Well, I’ve been ordered to post something new because it’s now November and I haven’t put anyhting on here this month. I don’t really have a lot going on right now. I’m currently reading a history of the Popes and America’s God by Mark Noll. but I’m not far enough into those to say anyhting interesting about them, so I’ll have to go into politics. I was thinking this morning about what I want ot see from President Obama. Here’s my list: -Withdrawl form Iraq. Over the next four years we need to see changes in Iraq that facilitate a just and equitable form of government, that leads to the withdrawal of U.S. forces. I do not want to see another Germany, where we don’t exactly occupy the nation but we use it as a jumping-off point for future imperialistic endeavors. Along with Iraq goes Afghanistan. We can not continue to occupy any nation. It is morally repugnant, if only for the conditions it creates there and the hubris it fosters in us. The Taliban still rome the countryside of Afghanistan, we need to bring them to some form of criminal justice for the lives that they have taken and the injustices that they have done. Humility needs to be the name of the game and these are the two most blatant examples of American imperialism. -Attention given to infrastructure in this nation. Roads, school, hospitals, bridges, trains, water treatment centers; these are all things that need to be built, rebuilt, expanded, or funded… And they need to be public. The people of this nation need to benefit from the jobs, clean water, inexpensive transportation, safe roads and bridges, etc because they own them. These are not commodities that should be sold, but rather resources for the common wealth. -Comprehensive changes in this country that benefit the impoverished. We need a minimum wage that pays the bills. We need protection from abusive prices on food, fuel and health care. These are things that do not existence for profiteering. We need to see that wealth is not necessarily the highest moral good, if it is one at all.
That’s all for now.
Grace and Peace, Jared
I’ve decided to vote in spite of the fact that I can only choose between the Democratic and Republican candidates for President on the Oklahoma ballot. This decision was not easy for me to make. The decision to abandon my desire to only support third-party candidates until we get more ideological diversity in this country was not easy. I am not happy that I have given in to collusion, but I have. But why? Why vote for someone who doesn’t excite me. Why not wait to support someone who will end corruption and lead toward peace and jsutice and love at every level? Why give in?
I’ll tell you right now that it has less to do with the ‘If you don’t vote, don’t complain’ thinking that it so prevelent in this country. The fact is, I’ll complain no matter what. The issue for me is that I was looking for the wrong things. I was looking for something that has already started. I was looking for the Kingdom of God. That’s somethign that no one could bring but Jesus, and it’s already here… It’s right on our doorsteps (see Luke 10:9 in the message).
I will vote for one of these guys, but I refuse to get excited. I am not a McCain or Obama supporter, but I will grudgingly vote for one of them.
Grace and Peace,
Jared
