some question if my biological mother wanted me despite she gave me away. I was the second child out of wedlock and “a disgrace” to her family. That’s the story I got anyway. Even so, I thank God everyday I was given to a family who is loving, filled with Christ, and who has instilled in me the foundation for who I am today leading me to believe that I can achieve all things I wish to achieve. It makes me believe that every child has a chance however, I know in reality there is always a less fortunate circumstance as well.
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Regardless of how passionately I may feel about the issue of abortion towards one candidate or the other, with the information I’ve found and the assessments made, the topic in itself hardly seems relevant to this Presidential election . We (Conservative Christian Republicans) voted for “life” in 2000 and again in 2004 with no such result.
Right now, we’re focused on other areas of loss of human life - across the world.
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Nevertheless, going back to where we started, my heart goes out to all teenage pregnancies. Tracy was the product of a teenage pregnancy and had she not been, mom may have never gotten the little girl she couldn’t have. (That is until I came along). I see the joy she has brought my mother and this family and thus, from something seemingly terrible grew something with boundless love.
My heart is with teenage pregnancies because of the intricate challenges they face, which is why Pete and I donated all our baby furniture to a 15-year-old pregnant girl when we were living in Avalon Park (despite talking about trying for a third and expanding our own family). It was an amazing experience to meet her.
For Christmas I took all our old toys, and some new ones (bikes, play chairs, books, and things that even though we were still using, I could part with), and also a lot of our clothes, placed them neatly into a box and wrapped as presents. I delivered them to Timber Creek High School for two other young girls who have toddlers already. I was overwhelmed with joy as one mother expressed her gratitude because although she worked (at age 17) she couldn’t afford even one present for her little girl and now she had a bike to give! She had much more than that as she found out on Christmas morning, including a brand new backpack and unworn toddler clothes with the tags still on them.
This isn’t about me and what I’ve done because I did not do it for man, rather I’m telling you this because it wasn’t an easy decision to rid of our toys and things. I saw how little we had. Being idle in my faith wondering what to do next, I prayed for instruction while griping about how little we had and the need for prosperity. Through prayer I heard God say, “get rid of your things and you will learn.” I did as instructed and I did also learn. I learned all I truly have is more than tens of millions of Americans and hundreds of millions of people around the world; Even with what appears to be nothing.
(Biblical text: Mark 10:21 - The Rich Young Man. Jesus said to the rich young man, “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” )
We followed His direction and in doing so, ended up homeless because of a home-buying purchase gone wrong. Indeed that came with its own trials. Despite it all, it was with reason unknown to me until now. During that time, God repaired broken relationships between a grandmother and her grandchildren (whom she hadn’t seen in 3 years), and also with a daughter-in-law who again had to move towards forgiveness on astronomical levels towards people who invoked a great deal of pain on me when I was already in the midst of great trial. Through God’s grace I was able to mend a family once broken for a second time, whatever pride lost that may be.
In hindsight, I am more thankful for the opportunity of homelessness because it was an eye-opening adventure, both good and bad. I am thankful for the opportunity to have learned that even during the 8-weeks I was without a home living in 168 sq foot camper with two toddlers, a husband, and pet goldfish we won at the fair, I still had more than a third of the world – even with none of my possessions. During that time, God showed me all I really need to survive is my husband, my children, and most importantly, reliance on Him.
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Before the fallout with our home-buying purchase gone wrong, we came into very real financial crisis’ brought on by our bank (who is now under federal investigation) and were forced to reach out to perfect strangers for help.
After visiting a food pantry I fell on my knees before God asking forgiveness in my own selfishness and ignorance. When I drove there I was shamed at my life circumstances and even a little angry over my situation. When I left I was humbled and cried all the way home to see the same cupboards seemingly bare in reality were full of things we could eat – even if not what accustomed to. In that, I changed my perspective.
Catholic charities nearly paid our car insurance (which if lapses over 30 days suspends your license and as a firemedic Pete gets sent home without pay). When the phone call finally came in that assistance was available, I refused knowing someone somewhere, there’s a mother who was abandoned (just as I once was) in desperate need of help. I couldn’t possibly take that resource away if I could help it, even in desperation.
I understand to some degree what it feels like as a mother to be left for dead and I only did it for three months. I can’t even imagine the trials of enduring anymore length of time. More so, I’ve seen what it does to children who simply need the love and affection of both parents equally – no matter the situation.
That experience of being abandoned by a husband devoid of all responsibility and uninterested in caring for two babies has taken it’s toll; I’ve come to a new understanding in how important the fundamental necessity of family togetherness and nurturing your relationship with your spouse truly is – even in a world telling us it’s better to be independent and do it alone. (Which clearly we don’t believe since most often a spouse lines up another relationship before moving forward with divorce.)
Because of the high probability of absent teen fathers, I started writing ideas on a program for them, to reach out and express and make fully aware the repercussions of their absence and/or having a meaningless relationship with their child. At youth there still seems to be an ability to transform a mindset. I want to teach them you can learn to love anyone if both are accepting to change. But so far, that idea has been placed on the backburner as we struggle to survive day-by-day ourselves and provide for our family.
Again touching on a topic from our previous email, minority absent fathers causing trouble in society is truly a façade. I say this because children are now being raised by grandparents in every culture and it is an absolute travesty. There are people down the lines in my husband’s family who qualify both as deadbeat dad and as a menace to society – which is why I fought so hard when I did. Rightfully so. One served time for punching a four year old in the head causing traumatic harm. Another, although distantly related, discharged from prison and returned weeks later for armed robbery. Three cases of molestation exist somewhere in the family tree tracing back 35 years of in-laws, family-by-marriage, children through wedlock, etc. It’s gross and cruel and intolerable. But, it’s real. Every family has secrets and I will never name names or point fingers (again, some instances go back farther than 30 years) but, I also know better than to leave my children unattended, the same as I’m sure you once knew not to.
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The world has changed so much since your youth. Americans have become so complicated and complex with our lifestyles and in how we express our thoughts and portray our values.
The younger generations, such as my own, do not seem to understand the importance of patriotism (with exception to military) or how to use discretion in our speech. While the generation before me seems to be focused on financial gains and profit without understanding what a “rationing” means as they move into upper-management positions with a bottom-line to achieve.
Family dynamics have evolved into dual-income dependency and daycare for the kids. Dogs receive better treatment than some of our American children and it makes me wonder whose values truly are being exemplified as we continue to buy into more and more marketing gimmicks.
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President Bush has been in office 8-years and in that time God was chiseled off the side of a mountain, forced off a plaque in a courtroom, and no longer allowed to be part of the 13 folds in the American flag.
As of 2004, it’s considered sacrilege to mention the word “God” in schools across the nation and forbidden in the Pledge of Allegiance. A pinpointed article relating to this topic is brilliantly expressed by Harvard University Professor Samuel P. Huntington in his article “Under God” adapted from a 2004 June issue of The American Enterprise. (Source Link: http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005223)
I’m deeply saddened by the idea we’re changing our historical monuments and essentially history itself, solely for non-believers which only make up less than 11% of our population. Over 85% of Americans today believe in God; an overwhelming majority (Huntington).
In that is a question: If God is a part of history and our own President (a Conservative Christian) could not thwart those attempts to keep it status quo, on the principals that it is both tradition and historical data, which is not based on any value system (again with a Republican base in Congress) – how will our new president?
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Where and how do you see God when you look at each of these Presidential candidates? Do we base our assessments on words? Do we base them through action? Do we base them on impulse or another’s reaction? Do we base them on party affiliations?
This is an important question. It’s important because I can hear when one candidate speaks but, I can feel when I hear the other. I can see one exemplify principals and the other speak on principals.
The Bible places an emphasis for mother’s to tend to their children but it’s not being exemplified by the very people who not only tout Christian principals, but also actually hold that belief system. I can not sugar coat that I am saddened by that. I have a problem with the very idea that if elected, an infant will spend the most important part of its life away from its mother (Palin) who will be traveling and working exhausting hours and is expected to be “on” all the time in addition to being “on” for her children. Not because she has to rather, because she chooses to.
I am understanding towards all mothers forced to make choices for their family based on their financial situations. I know you were a secretary at some point and I was extremely saddened when I heard Tracy would return to work months after baby Morgan was born. I don’t know what it would have meant if she stayed home, and I’m not in any authority to judge (again citing Luke 6:37) or financially provide such an opportunity but, I firmly believe we teach through Christian values, and more importantly through Christian example.
Where is the example of the standard nuclear family model everyday Christians are fighting so hard to preserve when we send a woman with a newborn into a position of such great authority that she will essentially miss the first four years of her child’s life (or even eight)? And now, also the life of her granddaughter’s?
Like many other Christian women, I feel it is my duty both civically and faithfully to raise my children through presence and not through any other means. There has never been a question as to Pete staying home with our children so I could take on a career despite before we had Christopher that was the plan. I’ve grown in my faith since then. We’ve made every sacrifice to “afford” this privilege and it’s come with disaster and financial distress. It’s also come with blessings and opportunity to be ever present in their lives. Someone they can trust and confide in to always be there when they need me, just as you were for you children.
I’d love to make a difference to someone other than myself. To be known in the world that surrounds me. Sure, I write. I write at 2 a.m. after taking care of house and children all day knowing no matter how badly I want to escape into my thoughts and put it all on paper that I’m responsible for being there; With them in thought as much as physically. I am held accountable to them and to my husband and to God for a kept home (which I fail miserably at), for nourishment, for stories and for play. Responsible for teaching them. For loving them. For being there for them –consistently. How many women don’t have that same luxury right now due to financial circumstance of a dual-income society? How many women would give up everything to stay home and be with their children because they believe that’s most important but can’t?
Yes, Michelle Obama too works outside of her home. I respect and admire all women who have been able to succeed and accomplish in their lives. Her children also attend school. She holds a position likely with long hours and although speculative, has the flexibility to work around her children and their activities. Should she get into office, she might even stay home? However, she has not preached and touted and exuded an arrogance that makes her any better rather, she seems to understand the plight of a working mother rather than the privilege of choosing to go to work.
I respect Palin for being Governor and having that ambition. However, there is a Conservative Christian attitude that is being undermined which is, ‘I will teach and praise Conservative Christian values but, I will not exemplify the values for which I believe.’
I too have waited and sacrificed and suffered until one day, because of my faith (and a marriage retreat) I realized where I belong. That God had given me everything I never knew I wanted; A family and an opportunity to stay home, whatever sacrifice that brings. The corner office I once wished so badly to achieve is of worldly consequence, not at all the values I exemplify as a Christian today. I have been put in my place repeatedly by God’s grace - through my own failures and trials – to learn that my place right now is at home. My children are only two and three. How lucky am I to have seen that and given up my need to prove to man who I can be, to stop struggling for control and let my husband be head of household despite the discipline it’s taken in a world telling me I am a woman made to achieve. I surrendered what should have been a profitable and lucrative business instead of fighting for something (a cookie company) that in the grand scheme of things took me away from my children and the family who loves me. I finally realized I can try again once the kids reach school age but until then, it’s in vain as it’s not God’s will.
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In my world, I simply can’t see teaching my children and those whom I have the ability to influence a separate set of rules than the ones I preach and value. That is why I let Pete home when I did. I couldn’t stand up for my faith and teach my children forgiveness if I could not exemplify it myself. This is what God asks of us to do no matter the circumstance. Is it not?
(Biblical text: Parable of the Unmerciful Servant: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?’ Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times but, seventy times seven.” – Matthew 18:21 (NIV). Lucky for Pete, he hadn’t reached his quota. However, translation tells us this means “Times without number.”)
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It is because of my belief in setting a Christian example beyond our homes that I urge CEO’s and all men and women in powerful positions to decipher the fine line between walking in faith and making corporate business decisions solely for business profits and reason.
If nearly all Americans believe in God, then a sea of godly people in powerful positions exist, both in corporate America and in our American government.
In that, does not each one of us have an opportunity to go beyond asking for government instituted laws to enforce Christian decisions by starting with the decisions we make everyday? Perhaps that is a better way to change the world. Perhaps their could be a compromise between corporate America and the Christian community in that, if they will be responsible to us as Americans through better business decisions, then we shall be supportive of them through not asking for more government support for the least of our people (who at the moment seems to be just about everyone).
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We all exist somewhere on a ladder. Entry level or upper-management, we all fall somewhere on a rung. However, each of us will have to answer to a Higher Authority at some point. In that, individually we have the ability to move mountains by making corporate and business decisions while walking in faith, being ever mindful of our own value system (moral and ethical codes) for the laws God has set before us.
This means as a Christian American, it is a corporate manager’s responsibility to make the best decisions for the American people and for their Christian faith; not solely for their bottom-line (or their shareholders).
Nowhere in the Bible does it say “seek prosperity.” As Christians, we believe prosperity in itself is considered a blessing granted to us by God. If it is self-sought, then we have done so in vain which is not walking in the Light of the Lord.
I support the Republican platform whom believes it is an individual’s responsibility for prosperity. God gives each of us talents and gifts for us to find and share with the world.
(“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you…” – 1 Timothy 4:14 [NIV].) However, I also believe there must be an outlet for which to prosper. If business men and women are making decisions to replace American paid positions with foreign interests in the name of prosperity for only themselves, then there is no longer opportunity for the American people and they have done so in vain.
Opportunities diminish everyday as we face our economic crisis. People are refusing new services and products buying only the most inexpensive, (most often made in China), and people are also refusing blue-collar services relying on their own self-sufficiency in efforts to save.
Outsourced jobs have taken food out of the mouths of American men, women, and children and are instead being served on a plate made in India.
Opportunities are being taken away everyday from the American people.
FLORIDA TODAY Newspaper, owned by Gannet (also owner of USA Today), outsources their advertising to India. This is an entry level advertising job worth $17-$22K annually. It is also the field I would have gone into as it is the field of my degree had I not become a wife and mother.
When Barack Obama began campaigning we wrote to him that we believed companies who outsource should not be allowed to take advantage of tax incentives or should be taxed higher. We received a reply – It is now part of his platform.
We know we are not the only Americans to have that idea but, Obama is using the voice of everyday American people in developing his ideas and platforms. A two-way communication with our government is important. I believe this restores American principals of democracy. That each of us can be part of solutions in ever-changing situations and the environment surrounding us.
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Since all solutions start and end with compromise, is there a compromise between an individuals right to prosperity, the American people’s living circumstance, and our Christian faith?
I believe so. For the American people and everyday Christians, it’s in government. Through regulations and lucrative tax incentives to deter outsourcing such as Obama’s strategy suggests. Is this fair? Before you answer, consider the following question: What does the business owner get out of such a compromise (assuming he’s Republican and voting against such policies)?
If as Christians we believe prosperity to be a blessing and that all things granted to us in prosperous times are gifts, then as a Christian would we then believe our prosperity could not be taken away? This is in reference to Christian business owners fighting so hard for bigger profit-margins and less taxation. - Alas, not everyone who is Republican is a Christian.
Christian or not, the business owner (Republican), having a heavy decision to make as relates to taxation and/or regulation gets the opportunity to maintain his/her business. By doing so, a business owner still has an opportunity to turn a profit, even if not as large. He still has the chance to exist. To compete. To survive – in the same manner that McCain suggests sink or swim for the American people. In an economy quickly failing (despite press releases from the Bush Administration and McCain stating otherwise earlier this week) this makes the most sense. God giveth and God can taketh away. ..
With McCain’s platform, he encourages outsourcing through tax-breaks and more free-trade, he believes in prosperity and prosperity alone for businesses regardless of what that means for the American people (McCain). His ideals are based on “trickle-down” effects and in today’s dependency mode, this isn’t plausible to put such monies into the pockets of everyday Americans.
I understand he and many believe if we spend our money to invest in the economy again it will restore what once was a prosperous America however, his plans disclude most of the American people who, if even once had such a luxury to invest, have already exhausted any excess funds; be it their retirement, their assets, their child’s college savings - all to get one more balloon house payment in or to make it day-to-day. Sink or swim.
And so I ask, do you believe this exemplifies a godly example?
With that, some will experience a hardening of hearts to say, “well this is the real world.” But, I challenge you as a Christian to see that it is not. There is a line between the world we live in and the place of God’s reign. I believe that place is in our conscience - where in it lies all our decisions for which we will be judged.
For a moment let’s forgo compromise and entertain the very thought of dog-eat-dog prosperity.
Only assumptions can be made, but with a failing economy mimicking every characteristic parallel to that of the Great-Depression in 1940, my prediction is that the business owner is at risk of failing entirely if we can’t figure out how to put money back into the pockets of everyday Americans. If the business fails, then all efforts with the bail out plan and in this election will have been made for a short-term gain with long-term losses – which of course is the opposite of what we’re trying to do.
If McCain takes office, he has made clear his position to lessen taxes and to support the “freedom” of prosperity no matter the cost. He has prided himself on foreign investments, expanding free-trade, and off-shore drilling as a viable solution right now.
(Source Link: http://www.johnmccain.com/).
I absolutely agree that McCain is for prosperity. McCain wants this economy to thrive and it shows. Without reservation I believe he ultimately supports the prosperity of businesses and business owners and it is with disappointment that as a favored “Christian” he does so at the expense of the American people who will endure more lost jobs, once precedented at an unemployment rate of 24.1% (Encarta.com). History has a tendency of repeating itself and I wonder if it will repeat itself in this capacity?
Which candidate on this issue exemplifies Christian values? The candidate interested in protecting the future of those who already have-not? Or the candidate interested in protecting those who potentially could have-not? To each their own however, if we truly identify ourselves in a Christian light we must ask ourselves which answer can be biblically founded?
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On a basic level, we understand the full circumstance in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer however, we do not believe it could ever happen to us. But Why? Because we are America? I could go into theories of exploitation but rather than talk about ideas and political philosophies would prefer showing you through our world history a true account.
The model of rich versus poor is best exemplified through the history of Argentina in the early 1800’s with Juan Manuel de Rosas, “a politically ambitious cattle rancher” who had vested interests in prosperity and political gain. From the book Modern Latin America, in an excerpt called “Argentina: Prosperity, Deadlock and Change” by T.E. Skidmore and P.H. Smith, the authors outline the history of Argentina’s great socioeconomic divide in which cattle ranchers were favored through government instituted policies, while the laborers had little choice but to abide, thus diminishing the middle-class Argentineans entirely into two categories: Rich and Poor. The laborers were exploited for many years until government rule was overthrown. I argue that the term “ranch owners” from their time can easily be replaced with “business owners” in McCain’s platform in real time.
Here is an except from the article to give a better picture:
“Juan Manuel de Rosas, a politically ambitious cattle rancher won governorship of his providence in 1829. His ambitions did not stop there. He wanted to rule all of Argentina, and pursued his goal with policies favoring the estancieros (ranch owners), thus furthering consolidation of a landed aristocracy (all upper-class beings united). Rosa was an ardent Buenos Aries federalist. More important, he had the military leadership and the following to achieve his goal of subduing rival caudillos (groups outside of the aristocracy), ‘so that not one of this race of monsters may remain among us,’ as he proclaimed.”
As we can see two-fold, history repeats itself in modern times in that one, Adolph Hitler’s idea of genocide was not an original idea (despite it’s current on-goings), and two, there is a possibility to create a socioeconomic divide so great that it can lead to desolation of the poor and/or a violent up roaring from lesser socioeconomic classes (i.e. crime rates will rise and the potential of government being overthrown by the people). The latter a real issue for America if the economy continues to worsen to unprecedented records.
Here in America we seem to believe history from long ago does not apply to our “modern” world. But I urge you to reconsider. The socioeconomic divide of Argentina and the on goings of genocide happened in the 1840’s. Then 100 years later, Adolph Hitler came to rule causing the greatest devastation to humanity in WWII.
In that is a lesson: Just because it hasn’t happened in a while, doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t.
I will exemplify two other modern examples from history (one being from American history) as relates to our economic status in a few moments. For now, let us turn back to where America is today and where the American people stand in terms of prosperity.
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In my life, I found my opportunities through providing “good works” for others through charity and good deeds and know in my heart all others wishing to find opportunity must start there too; No matter how little or how much we seemingly have.
Good works is also something Conservative Christian Republicans hold as a virtue, relying on charities and donations (doubling as a tax-deduction) to solve crisis’ but, in the economic circumstances we face today, I can’t help but think that the real crisis’ we’re in is government made (in this administration, the preceding administration, and possibly dating back even further before that). Meaning it’s government’s responsibility to fix, not the American people’s responsibility to suffer for.
With that, no matter the outcome of this election, I believe each of us as individuals and in our faith has the responsibility of living out a Christian example by making godly decisions in our everyday.
(Biblical context: Matthew 23:11(NIV) Jesus says, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” With that I ask, at this point, which candidate seems most humble to you?)
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As we continue to dive into the lives of each candidate, godly decisions and ownership of wrongdoing is not something I’ve seen much of as relates to the Republic nominations for the 2008 election. Obama too has been under fire for his character and beliefs and for a religion he does not hold. He’s been scrutinized closely for statements made by an individual that holds his faith (by a pastor who may or not be as godly as he believes himself to be) and for his political career - held accountable for every opposing vote or difference of opinion against the fiber of his being. Perhaps rightfully so as character has everything to do with the presidency despite arguments otherwise of personal privacy.
With that I can not disqualify and overlook delving into the lives, both private and political of our Republican nominations. However, because there is so much to use, I will stay at the surface of what really matters (to me).
Palin being uncooperative in an investigation of abusing political power seems as corrupt as the Casey Anthony case. There is only one reason to be uncooperative. Typically, personnel of significant importance such as the Public Safety Commissioner is not fired over a simple budgetary dispute. It would make little sense because I doubt there was such an out lashing over a budgeting issue that it warranted being unemployed. It’s like when I was babysitting and the kid next door came out and started picking on the kids I was watching. We went in and came back outside with water of buckets. I took one of the buckets and pretended to “trip” getting him soaking wet to “teach him a lesson;” I set out to let that kids know someone of authority was on the victim’s side. Of course he went and told his mom (who outranked me – I was 14 at the time) and I did get into trouble. She didn’t buy I tripped either but, she was not willing to hear that her son repeatedly was picking on the children I was watching. In both situations, there’s no lesser evil. It is what it is. A cover-up. And a bad one at that.
Moving onto the potential presidential pick, a man (McCain) who wasn’t able to correctly assess how many properties he owns in a public interview, answering a question with a question (“Does that include condos?”) and doing so knowing millions of Americans are going homeless right now due to foreclosures is not only insensitive but, undermines what is truly going on in society today. It screams “politics.” It says to me, “I don’t care.” It says to me, “I have the American Dream and you don’t and that’s my right. I climbed my way to the top.” But how? How did he get to the top? The problem is not that Obama does not have enough political experience rather, it is that McCain has too much political experience without enough experience in the real world (non-military). His life has revolved around military principals with military schooling in a military family. I will not undermine his service nor his education and career. I’m certain in his own right he is brilliant and has proven perseverance in the midst of personal hardship (in particular as a POW). However, he can not seem to identify with the crises that Americans are facing today – that makes it complicated for me to want to vote for him.
McCain keeps promising a strengthened economy and about banning together to support capitalism, more dependency on foreign investments, tax incentives, prosperity - and it sounds good, it truly does… and it seems to be the “American way.”
What hasn’t been clearly stated is that McCain’s policies comes at the expense of the American people; A claim that can be argued either way; Being if Obama is elected it comes at the expense of American people through taxation or, if McCain is elected it comes with expense of the American people through exploitation of lesser socioeconomic classes.
Simply states, our government needs to take a step back (to taking care of it’s people first) if we ever want to move forward.
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I vehemently oppose the government bail-out because we are thwarting the inevitable, a crashing market, and have done so at the expense of the American people.
As we stand now under the Bush Administration, with reported government bail-out of big corporate businesses equaling up to $700 Billion (PBS News), it will cost the American people (adults paying taxes) roughly $7,000 per person in taxes.
With that, from a party platform the message seems that we believe in helping big businesses on Wall Street, the men and women already in charge, in the name of capitalism, but we don’t believe in bailing out the person going hungry whose job was moved overseas under the premise of socialism.
This is not so. Upon voting turnout and deeper discussion, we find more Republicans oppose the bail-out package, which is opposite of what one would expect. Logic tells us why (and I stated this earlier) – it goes against platform policies.
Some Republicans (including mainstream voters) fear a bail-out from the government will be the beginning of a socialized society. This is somewhat relevant in theory, however, seems unlikely considering we are The United States of America - who has operated since inception as a nation under a capitalist society (beginning with barter agreements). We, The United States of America have thwarted socialists societies across the globe by persuading (or demanding) expanding markets and free-trade for better opportunities for their nation (and ours) to prosper.
Why or how would the American people (and our leaders) ever let that happen? What would we gain from being a socialist economy?
I’ll answer by saying I firmly don’t believe anyone has asked or is asking right now (or ever) for “Big Government” to take care of all things at all times for all people at all costs however; I do believe during this time of desperation, in the face of a huge economic crisis brought on by multiple factors in financial matters for which an individual private citizen can not control, We, the American People, are asking for ‘A Big Government’ of sorts to bail us out and keep us afloat until our economy begins to prosper again. Until we can find work again /(unemployment rates drop again). Until we can feed our families again. Until we can afford our homes we already live in again.
Each household across America is failing and the only people who have known this for sometime now are the people who don’t live on Wall Street. People both with and without credit cards who can not (and haven’t been able to) afford their living expenses for more than a year.
Here’s a real life example: My friend is at poverty level (which by national standards is $46K and below) and spends roughly $900 per month paying back credit cards bills in addition to rent. She has no assets other than a car she’s upside down in and has exhausted all available monies towards her retirement adding on years to retirement age and can only hope for a decent social security check when she finally gets there, if social security is still operable. She refuses to file bankruptcy because she fears ruining credit that has been well under par for sometime. She prides herself on responsibility (which is extremely admirable). She is still giving despite her life’s circumstance and is always a good friend to me – buying groceries and toys for the kids when she can, taking time to visit even though she lives far away. She vows she could never change jobs because her retirement would be lost. At this time she is voting for John McCain. She is voting for him because of his faith and because he is the norm. When the classes divide even farther into the “haves” and “have-nots” she will be sunk. But she’s on a credit program that promised in three years her credit would be paid off and repaired and I ask myself “for what?” To do it all over again?
Credit is what it will take for her to stay afloat if the economy doesn’t reset itself.
She is an example of what has happened to tens of millions of Americans stuck without recourse rightfully being taught responsibility and the American way of life, but being swallowed by unethical practices (banks and lenders) and a failing economy. There is a sense of personal responsibility too, however with the compiling interest over the years she pays more for the luxury of once having credit than for the products purchased.
The end result, we’re back in the Great Depression… again.
Not living on credit is the best thing that ever happened to me – it was a smack in the face on my reality and it makes me sad to see so many others deluded into the idea that credit is fixing anything when it’s only making life worse. It’s just another means to be living in deficit. Having it only makes everyday a little easier before it the day it gets worse. Just as I see an astronomical bail-out doing; Making life a little easier until it gets a lot worse. As hard as it will be for a little while, if we pay our dues now, I believe the market will reset itself sooner than later. All economics, such as life, is a cycle. It starts. It ends. It prospers. It flatlines. It starts all over again.
The point is, if a “socialist agenda” is what it takes to start helping people (which God calls on all of us to do as Christians), even if only until we can build our economy back up, then that is what it will take.
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In a few moments I will address why at this time it’s economically necessary to provide through government rather than simple charity. However, ultimately, I do NOT believe it’s government’s responsibility to provide social services to the extent we typically do.
(Biblical text: I invite you to take a close look into Matthew 5:31 – The Sheep and the Goats. The entire chapter is on the premise of ‘What you do for the least of my people, you have done for Me.’ This is not a direct quote but, Jesus makes our directives clear and his voice reigns. As relates to this election, I can only say I see similarities between the people of our time and theirs who said they never saw Jesus naked to clothe, or hungry to eat. Never saw Him thirsty for drink. But, Jesus makes very clear that it is our actions towards others that defines having done for Him or not having done for Him, placing us into eternal fire or eternal life. I can only conclude with the crisis America faces today, this includes how we vote in this election – For one or For All.)
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The underlying tone for this election from a Republican perspective seems to be about America’s “bottom-line,” both as a country and for individuals already in the running for prosperity, rather than what is in the best interest of America as a whole. This concerns me as it should you. Perhaps I find I am no longer Republican after all…
I have much anguish over what I’ve believed in the past and what I know as Truth from a Christian perspective. In this election, with who I am today, the Republican candidates’ platform come into conflict with my faith and my Creator.
(Biblical text: Jesus said,
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with very much. So, if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property to own?
No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You can not serve both God and Money.” – Luke 16:10 (NIV).
My thoughts on translation into modern times is when talking about property, instead of thinking a home, a car or tangible item, re-read and replace “someone else’s property” with the words, “government who provides for all American people” and replace the text “property to own” with the words “reign over America.”)
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Through conversation it seems we continue labeling all democrats extreme left and all Republicans extreme right regardless of studies proving most people (despite party affiliation) lye somewhere in the middle. Not everyone who is a Republican believes we shouldn’t have a welfare system and not everyone who is a democrat believes in abortion. However, tabloids, media, and our own fear predict otherwise. Thus, perception equals reality. Let us forget party affiliations for a moment and talk about just being a Believer.
Reality (no matter which way you spin it) determines caring for the impoverished first is clearly just the right thing to do – from a Christian standpoint regardless of party ties (Matthew 5:31 [NIV]).
Everyday, Christians have chosen to persecute an idea that helps all Americans because “we work hard for our money” yet, in history it has been proven to succeed as where McCain’s platform has been proven to fail.
I believe there is compromise between a socialist healthcare system and a privatized one however, I am not convinced right now privatization is what will work best in our dog-eat-dog society (which has proven through real-estate scams and lack of regulation that until it’s illegal, it’s not – no matter what happens to the person affected).
Socialized healthcare works in some countries fantastically and I have also read articles of where it could potentially fail in America.
Healthcare in America right now is considered a privilege among many, not a right. People can either afford or not afford treatment. Thus making it – privilege.
There are Christians who’ve been taught to love and care for all less fortunate but yet feel if they have to pay for it, there’s cause for alarm. I’m not clear on the message we’re sending when we take that approach.
There is a level of misconception and non-understanding about Obama’s “socialist agenda” as it’s been called. If we ever even got to socialized healthcare, monies right now paid for insurance would eventually cease and later becomes a payroll deduction under the guise of “taxes.”
Within a socialized healthcare plan, tax is typically based on percentages instead of the flat rates insurance companies today require. In my opinion, it makes more sense because it means if you as a small business owner are not making money, essentially, the government’s not making money off of you. Which also means yes, if you are making money, then the government is making more money off of you.
(Before you decide no, in a minute we’ll find compromise.)
In the campaigns and advertisements, socialized healthcare is portrayed that small businesses will be inundated with excessive taxation, unaffordable even, taking away from the bottom-line small business owners worked so hard for.
As the structure is now, assuming insurance is offered through employment, a small business owner could easily take a loss during an economic downturn due to the fact that insurance has to be paid regardless of earnings. Where does that leave us?
What if all our answers on socialized medicine can again be found in compromise?
Clearly we can’t afford to go from one extreme to the other overnight. But, perhaps both private healthcare and public healthcare could co-exist. There are three ways I see in which this could work without failing our economy:
Government issued insurance for all Americans. This does not eliminate co-pays or prescription fees however, would allow for medical treatment regardless of financial status for all members of every American family.
Even with public healthcare facilities, privatized healthcare could still be available to those willing to pay for it for a higher level of care, or specialized treatments (example being the difference between the staying at the Hilton or the Ritz).
Private insurance could still be carried with a tax-deduction incentive based on individuals policy payout for the year.. families still provided government insurance however, if not used in the course of one year, can be written off taxes.
Clearly there is room to grow, however, moving in this direction benefits all Americans from a medical stand point. Including you, who may initially have co-pays, but will eventually have no medical expenses for doctor’s visits or medicine once established and fully functional; again, if we ever ended up with socialized medicine.
As an individual, often we take on the attitude that “someone will get something for nothing” in all of this.
I met a woman today proudly displaying her faith in the form of a cross around her neck (the same as I) who said, “yea, but I would have to pay more in taxes right? See, I work harder than some others - so, that’s not really fair.” Touché, and others work harder than her.
(Biblical text: We can never truly be disciples in Christ when we take on that approach. Jesus clearly states in following Him we will endure hardships for the greater good. Read 1 Peter 4:12 – Suffering for Being Christian.)
Since we’re both stay-at-home moms, technically we’re equal but, our family income clearly is not. Her husband is a pharmacist working between 40-60 hours a week and mine a firefighter working 56 -72 hours a week (without overtime which we depend on making it up to 120 hours for five days – if available). I’m certain her husband makes more than a bring home salary of $33K as she admitted in her words to making “really decent money” which is why she hesitated at a higher taxation. My husband however, works 24 hours at a time leaving me every third day to care for our children alone and to sleep alone and must take overtime (meaning 48 hours straight at the fire station away from our family and only 24 hours home before returning to work) in efforts of “prosperity” and to catch up on our bills. Our choice of course, and I wouldn’t trade it in (okay maybe sometimes I would) but, I would say there is someone who works “harder” and it’s not the person allotted breaks and time out of the office for lunch who stands under the air-conditioning of a store.
So I ask, what ground is gained if we can provide every child, mother, elderly, or sick person with healthcare? What will it mean to a family who can not afford the medical expense of having a baby? What will it mean as a Christian to everyday be living in His grace simply because you get up and go to work - walking in faith? That is the unselfishness God asks of us. That is the defining moment when instead of waking up and asking yourself “for what?” you can answer your question with “for all.”
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One of the reasons for my family’s downward financial spiral was because we took Abigail to the emergency care pediatrics where we were asked for insurance and payment as we walked in panicked and frantic… My daughter was hardly breathing! Literally gasping for air! But, they were a privatized after-hours healthcare facility and the closest thing to us. Clearly we paid a co-pay with a debit card and later that evening for two prescriptions. That emergency ended us with a (-$150) in our bank account, not including a follow-up visit co-pay the following day, gas to get there, and a prescription refill. In a weeks time our bank account ended up (-$886).
We have no credit cards (from my own financial mistakes as a 18 year-old ambitious in her college career and from Pete’s lingering debt that although paid off, threw him into a higher “risk” for credit issuance). How many others also have no credit to live off of? Just like you suggested as it was back in the “old days” when you simply had to make do. So, we made due in negative numbers even though at the time of her visit, we did have a little cash in our bank account.
Again, our bank is now under federal investigation for unethical practices for what I call “Leap-frog accounting.” They hold checks, rush payments, and reorganize payments that were already posted and cleared so that the mortgage check suddenly shows cleared before everything else - (In that week, a coffee I purchased the same day our mortgage payment was snail-mailed posted cleared and then showed up overdraft. Most expensive coffee I ever bought, subsequently costing me $35).
The bank refunded only $60 in charges of the $530 in fees charged. That $530 was strictly bank-incurred fictitious fees for overdraft charges, not including actual payments made towards debits incurred (which included medicines and doctors visits for my daughter despite some monies were in the account and could have cleared in the positive without repercussions - but didn’t).
Employers around the nation (including Pete’s county job) are mandating Direct Deposit while banks offer incentives for using such. Employers and banks alike argue it’s cheaper however, banks have another take:
With direct deposit, the bank is ensured to get paid first. They are not subject to fair-debt collection practices. Once a debt is incurred, banks have the ability to make your account positive with any monies credited to your account.
Direct Deposit takes two weeks to cancel both from the employers side and on the bankers side. Needless to say, the bank got their cut first from that catastrophe and after making the account positive through direct deposit, we were left with $331 from a two week paycheck with 24 hours of overtime on it (roughly $1300) that had to last us two more weeks worth of groceries, gas for work, an electric bill, car payment, car insurance, water bill, and phone only to turn around two weeks later to pay rent (which would take an entire paycheck with more overtime to pay in full). If everything else didn’t get paid, we wouldn’t be able to afford our rent and to be painfully honest, we were already late on a lot of the aforementioned bills to begin with – just trying to stay afloat like the rest of America today.
I called the bank explaining we had no food, two children, no way to pay our rent and they said, “sorry, it’s all automated, there’s nothing we can do – I’ll have a manager call you.” That call never came in. We were forced to decide to pay electric, water, or buy groceries because in the end, we still needed to buy gas for two weeks time for Pete to get to and from work (which was 46 miles each way @ $3.86 a gallon).
There are blessings in this matter as Pete and I certainly came out on top but, how many others aren’t even blessed to have had the medical insurance we had? I can’t imagine someone suffering worse than we did, in a position more life threatening than ours and yet, I know it happens everyday in America when it doesn’t have to.
In 2005, half of bankruptcies incurred in America (prior to the housing crisis) where due to an unforeseen medical emergency when it didn’t have to be. I invite you to read “Medical Bills Leading Cause of Bankruptcy, Harvard Study Finds” from ConsumerAffairs.com; It is a concise comprehensive article about the medical crisis families face during an illness providing statistics and simple explanations on how and why people (the majority with insurance) end up in bankruptcy.
(Source Link: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/bankruptcy_study.html)
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There are two issues in what happened specifically to my family but that happens everyday to millions of American families:
1. Medical & Insurance Practices: Health centers can refuse treatment based on being privatized because although doctors have an oath, they also have healthcare facility policies to abide by. What if we couldn’t pay and they said, “go home and give Abby a breathing treatment and she’ll be fine?”
It took three specialized breathing treatments and two physicians to even agree that she was breathing better…I can’t imagine if I had to take her home and try and figure it out myself. I hardly knew what was going on to begin with. All I did know was something didn’t seem right. I suppose there was a HUGE blessing in the fact that I noticed at all because at first it just seemed like she fell asleep at the fair because it was late (about 9 p.m.). Rather, she had passed out because she couldn’t breath! At first I mistook her gasps for snoring, that’s all it seemed like. Again, how lucky am I to have noticed and had a pediatric center around the corner.
But it’s not my family that worries me, it’s the families without insurance or without the means for a deposit often required before treatment is provided. She was still breathing, they could have sent her home. Thank God they didn’t.
2. The second issue is Big Business, for instance banks who are capitalizing on the “have-nots” to such an extraordinary extent it is just plain cruel. I’ve had to argue that my check didn’t clear automatically as it should have and was told, “well Ma’am, just for future reference, your check can clear with companies now automatically so make sure the money is in your account.” Irritated I replied with a simple, “I appreciate your telling me,” but inside I was boiling! That is what should have happened! That is what I wanted to happen! That is exactly what the bank didn’t allow to happen! Ahh! Things that should clear immediately don’t and things that shouldn’t (like large sums of money) do.
Accounting is a tricky business and depending on the order of things an person/business can appear completely sunk or appear to be doing just fine. It’s all in how you look at it, which brings us to an important economic topic for this election – America’s debt crisis.
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On September 7, 2008, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae became government entities (Fox).
(Source Link: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/government-seied-fannie-mae-freddie-mac/.) It may have been another step in the wrong direction for the Republican agenda - (less taxes and little government oversight) - however, after understanding the complexity of the situation, I agree it was a step in the right step for capitalism and the American people – kind of.
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have a huge influence on how we see this election for two reasons: Lobbyists role in government and Islamic funding.
Let’s start with Islamic funding and its involvement in America’s governance because there are an overwhelming number of Conservative Christians who’ve taken an aggravated approach on as relates to rumors that Obama is of Muslim decent/faith.
Freddie Mac takes a seat in the 2008 Presidential election again as relates to Christianity through their foreign investment choices through Muslim dominant nations. I offer proof: Four years ago “Islamic Finance” was introduced in a forum at Harvard University because of its possibilities and benefits with this new way of financing. The Keynote Speaker John B. Taylor, under the Secretary of US Treasury gave an example stating Freddie Mac has been using such foreign investments and “‘We’ can learn from them.”
(Source: US Treasury website http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/js1543.htm )
In this two-page press release put out by the US Treasury in 2004 under the Bush Administration, it is made very clear American government sought to learn, understand, and practice another line of “foreign investment” through Islamic Finance. But why?
Islamic countries ruled in faith through Muslim dominance are confined to their laws (called Shiara) and confined to the practice of riba meaning no matter the circumstance, a debt (be it borrowed or owed) can not collect or incur interest.
This line of investment has existed for 4-years (that I can evidence) under the Bush Administration when Freddie Mac started selling bonds and securities (i.e. our mortgages) to foreign interests, most especially Islamic countries.
In the release, the Bush administration blatantly supports and encourages the use of Islamic finance which perhaps weighs as exploitation on both ends of the spectrum - be it exploitation of them by utilizing their faith to our advantage or by a Muslim countries’ political gain into our dependency on foreign investment. Ironically, this situation also serves as a symbiosis of economical gain for both countries depending on the strength of our dollar.
That being said, as a Christian in faith this should ease any fear of Muslim leadership (despite both candidates are confirmed Christians) and ease any fear of Muslim residence or dominance in our nation and government via physical presence or monetarily speaking – mostly because it already exists.
I believe there are many devout Christians who have placed votes and weighed issues based on Christian principals and the rejection of Muslim laws to exist in our government yet, now we see some unfolding in government leadership positions using that platform to our advantage under the guise of “foreign investments.”
To me that seems to be misleading the American people, in particular, the Conservative Christian Community placing votes based on those moral grounds. We have entrusted government leaders to do what is the in the best interest of our country and although we receive a monetary gain for such practices, must question if we’ve compromised Christianity and its ethics for which we believe. This is when it is easier to say and/or buckle to our founding principals that not all Americans believe in Christianity and we can’t base all our decisions that way. Stalemate.
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As an American, I am upset the US has so much vested interest in all foreign investments period; putting us into a situation of vulnerability yet again just as with oil and perhaps even our dependency on China for such a plethora of products. Then again, at 27, I haven’t really kept up with knowing and understanding world dominance and political importance until now. I don’t yet know how I can change our world for the better but, the discovery of this knowledge was overwhelming as an un-political American. I know other Christians, such as yourself, who will have eyes wide open moving from political darkness to light and delving into politics beyond the surface.
Moving back to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the take-over happened mostly because government, both under the Bush Administration and as part of McCain’s political undertakings, was already playing a huge role. In fact, government always has. Fannie Mae was created by Congress during the Great-Depression to help people who are in the same situation we are seemingly in today. Freddie Mac later emerged as an attempt for competition and just when we thought privatization was underway, government seized back control (Sweet). Perhaps rightfully so due to mismanagement until we can regain confidence in a new executive board.
(Source Link: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/government-seied-fannie-mae-freddie-mac/.)
McCain from his “FEDERAL HOUSING ENTERPRISE REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 2005” clearly predicted the misfortunes of these two companies three years ago. He cited earning deception and on-goings were in part due to lobbyists thwarting regulatory issues. McCain reported on this issue from the Senate floor on May 25, 2006:
“…The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's report also states that Fannie Mae used its political power to lobby Congress in an effort to interfere with the regulator's examination of the company's accounting problems. This report comes some weeks after Freddie Mac paid a record $3.8 million fine in a settlement with the Federal Election Commission and restated lobbying disclosure reports from 2004 to 2005. These are entities that have demonstrated over and over again that they are deeply in need of reform…”
(Source Link: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r109:16:./temp/~r109FuxYcQ::)
I absolutely applaud McCain’s foresight and his efforts of reform in 2005-6. Clearly, McCain was on the mark. As a voter, I must ask myself why the bill was ever voted down. It’s ironic the take-over happened during this election meaning it may have something (or nothing at all) to do with the situation and our Republican Presidential candidate. Perhaps even a feather in his cap that something McCain predicted actually happened during the most important time in his career and to the magnitude he predicted. Still I question if lobbyists were part of the initial problem leading to such reform, why would he turn and chose two lobbyists to represent him in his campaign staff from the same company (who may or may not have been directly related to the 2005 issue). Perhaps this is a non-issue. In total there are seven lobbyists in McCain’s campaign (CNN Politics).
(Source Link: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/09/mccain.lobbying/)
Allow me to interject I believe McCain to be inherently good and a Believer in Christ. I do not believe he has ever intentionally compromised himself, his faith, or the policies for which he believes. For me, it seems more a struggle for control and ambition for political gain rather than a commitment to abiding by the ethics and morals which as Christians we are to be bound by. So I must ask, do you believe individually we can afford to only be Christian some of the time? Allow me to expand on the issue of lobbyists in general unrelated to McCain and in reference to Barack Obama.
I will not undermine Obama’s campaign staff there are no lobbyists however, his vice presidential running mate Joe Bidden has a son lobbyist for MBNA who may (or may not) have played a role in Bidden’s 2004 bankruptcy reform. However, I argue with bankruptcy reform the people abusing the system were the American people, most often the wealthy, purchasing extravagant homes and filing bankruptcy knowing no matter if the home is 100K or 3M, if it’s considered a primary residence they get to keep their house. With that situation, the creditor continues not getting paid and the interest rates continue to climb. This is all part of the lingering debt crisis. Is it just? Is the reform fair? You decide.
The idea of lobbyists may seem nerve racking in both situations however, one candidate presents itself with more problems.
Why do lobbyists in government matter at all? Why does this matter as a Christian? Respectively: Both as an American and Christian can we support it’s ethical (or can be biblically defended) to use one’s authority and/or power for personal or political gain. This is what a lobbyist is paid to do. The concept is “we’ll line your pockets, if you line ours.”
God does not ask of us to exploit ourselves in such a way. He does not ask we find our own prosperity by aiding those already in a circle of success by exploiting the needs of others. Others who potentially could suffer from the consequences of such actions.
Take away the title “lobbyist” and we can apply that to everyday conflicts of interest towards protecting the needs of everyday Americans verses the protection of Big Business and Big Business’ role in government.
For instance, real-estate companies who worked closely with Governor Charlie Crist and dumped huge sums of advertising and political dollars to pass Amendment 1 which would lessen property taxes here in Florida. “Crist raised twice as much money as opponents, but half the $4-million came from two sources: Florida Power & Light Co. and the Florida Association of Realtors (TampaBay).” Real Estate companies who believed homes would start moving again if property taxes no longer existed giving the pretext of boosting the economy. Governor Crist said tax cuts would not lessen education or public safety but it has through budget cuts and lay-offs state-wide in both sectors and beyond.
Governor Crist asserted, "I don't believe there will be a dropoff, whether it's fire protection or police protection," Crist said. "Most people in local government are good, responsible stewards (TampaBay)." Except now Brevard County is facing a fifth year without promised raises after the county spent 80K in a Cody Study to find just how grossly underpaid Brevard County Fire Rescue is. That study is now outdated by three years and we aren’t even seeing what is in black and white therein due to “budget cuts” and a lack of “reoccurring funds” as sourced through negotiations with Brevard County Commissioners.
It doesn’t stop with me.
Government leaders, all of them, must be able to qualify their assertions. Something that should have been closely looked at before such Amendment was placed on the ballot (for Florida voters). Crist’s promise was not bound to be legally enforced by government entities in lesser positions of authority who have their own discretion in maintaining their county budgets and needs. Neither are McCain’s.
We’ve only begun to see the repercussions of such actions in our public safety sectors and with education. It doesn’t stop their. Voters are beginning to see that the term “no property tax” actually means only saving $250 dollars no matter the value of their home. Last month I received a bill for $142.00 as a Fire Assessment Fee which is to try and compensate for the lack of funding in Brevard County for public safety services. Public safety has to recoup money somewhere if people no longer wish to pay for services through taxation. It is my position there is a degree of taxation mandated to afford to provide an area of occupants with public safety and mainstream services such as education. Taxes aren’t always bad considering we’re saving money however, this tax-break was very expensive.
This tax-cut came at the expense of everyday services benefiting the majority of the American people through budget cuts to our education system, to our police departments, to government subsidized aid programs such as adult daycares for Alzheimer’s patients, libraries, foster care cut-backs, etc. It affected much more than was ever recognized.
Advertising dollars spent supporting Amendment 1 are questionable as they came from companies with a vested interest which would greatly benefit from such acts. In essence, they were able to lobby the American people through advertising expenditures to push their own agenda benefiting themselves – it’s big business with deep pockets. It came at the expense of the little people – the middle class, although upon further investigation as a firefighter, I do not believe we even qualify for that socioeconomic class anymore. The people who save your life, protect your homes, fight crime, and teach your children, are among the “working poor” because We, the American people, don’t believe in taxes.
There have been promises made by McCain that his staff will not accept lobbyists money (bribes) once in office however, the idea that men and women who’ve probably made hundreds of thousands of dollars to suddenly refute the very things that made them a “self-made” man would not be comprehendible. As we’ve learned through Shakespeare tragedies, Greed is a fatal flaw leading to our own demise - both personally and nationally. It’s hard enough to resist the temptations set before us in everyday life – allow me to remind you of President Clinton’s scandal and a plethora of others. The one thing more powerful than a woman, is money.
(Biblical text: “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.” – Exodus 23:8 [NIV]).
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Of the remaining five lobbyists on McCain’s team, others specialize in foreign interests and one also lobbied for the oil industry.
Let’s talk about oil for a brief moment as I am not versed in the complexity of it all however, do understand America’s dependency on it.
Palin’s husband is closely tied to BP (oil) as he previously worked for the company making a six-figure salary. One can only assume he has great stock options and investments in oil himself, or on behalf of their family. I don’t condemn his salary as it’s all part of the American Dream and the “pursuit of happiness.” I too hope for such circumstance to one day wake up and find myself in such a position as to be able to freely buy groceries or afford my house payment. However, I must ask myself and any onlooker, how will the American people ever gain if the very leaders in power are continuing to be the ones profiting from oil’s very existence? Just a reminder, President Bush (both Jr. and Sr.) also have/had a vested interest in oil as well. So, what motivation is there to move towards another source?
If firefighters were no loner needed because there weren’t fires to put out, I’m sure someone would go light one. (Actually, I think that happened during a lull a while back in California.)
The point is, we don’t easily give up on the things that provide us a source of income/revenue because it is the security or our future, of our prosperity, and of our families. We don’t like change because we will have to learn something new. But I say, how many laid-off Americans will have to learn something new to find employment and provide for their families? Change does not warrant a bad outcome; change simply means we have to start over with something different to make something new work in our lives. Like a company restructure which has been happening lately all over Wall Street. The company doesn’t always fail, more often the restructure occurs to save a company from falling any further into crisis. I see no difference in this election with the idea of a restructure in government.
I can appreciate that Palin’s husband knows the ins and outs of the oil industry – but, it really makes me wonder whose interest McCain has at heart as our intentions should be to move away from dependency and into ideals that we can become a self-sustaining country again. I don’t believe this is an unrealistic goal.
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There is an argument to be made that is solely my opinion (and for all intensive purposes a worthless opinion at that) but, I will say it anyway about our dependency on oil which McCain has made light of in his energy plan. After my findings in doing this “homework” I’ve found we are so imbedded with foreign interests reliant on oil production that if we were to completely abolish the use of oil, even if the technology were sound (which it is), the backbone of America would fall out. We would quickly become a third world country. We keep talking about natural energy and it is being endorsed by T. Boone Pickens, but what mainstream America doesn’t realize is that same man owns 95% of America’s natural gas pipelines. Is natural gas wrong? I don’t think so, however, there is always a vested interest and we must move cautiously before jumping on any band wagon.
McCain’s support of off-shore drilling is a moot point since the occurrence of hundreds of leases on oil fields (in the Gulf) signed this week ( 25 September 2008). The issue doesn’t really affect much other than our environment, most especially in the future.
I argue these leases won’t solve our energy problems in the future nor alleviate our stress at the pump which is something I feel mainstream America is being mislead on. It takes ten years before oil can be made ready for use.
So, perhaps in ten years we will be able to again play a major part in the world domination for oil. In our current situation with oil dependency, we rely on foreign oil/ investments. It’s a big issue, but not for this Presidential election. In ten years, once the oil is ready for use, it is my belief the oil will not stay here – it will be traded and used as collateral for US debt to foreign countries (who we are heavily indebted too); which may have some benefits but somehow, the American people are being mislead on the lack of importance or control in this issue.
The contradiction of importance is best stated in this excerpt from EWG.org, Who Owns the West,
“Under federal law, the Department of the Interior has a duty to balance competing uses of federal land. On the one hand, the Department must "protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values." On the other hand, the Department must manage public lands "in a manner which recognizes the Nation's need for domestic sources of minerals, food, timber, and fiber" (FLPMA 2004).
However, it goes on to report in 2004,
EWG's analysis of public land use decision records show that the Bush administration has issued a series of decisions and proposals that collectively will strip protections from 45 million acres of the country's most pristine remaining wild areas. The administration is on track to open for drilling an average of 12.7 million acres per year in 12 western states, compared to a net 7.7 million acres per year protected from drilling under the Clinton administration, according to an EWG analysis of government records. The decisions range from a series of Public Land Orders issued by the Department of Interior, to the recent administration proposal to entrust local government with land use decisions on millions of acres of roadless Forest Service land protected by the previous administration. Each of the actions documented below either open or close the land for mineral leasing. Closures to leasing mandated by the federal government preempt local land use plans.”
Hopefully in one decade, we’ll have moved on to other energy sources. But we already have thousands of US owned leases on oil fields that lay dormant. While some private investors will choose to move forward with production, others will wait until the time is right to exploit dependency and play a game of “name that price.”
Oil is about control, profit, and economic world dominance. Off-shore drilling? It’s not relevant to right now other than foresight that one day ten years from now, if the idea isn’t overturned somewhere in the next two presidencies, we will have another bargaining chip to partake in our revival to world Superpower. At that time is a more likely time to question our environment and the repercussions of such drilling (which I will argue has to take place at sometime to keep our economic world status).
To better understand economic world dominance, the book Third World Politics by Jeff Haynes gives an in-depth overview of a nation’s dependency on oil and, although it is based on third world countries, provides insight as to how deep the roots of oil and trading oil in a world market go. Oil was the biggest contributing factor to the debt crisis of Mexico in 1980 and I believe it’s just another contributing factors to our own failing economy today.
The circumstances in the US today do not go unprecedented in our world’s history. Evidence of problems, economic crisis, tried solutions, and outcomes are right before us – we just have to look back to see forward.
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Going back to the White House, this the need for dominance and control through lobbying, oil leases, big business or other mean the hearts of men are being replaced by self-prosperity, which although is the backbone of a free-market economy, can be proven to lead to the demise of a country. Again I remind you of the example of Argentina in the 1800’s.
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Our economic focus in American government should be to move away from dependency back to a nation of self-sufficiency, unlike the condition America is truly in today.
There has been more than a decade of free-trade in the US and no mention by McCain of ceasing but rather, expanding on what has already proven to have short-term gains with long-term losses.
Republican ideals of “self-reliance” and personal duty for individuals should also apply to businesses and government in the sense that in times of financial ruin it’s not governments responsibility to bail them out. In that, it’s a business’ civic duty to provide jobs and salaries for the American people. It’s government’s job to protect and provide education to their citizens. If Big Businesses turns back to supporting the American people, then an individual American has a better opportunity of self-reliance.
People can not maintain a level of composure to provide for themselves when their jobs are being sent overseas because it turns a bigger profit for a select group of shareholders.
Outsourcing is becoming more popular each day taking more and more jobs away from the American people which in turn is taking money out of the American economy and injecting it into foreign countries – mainly the East.
This continues to happen while unemployment rate continues to rise and the dollar continues to weaken.
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I’ve looked back on American history and the history of other nations who once held the stance McCain is suggesting in fixing the economy. Each of them, in both world and American history, have failed; The most relevant is Mexico’s debt crisis in the 1980’s when a “neoliberal social policy” was put in place to pump money into the financial sector by supporting small businesses through small business loans and by setting interest rates, exchange rates, and taxation (Source: Vilas). McCain’s platform closely resembles that of the dynamics of this platform which sustained poverty rather than diminished it.
Our foreign dependency is complicated to understand because we have been groomed and instilled with the comfort and security of the very idea that the United States will always be an economic superpower. But for the sake of your great-grand children, and for all the things you will not see when you are gone, consider what I am about to say and do not weigh lightly on these words.
In high school World History we were asked if America would always be the superpower it is; It is overwhelming the position of freshman high school students who only five minutes earlier were taught about the rise and fall of Rome; of the Chinese Dynasty; of European nations; and in the same breath quickly concluded the United States would forever be the world’s Superpower. But why?
The collective answer is because we are the US. We’re America. Everyone wants to be here. “That will never happen in our life time,” was the consensus (although I disagreed on the thought that it couldn’t happen).
Again, I ask why? What if for a moment we didn’t even see it coming? I doubt Rome saw the end coming.
With that same idea, how many of us can predict our own death? The coming of the end in our own lives? It is gruesome perhaps but necessary to make a point – that we never truly see what is happening until it happens. Some of us, never see it at all.
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Vision. Vision creates all things great. It took vision to get to where I am today.
It took Pete and I choosing to lose something great - a white-picket fence, two-story home in Avalon Park (after our financial downward spiral) and the hopes and dreams of one day making it ours - to achieve something greater – the land we own today; filled with bountiful harvest and blessings. Our home is a place that although comes with its unique hardships, I see as something beautiful to be restored.
In order to restore it we have to knock down walls, turn up flooring, mud over problem areas and paint over again to make something new with something seemingly old. We purchased a manufactured home not deterred from it’s outward appearance but, knowing that we can create it into anything we desire it to be. The foundation is sound yet, the structure allows for flexibility.
It took vision simply to agree on the possibility of moving forward in making the purchase even though with unfinished floors and well-water it seems we took a step back. It continues taking hard work and pride in seeing something others do not see. To another, I simply live in a trailer. To me – this one day will be paradise. My past determines my vision and how I see the future. Had I moved from the two-story white picket fence home to where I am today without the experience of homelessness, I would not be grateful for the land I’ve been given and the things I have. I would have seen all I didn’t have rather than all I do. Although this revelation is in hindsight, it creates an ability to pay it forward creating – foresight.
I see it the same with our government. American has proven time and time again we can overcome any adversity – this would include Obama’s “socialist agenda” as it’s been called which I believe would be a step in the right direction, more so than McCain. By taking a step seemingly backward to help American people, I believe in reality we will be taking a step forward towards becoming a prosperous nation once again. Obama seemingly has vision – He sees something the rest of us simply can not see. I welcome it. I welcome it more so because I know that through my walk in faith, I too can overcome any adversity – Republicans are resilient people and I believe there is room for the conservative Christian side of the party itself to agree first and foremost at this point in time, through our faith, we must care for others before ourselves. More today than ever.
I believe Obama’s platform for change is a blessing – even as a Republican – because I believe he will put our economy back on track giving people an opportunity for self-sufficiency. I believe the economy, above all else, is the most important issue for this election. Once we regain composure as the United States of America, a world economic Superpower who will not stand for social injustices, we can again move towards pushing for Christianity and faithful principals to be restored into the language of our governing laws.
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I too question that Obama capitalized on the one thing we all need in our lives – Hope.
He invoked an emotion in many people suffering in the US today that I believe only he could have done in the capacity for which he did. Did he do so in vain?
I’m not God, nor can I answer knowingly. But, I believe it was through prayer and the Holy Spirit I was led into writing. I have many other obligations of my own but continue being led back here to fight for Christian principals in our election - despite spin dictating the wrong candidate best exemplifies our Christian faith.
It is the 34th day and well into early morning and here I am again. Drawn to something I keep hearing in the back of my mind will mean little to the world.
Physically and spiritually awake despite exhausting hours with children and house maintenance and animals to tend to; Something still (the Holy Spirit?) is pushing me to persevere. But, if I have no experience. If I have done little in the world - simply having graduated college, married, and in the midst of raising two children - will anyone be able to validate what I am saying?
My brother answered this question months ago while our kids visited at the beach, only, I didn’t know it at the time.
Paul tried so hard to convince me of something I was not ready to do – Preach gospel. I refuted everyway I knew how. I am inexperience. I don’t know the Bible. I am not a priest. (You’d think he’d stop there.. Paul isn’t receptive to the word “no.”) I am not open to “Bible Thumping.” It’s not my nature. Our conversation reached so many uncomfortable levels I was squirming trying to figure a way out when I heard a resounding “Listen to him.” I admit I listened but only while grumbling most of the time simply because I did not at all like what Paul had to say.
Paul told me I wasn’t fully connected to God. He told me there were no longer Ten Commandments. He told me I didn’t need to be of a specific denomination because the Bible tells us not to hold ourselves higher than any other Believer. He told me all sorts of things I didn’t want to hear or accept. However, I did listen – if only to prove him wrong.
Paul’s words angered me greatly because they went against everything I believed and had been taught. When I explained my experience when I got home to Pete, I became so irate I actually opened my Bible just to definitively prove Paul wrong. And I did – in some things; and not so much in others. Thus, I learned and changed my perspective. See, it had been some time since last opened the Bible. I believe that was the point. The point wasn’t Paul was wrong, it was that God knew Paul had to tell me something so obscene that I would be angered by it to OPEN UP MY BIBLE and prove him wrong. It was all about how God wanted to channel me – not Paul.
For ten years Paul’s been versed in Scripture and teachings and preaching to congregations and not once have I ever listened to him. He didn’t preach “my church.” Therefore, I wasn’t open to what he had to say. However, because of my ambition to prove him wrong, I learned I have the infinite ability to seek what it is I need to know and to find my answers. We all have that ability. Age doesn’t determine experience – life does. Longevity doesn’t always make us right. When in doubt consult the Good Book. Your Bible.
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Every answer we seek is somewhere in the Bible, including the lingering doubt on experience both in Obama’s platform and in my own right as a Christian.
My answer, for my life is this: the Bible tells me not to be deterred from success or from my godly purpose because of my age, often equated as lack of experience.
Scripture states: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV).
Because of this reading and this solitary verse in Scripture, my life has been validated. Something I’ve long since prayed for. I feel in all I’ve told you I’ve proven myself in everyway as determined/ defined by Scripture. I am not perfect – nowhere seemingly close. Nor do I claim to be. Neither of our presidential candidates or their running mates are perfect. However, in this election one of our candidates exemplifies this verse through his own life, perhaps with a more “human” approach; Again not claiming to be perfect but, setting a better Christian example for America.
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I believe passion and the notion to change something that needs to be changed is what good leaders are made of. I believe it was my passion and my commitment to Christ driving me to write when four months ago I hadn’t done so since high school.
(Biblical text: “I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is my right hand, I will not be shaken. – Psalm 16:7 [NIV])
Maybe, just maybe, Obama is filled with that same passion I have as he desperately is trying to be part of the solution. The only thing required is – A Chance. Perhaps he truly believes in his mission to change something that is quickly unraveling. Perhaps he can put American people into a better position in everyday life.
There is something driving him, a passion that can only be driven in confidence and love, and I’m ready to see what it is. I hope you are too.
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I stand my ground when I quote Uncle Same in saying, “the only thing to fear is fear itself.”
There is a clear issue of racism and the movement Obama may create in our American culture that is (largely) feared. I must speak out when I say, the things we fear are already present in our lives today – Christian or not. But, it is our Christian attitude that allows us to persevere, as other cultures and races have been doing for sometime now.
Allow me to respond to the suggestion of a second or third job for Pete as a well-noted recommendation in your response to my initial email. I’ve written an unshared unpublished article titled: “Should firefighters and paramedics be expected to get a second job?” It’s not a poor me article but, a real look at what Governor Charlie Crist (aforementioned) helped to do. I wrote in July in hopes of sharing with our County Commissioners but, never moved forward in doing so.
An in-depth look at affirmative-action and how it affects my family?:
Pete applied at Walmart, Winn-Dixie, Publix, and even McDonalds (where he was a manager while in fire school) all to no avail. That was shortly after we moved in four months ago and I must say, until your email I knew about none of them except Publix, also where he was once employed as a young man.
Several factors go into play as to why he didn’t get a call back despite talking with managers who at the time of applying seemed most interested:
He’s overqualified
He already has a job while others have just been laid off and are desperately seeking employment (Brevard County just laid off 200 more employees last week and Sea Ray Boats is laying off 600 people as I’m writing this today).
An employer would have to work around an odd schedule (Pete works every 3rd day) and in the event of a natural disaster, being mandatoried to work, or the opportunity for overtime, which is how we make our “catch-up” money – Pete simply put wouldn’t be available.
He’s white (Caucasian).
As with all things, the tables have turned. Any notion that race has not already played its part throughout the reign of the Clinton and Bush administrations would be foolish. In fact, “affirmative-action” is being blamed for our credit crisis today.
[An aside to substantiate this claim from Taki Magazine, an on-line magazine for independent conservatives in an article titled, “How Affirmative Action Helped Cause the Housing Crisis” it states:
“Thus, in a 2004 address to home builders, Bush called for the Federal Housing Administration to issue zero down payment mortgages in order to aid 150,000 first-time buyers per year, saying,
‘To build an ownership society, we’ll help even more Americans to buy homes. Some families are more than able to pay a mortgage but just don’t have the savings to put money down.’
Long before Bush came up with the phrase “ownership society,” Democrats had gleefully been using this justification to funnel vast sums of mortgage money to their base voters among minorities through the liberal-dominated quasi-state institutions Fannie Mae .”
As with the above, again, the fourth reason he is not a candidate for hire is because he is Pete – a white, non-Hispanic male which is considered a majority and does NOT meet “affirmative-action” criteria for equal opportunity employment.
I know affirmative-action has taken its toll and I am confident it has helped many deserving candidates get to where they are today and subsequently, to where they are going. I applaud the movement as I’ve seen much social injustice, even though I truly believe when it comes to employment, it’s about how qualified a person is and their intelligence that matters most.
Affirmative-action is actually the very reason Pete’s mom is keeping her job with her company in the midst of lay-offs. That is specifically what she was told; They need to keep women because the men-to-woman ratio is too low.
It’s an industrial job. I’d think women would be the first to go but, her work ethic has little to do with it (even though she is an extremely hard worker).
She is still not paid like a man and has never once called in sick, left early, or came in late. She works all overtime granted. She received the highest scores on her annual employee report and still was not granted the corresponding bonus correlating with those markings; Simply told “no one can actually achieve the highest bonus allotted.” More politics. I disagree with that. She was offered a case of discrimination to take to the courts but, thought it best to keep her job instead.
When it comes to Pete, the tables are turned and affirmative-action works the other way. He’s a white American male. “Sorry, no vacancies.” I’m okay with that. I’m okay with that because it’s our turn to be picked last and I accept it. My faith is with God, that He will place us wherever we belong.
However, our way of life has become such that if it doesn’t affect our daily routine it doesn’t exist in the manner perhaps it should. Something young people no longer have the luxury of taking for granted. I believe Obama brings his experiences in life with him and McCain blocks those same experiences with a hardened heart that everyday people become self-made. Again, this goes back to having an opportunity to do such.
As with money, when we have money we tend to forget how hard others are working trying to achieve it. We take for granted our own position in life and on the proverbial food-chain and in that become complacent with everyday American struggles and hardships.
Please don’t misunderstand. This isn’t about wealth and non-wealth. This is about the disappointment I feel towards wealthy men and women (particularly in our government) who have a choice to simply close their eyes devoid of their surroundings while preaching the Christian faith - whose mission is directly imbedded in helping those less fortunate than themselves without a motive for personal gain. Clearly I am not talking about you or our family but, there are many Christians out there who are doing such things.
Perhaps I am misguided on why the rules don’t apply as an entire nation because, as Christian Republicans, ultimately, that is what we are fighting for – for our values to be instilled in America. Helping others less fortunate is our platform only, we believe in doing so through providing and giving to charity instead of relying on government assistance. I urge you in this election that this is not the direction we need to go. It is an ideal closely related to the state America is in today and also an ideal that failed during the Great Depression when charities were overwhelmed with need (Encarta).
Just as in my families circumstance we’ve had a choice to sit idle waiting for life to be handed to us but haven’t. Even if it may seem that way through another’s eyes, we have not. We’ve made all our choices with guided thought and prayer and trying our best to live out a Christian example, whatever cost that incurs. In doing so, I was able to better see what God sees and more importantly, what He needed me to see.
Looking outside our own life is what gives us a better perspective.
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We’ve complicated our lives so much by inventing and craving the coolest and latest gadgets to make our life easier, grander, more luxurious. Ultimately, those things make our life harder. These so called “luxuries” end up costing us more time at work, away from our families… essentially, more time than they’re worth. “Things” take away time from my spouse, my children, my friends… from everyday people I care about. Things replace time by working more and in my case, things also replace time with time itself, which could better be spent together.
For instance, wanting a “thing” call a new dishwasher.
Everyone wants the newest, the prettiest, the most impressive things, as it’s only human nature. It’s what every advertiser capitalizes on. What I wouldn’t give for an updated kitchen with all stainless steel appliances and a maid to wipe off the toddler fingerprints that follow but, we’re not in a position able enough to even afford a pantry full of food; So, I dream and I fight myself, trying not to crave the things I desire simply because they are new when the things I have work just fine. Lucky as I may be to have a dishwasher at all, at this moment, because of our well-water, it’s useless. And I am grateful for it.
For two-weeks Pete and I teamed up to help replace a ceiling at a local business for a woman whose husband recently died. She just needed help fixing up the place until she could decide to re-open or sell her store.
Covered in drywall, we’d come home exhausted and worn to make dinner together, and then to wash dishes – together.
In that short time standing at the kitchen sink, we learned we had time to talk and help each other. Pete helped so I wouldn’t have to stand there alone and also so I could get the job done quicker as he had his own agenda in mind. In helping me, I became available to spend more time alone focused on just him after the kids went to bed - which is ultimately what we both wanted. Thus, I get a clean house, he gets me - we both win. Compromise.
Washing dishes together, hanging drywall together, parenting the kids together, we learned how to be a real team again- something that comes and goes in every marriage.
Because of our “chore” we had a chance to joke and laugh and talk about future plans and have real meaningful conversations. I’m glad we didn’t even attempt to fix the problem because it would’ve taken about 72 hours of overtime pay to fix and instead, I get to make him work off 72 hours by washing dishes with me! Haha!
In that we found between the two of us, there is nothing our own hands can’t do.
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With that, we each had our own agenda, but it worked for the better good. As Christians our agenda is always Faith first.
It is important we all ask ourselves what our own motives and interests are. How we see ourselves getting to where we are going and do we have clear direction for getting there. Are they motives for self-sufficiency or for the good of all people? Is there a compromise somewhere in-between?
In writing a lecture based on Christian principals for Jesse and Becky’s newfound ministry, I realized I’d gone from corporate monger to a humble business owner in a matter of seconds. It wasn’t my intention to make such profound revelations. I simply was trying to create a compelling lecture for the ministry to give them an idea of where I’m at in my walk in faith and also to serve as an example of what I believe Jesus asks of us to do in our lives (as dictated through the written Word relating to business practices).
The lecture was for a subcategory of the ministry focused on influencing all Christians in leadership positions, most especially corporate CEO’s, in understanding how and why to make godly decisions while at work. That, as Christians, we are accountable to God more so than being accountable to our bosses or our shareholders.
Business and our faith can co-exist through compromise. It is written any persecution that comes because of our faith will be restored to us (1 Peter 4:12). Meaning if we lose a job, a spouse, a home because we made a decision while walking in faith – we will be restored. I testify I have lost a house, I have lost a spouse, I have lost my security of self, I have lost a career, and sometimes throughout the storm I have lost my sanity. But having lost so much, I’ve gained through blessings, through gifts, through endurance, through being led to my purpose. It is a promise He makes to us and has made alive in me. It is a belief I wish to share as I am no greater or less than you. We are each created equal in God’s image.
With that, I was thinking about business practices and how to relate to a group I seemingly I didn’t belong to – Corporate America. I realized I’ve held a corporate attitude my who life. While working on business plans for Pete’s new pool service company and how to grow nationally to be dominant in the market, I suddenly realized I can not lead a life of Christian values wishing to put every pool service company in my area out of business just to prove we can do it better. Through writing the lecture assessing what leads us all into our life’s demise, in that moment of writing about corporate gain and putting the little guy under, I realized I’d be no better than Walmart. No better than any American CEO driven by being the best at the expense of their family. No better than anyone living life solely for personal gain and the quest to be at the top of an intangible food chain. I would not be walking in faith.
The only difference between me and corporate CEO’s making decisions solely for their bottom-line is I was forced to suppress my quest for personal gain and not granted the opportunity to climb the ladder – until that day. That day I decided to changed my perspective on what is important to me, to my family, and most importantly, to God. My life was all wrong and the notion of being the best and putting other families under isn’t something God has asked of me to do. “Thy will be done.”
I can’t take food off another’s table when all I truly need is 17 accounts to cover our mortgage and Pete’s firefighting position can afford everyday living. Sure, I want nice things just as much as another, right now there’s no floor in my dining room and it’s literally been over four years since I’ve had highlights; Even so, I refuse to succeed at the expense of someone else’s livelihood. I will not succeed by taking food out of their children’s mouths or the roof from over their head. (I’ll be the little dog that gets eaten….I know.)
If Pete and I become prosperous and rise among to be competitive in our area and compete nationally, I will thank God for His blessings, and in doing so, I will know that we didn’t do so in vain because we only set out to achieve our goal. Seventeen pools. No more, no less. We’ll get there when we get there. If we get there at all. Which is the point.
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We all have an opportunity of self-reflection to see where we’ve been and where we’re going. Are we leaving anyone behind? Which is something I’ve had to ask myself in this presidential election. What will it mean if America prospers and in doing so we leave behind lesser socioeconomic classes of Americans?
I believe through carrying out God’s instructions - providing shelter for the homeless, clothing for the naked, feeding for the hungry, caring for the sick - we carry God’s message through “good works” giving encouragement to others which it clearly states in the Bible to do (Thessalonians 5:11). In that, we learn about who we are and what we’re made of. That God offers blessings to those who are doing for Him by doing for the least of His people – which is something I see Barack Obama trying to do; To provide solutions for the least of American people (also God’s children), not simply a select few.
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I believe unveiling true meaning in our lives to discover God’s divine purpose for ourselves is done by following His written instructions and by living through example, walking in faith.
My desire is no longer for fame and fortune as it once was but, for simplicity and enjoyment of a family whom I love.
As a society we work so hard for the wrong reasons; for self-glorification. For financial freedoms so far from reality and humility that we forget who we are in the process.
Through homelessness I have been humbled yet again by Christ, who opened my eyes to the idea that the American Dream by society’s standards is grossly flawed. The true American Dream ends in the words, “In God We Trust.”
To be a husband, a wife, a mother, and a father; To be a good neighbor and take pride in this great Nation we call home. To live a Christian American Dream filled with honesty, integrity, and bountiful harvest. To plant good seeds, to bear good fruit; To raise children in loving homes together as husband and wife. Not to be prosperous with worldly riches but, to live in prosperity through blessings and righteousness. There is no true separation of church and state because God lives within each of us; With that,
In God We Trust.
Should I try to conquer the flawed American Dream it would mean time away from the family God made for me. Thus, we find compromise in finding - balance.
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The America the retired generation grew up in and the America we live in today are not at all the same. Simply put, things seemed simpler then. As a nation, we were self-reliant, as today we are not. Dual-incomes is a way of life in today’s world and is now nearly mandated along with daycare. As a mother you could most likely freely stay home and it was expected and accepted. Grandparents were involved on a daily basis because they were not still working trying to make enough of a nest egg for retirement or working a second job because their social security doesn’t appropriate adjustments for inflation. Husbands had an opportunity for work after the war while women had the opportunity to return home to be present in their children’s lives. Basic ingredients: sugar, flour, salt, wheat, eggs were not the inflated prices they are today. It is less expensive to buy Aunt Jemima in a box than to make homemade pancakes. It is less expensive to buy a child’s shirt from Walmart than to make our own. The outrageous price of bread makes zero sense to me because it’s been the same ingredients for centuries and it’s made in-house. Bread does not cost $4 to make! I’m not saying those times were easier or harder, I’m saying it’s comparing apples and oranges.
Anyhow, like you, I too have been making a $1 out of .99 cents and have done so after we couldn’t afford to even use coupons anymore because those products in my household would be considered luxuries. We’re at meat, pasta, milk, cheese, and juice with a few snacks here and there in between – those are our staple foods for the most part. I do not use local food pantries, we do not use any government assistance, nor do we ask for it (or qualify).
I too believe the foodstamp program is flawed because if my family can live off of roughly $140 - $200 per month for groceries, there’s no need to offer $500 for the same size family. In all of that, I am also very fortunate to have a mother who loves me dearly and also provides, putting herself into hardship, even though I don’t ask her to. How many others aren’t so lucky to have her in their life?
How many others less fortunate than myself? My heart goes out to them. If you go through my neighborhood you will see workers who labor in the sun all day and who have dual incomes because they can’t afford life otherwise; you can see the desperation because like it or not, good or bad, tomorrow always comes and children come with great responsibility.
You should see everyone (including us) salvaging scrap metal for money right now. There have been several conflicts over who found it first. Every trash day people drive the streets looking for metal. Recycling has become a way of making money (which in all reality is good but, a look at how desperate a plethora of Americans truly are).
We took our fencing down (for our own purposes) and although had hoped to scrap it, the metal was not the right quality. Nevertheless, someone came and hauled it away thinking it would make them a couple bucks.
We’ve taken apart refrigerators for the wire coils, and even sold a car we had initially intended to fix (affording us a trip to North Carolina. An attempt to bring a wife back to her husband and save their marriage from falling apart. Sadly, they are another family broken as they are in the midst of divorce).
Money is just that. Nevertheless, our way of life tells us we need it to survive. Until we learn how to barter again (many people are actually starting to do) this is the place America’s at: Desperate.
If we took all the things we as a society depend on today and got rid of it, what would that mean for American society? When people go hungry (welfare), go broke (with no help from government emergency aid services), have no means of gaining capital (loans to pay for ventures or homes) - we will go frantic; Crime rates (among all people) will rise. Desperate times call for desperate measures. It is here. It is now. As of today, my story is status quo.
Millions of people are losing their houses to foreclosures. Being laid-off nationwide. Senior citizens are unable to live on retirement and Social Security because of inflation.
Every little bit of money means something to people right now. This is real life for most Americans and my generation can’t even begin to comprehend what a true depression means. I can see that we are quickly headed that way.
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America was founded under the principals of freedom – every man for himself.
Since our inception as a nation we’ve evolved to become better for all men, that all men would be created equal. We’ve had to fight for that to mean all men regardless of race, all women, regardless of being such, and all religions, who are free from religious persecution in this Great Nation under God – Indivisible.
We seemingly are becoming more devisable everyday.
We’ve segregate ourselves as Christians. Not only do we segregate as Christians from other faiths, we segregate ourselves even further as Protestants, Baptists, Catholics, and the list goes on. We separate ourselves from those with a different view rather than embracing them for their inherent goodness in believing in God, the same God. Our religions still put God at the pinnacle of our values and thus, we agree to disagree on interpretation, prophets, testaments, and holy books. Nevertheless, we still all seemingly - Believe.
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To me it feels that despite political Christian leaders, the rules have seemingly changed over the past two years to every man for corporate America and if you can’t deal with it, you belong to a lesser class. The land of opportunity is quickly becoming the land of misfortune.
Despite arguments by President Bush and John McCain otherwise prior to finishing this letter, our economy is failing. As Believers in Christ in general, we can’t say we believe in bailing out big business but not in bailing out people in their own financial crisis. Crisis’ predominantly brought on by government’s lack of regulation and tardiness for instilling policies justly protecting the American people. To do so is unjust. It is also not Christian in any sense of the word. People make up businesses and, with the people my heart will always be.
I believe in capitalism however, by letting big business do as they wish, like the banks, real estate brokers, and oil companies taking advantage of every little person across the nation (through legalized scams and by using unethical practices) the economy will continue to fail. McCain’s plans for economic success has proven to fail three times in our world history: The fall of Argentina circa 1840’s through exploitation (aforementioned), in Mexico’s debt crisis during the 1980’s (aforementioned), and the most important being the Great Depression in the 1930’s.
I assert myself when I say, it was Roosevelt’s policy (then considered a “Socialist agenda”) that regained the strength of the American economy and will be forthcoming that it was in part due to the emergence of WWII in a time when all the world depended on us.
America however, is no longer in such a position because we are under the dependency of the rest of the world right now. We can not sustain without our foreign interests and free-trade. I believe free-trade and foreign interests played a large role in getting us into this mess well before George W. Bush ever took office.
Free-trade and dependency for foreign food products is a growing concern for me. I absolutely have a problem importing food products from outside the US when we can sustain using our own resources. Reports in China of food contamination with Melamine, a toxic industrial chemical cutting agent, continue to surge and have broken into the US via candy. At some point we say halt! These contaminations were reported in pet food last year, baby formula last week, and as of today in cookies and candy (Source: CNN, September 29, 2008).
(Source Link: www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/29/cadbury.milk/index.html)
I was ecstatic to learn Walmart began using local farmers for their produce – even though I believe Walmart is a huge part of the problem as far as capitalism goes. But, to some degree, we’re all forced to shop there because they are the most inexpensive in some departments (and also the closest thing to many people - saving gas). Have I myself compromised my position in supporting capitalism and the small business owners? Truthfully, I answer yes. It is a travesty that I have little choice but to exploit myself in the name of survival which adversely affects America as a whole.
Like President Bush, President Hoover also misguided the American people reassuring the nation of an unfailing economy before the Great Depression took place – but, it didn’t work then, and it’s seemingly not working now.
Hoover’s ideals of a “self-made” man and reliance solely on charity rather than government aid led to problems such as overall most importantly, charities couldn’t sustain demand (Encarta).
I invite you to read about it on your own to better understand what I see and where I’m coming from. (Source Link:encarta.msn.com Great_Depression )
History tends to repeat itself unless we can learn from it. All the characteristics leading into the Great Depression are present in today’s society: overspending through credit, unemployment rising, uneven distribution of wealth, huge tax-cuts for higher-income households, the stock-market crash, and our role in the international marketplace (Encarta). The only difference today is more money is leaving our country than coming in. It just depends how you want to approach the situation – you can do so from a simplistic viewpoint or complex, both merit the same end result.
On September 15, 2008, John McCain insisted our economy is sound in a press release to the nightly news and in the same news report the anchor continues headlines with the biggest stock market fall since 9/11 and the cut of another 54,000 jobs by a national company. McCain two days later rescinded his report to say we are in an economic crisis and he, along with the Bush administration, was misled by the SEC chairman.
Again, to blindly close our eyes is not what God asks us to do as relates to our world and working to achieve a better outcome for those less fortunate; in addition to achieving for ourselves. Being one of the world’s richest nations, I believe we have an ability to do both – through balance.
I realize in my previous email I made my finances transparent and did so with reason. However, times are not what they were 50, 30, or even 10 years ago. I did not write it as a poor pity me story because I can weather this storm. But, I do know if things get any worse, there are tens of millions of Americans that won’t. American people don’t understand the concept of rationing. Not this generation or even the last. That was my point.
I understand leadership not completely being forthcoming in the beginning about our financial situation but, this isn’t the first day in the marketplace we’ve been failing. Although it makes sense to stimulate by encouraging spending, does God call on us to be misleading in our efforts? Leaders were standing by knowing and watching people dump their retirements into stocks making investments, watching people refinance at the risk of losing their homes, watching people in a “bait and hook” scam of manipulative mortgage lending practices. Is it ethical from a Christian standpoint to be misleading when it comes to America’s jobs? Families? Financial security?
I believe the intentions of our American leaders were good, as it was an effort to garner positive gains for our economy but, the method in which it was acted upon is seemingly ungodly from a Christian perspective.
Because of such misleading’s, millions have failed in the most important domain in the pursuit of happiness – Financial freedom to retire.
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We are smart people. Our nation is not made up of incapable beings – we are educated. Through our faith – no matter which it is to be - we have been humbled by hardships rather than hardened. We are a nation that can decipher right and wrong.
Enough is enough in the quest for political gain and the quest for power or world domination when it has not been rightfully earned - because of our indebtedness and reliance upon other nations. It is important for our American President to be persuasive and humbled towards the American people and towards other nations in lesser economic circumstances facing unique challenges. Humility. I believe one candidate has exemplified this more so than the other. I ask that you pray for your own discernment.
[Biblical Text: The Elders and Young Men - 1 Peter 5:
“To the elders among you, I appeal as fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ….)
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World countries need our support and our encouragement. They do not need bombardment and instructions of what they’re doing wrong. Sometimes, they don’t need our help at all because we have issues at home to take care of. Every nation can’t be the Wild-West; If it were, We wouldn’t be so great. Everyone wants to be here because this is still the Greatest Nation on the planet. A place for hopes and dreams to prosper. We must keep that dream alive.
We must respect that idea – not exploit it. Other countries are what makes our world so unique and resourceful. The great leaders and heroes that came before us were ordinary men and women, not groomed for politics, but making a stand for what they believe in. Our civil rights movement. Our women voters movement. Our military soldiers who are fighting for us and losing their life because they believe in the American Dream. We are all heroes when we stand up for what we believe because, in this land we call Home, We have that right.
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So, what is our answer in all this? What do we do for this election when facing a down-turned economy filled with moral dilemmas and an idea of change that seems “uncomfortable?” What do we do when we are forced to make a choice based on our faith rather than our desires?
We compromise.
Compromise between American ideals, Christian and other faith-based value systems, and the American Christian Conservative platform.
If you’ve never seen the film Twelve Angry Men (the original black and white version) I urge you to watch it with grandfather as he will enjoy. It’s about 11 jurors voting to imprison a man for murder and only one juror going against the grain casting a “benefit of the doubt” approach. Although the 12th juror initially agreed the man was probably guilty based on the evidence, felt an obligation that conclusions were drawn too quickly in not examining the full scope of what could have been, rather than what was presented to them.
How does this relate to the 2008 Presidential election?
I too have gone against the grain. Initially, I thought McCain was the better, safer, Christian candidate myself. I had to dig deep into my Christian beliefs and it’s taken much prayer with no definitive answers until I began writing you. I admit that my initial email was not prayerful so much as a reaction to circumstance, however, I believe it was God’s blessing to me to learn that even though I feel weak, I am strong. That even though I thought I was not part of this world, I am. That just because I put my hopes and dreams aside to raise a family granted to me through Him, that I have not been forsaken. That He will continue to develop me leading me into my life’s purpose.
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Both of these men also have purpose. We decide what that purpose will be. But, I know that I’ve gotten to where I’m going by making right choices, not necessarily the choices I wanted to make – choices based on circumstance and obligations based on founding principals rather than personal gain. Everything I do and every choice I make affects my children, my husband, and my path. Even this letter. That is what I believe.
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Both candidates are and should be respected for their education and for their service. I will not undermine McCain’s military presence and action nor will I refute that He has done many great things for this nation – yet, when we look at Christian principals, I do not see his presidency instilling Christian values into the hearts of Americans throughout a nation in the manner I believe his opponent will do.
Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Toby Mac plainly expresses my heart with the following lyrics for a song identifying with so many Americans unable to make the right decisions while in pursuit of the American Dream: “I don’t want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul.”
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Obama has a broader perspective than most, including myself. Obama seems to have a better level of understanding and compassion for all people because of his awkward upbringing devoid of specific religion; From Obama’s book, Audacity of Hope, I learned Barack grew up in a situation where he was influenced to embrace all people, religions, and ideas as long as they are inherently good and morally ethical in nature. Something his mother taught him because she was without religion even though, as he says, she was spiritual in nature. Is this not the very foundation of freedom from religious persecution America was founded on?
Although I personally am committed to teaching my children through Christian example, I too hope to teach my children the same compassion and love for all of God’s children regardless of appearance or faith. I will have tolerance for all people as long as those people are ethically, morally, and legally bound within our nation.
In doing such, they too then are bound by the principals of their faith which all teach living through example and good will towards all men.
God, and for the purpose of this dissertation, Jesus, challenges each of us everyday to be something different – the person he made us to be.
Remember my house? Remember my manufactured home that is in need of much repair to begin living up to the potential of what I know it can become? In order to get to where I am today, I had to be who God wanted me to be. I had to give up something great knowing that by blindly having faith, God was going to grant me something better. It is more than something I could see, it was something I could feel. My circumstance came with great compromise. Compromising everything I’d known and wanted for my children, to be led by my husband and ultimately by God - with an open heart.
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Where’s the compromise in voting Democratic this 2008 election?
Our compromise is giving up the Republican presidency (something great) to restore our economy (something even better) and in doing so to restore people’s lives and rebuild something seemingly shabby and rundown (like my “pre-fabricated” home) into something new again (rebuilding our home into our dream) using the structure we’ve been given (the Constitution of the United States) and molding it into what we envision it to be (Land of the Brave, Home of the Free. The pursuit of happiness and freedom from religious persecution.) Prosperity for All.
Once that commitment has been fulfilled, we will shift our attitudes once again onto molding and enforcing Christian principals, which are inherently good, as all accepted religions are. In that, we will see a prosperous nation rise again. A nation under God.
But, it will take time and blind faith. God has not yet led me astray or forsaken me and I would not be writing to you if it didn’t come with much prayer and thoughtful consideration.
Perhaps it is the Christian Conservative Republican base who is also in need of compromise. The compromise to allow Christianity to operate at such a level in which it does not disclude any member of our society based on moral-deficiency, economic-hindrance, or differing faith and, in doing so, that we hold our elected officials accountable in such a capacity as to make choices both in faith and for man; For the well-being of all of God’s children, not vested interests.
We have an opportunity to do this in this election. Your choice is for you alone to make. I urge you and others to make a decision using your faith and the written word to support that choice and, leave the promises of personal prosperity in the hands of God. He sees all of our pain, not just yours and mine.
In making a godly decision this election, we will be instilling our faith into the hearts of all Americans in this Great Nation we call home.
I will finally conclude by leaving you with a Biblical reference as to how we can put our Christian principals back into our government:
In Luke 15:8 (NIV), “Parable of the Lost Coin,” Jesus plainly about a woman who has 10 coins and it is His expectation she will turn her house upside down looking for one lost penny - despite the fact she has nine others to spare. But why?
She is expected to look for the one lost because even though lost, that specific coin is valuable. That coin is also a gift God has given her. Not something to be taken for granted.
How easily in our lives we give up or disregard a penny simply because we do not see it as valuable to us. Jesus asks and challenges us all to do the same; To turn our house upside looking for the one lost. Jesus asks us to do something different by finding value in something seemingly valueless. To seek out that person lost (or left behind) often overlooked. To care for one another because we are all valuable in this country and on this earth under God’s reign. We each have the ability to be something more than who we thought we could be because it is again what He has asked of us to do.
The common thread between Barack Obama and this Christian parable is they both start and end with – CHANGE.
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Before you decide you won’t be blessed with prosperity if you vote a certain way, remember, God calls on us to rely on Him at all times and to do His will; Not the will of man. We have an opportunity to restore this Great Nation the way Roosevelt once did. The time is now to vote for it.
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Grandma, I feel I have done what God asked of me by presenting contextual arguments and in essence, KNOWLEDGE. After 34 days of unrest from inception to now, I am free of my own accountability in regards to this election and it comes with a sigh of relief.
Sharing a Christian perspective to those who may otherwise have been deterred by the spin of political agendas and policies didn’t come as easy plight and I have learned much from it. I better understand the larger picture God sees and also my own life.
I hope in some way I have inflicted love onto you even if it came with some hardship of discussing things in a Christian light; crossing political issues, everyday hardships, and the things in which I have been humbled by - so that you can clearly see what it is I see.
I humbly ask for your forgiveness if I have offended you or any onlooker in any way. Please know we are both fighting to restore Christianity to our governing entities and you are not alone in your fight to place an emphasis on putting true values back into our culture once again.
But more so, I hope I have earned my place on this earth and in this family as a valuable Christian American - not simply a stay-at-home mom once hardened by life’s circumstances. That I can definitively prove God fills us with talents and joys and speaks to each of us plainly in his own way, just as he humbles us with hardships and trials, never without purpose. I could never have spoken all the things I have said or learned without being led in a greater capacity than who I am on my own. If I had not been broken and endured, being pieced back together by His divine love, I would not be writing you today putting my heart out there ready to be persecuted in His holy name.
With love,
Your Granddaughter,
Jaci Rose
Saturday, October 4, 2008
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