A Change Is Gonna Come – Part 2

I do believe Barack Obama when he speaks about change coming.  Let’s be honest, he’s made a lot of promises.  He’s carrying the hopes and dreams of a lot of people on his shoulders.  People are expecting change to come and I hope that he’s able to deliver it.

Regardless though, I’m excited about change that is gonna come.

Assuming Obama’s first term as President is not a complete disaster.  He’ll more then likely be president for the next 8 years.  And by that time the Republican party will have to make some serious changes in their approach to politics if they want to reclaim their lost seats of power.

That’s one thing I think this election proves.  That people are tired of the same Republican party and tactics that have given us George Bush, Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, James Dobson, The Moral Majority, Right Wing extremism, Conservative Christians, and most importantly of all THE CULTURE WAR.

I’m hopeful that Change is gonna come to the Republican party and they will be forced to rethink their policy and politics.  And I think this will be good for them and good for America.

I’m even more hopeful that in the next eight years The Church, The Body of Christ, Christian brothers and sister across America will continue to struggle and wrestle with the best ways to live out our faith, the best way to be the hands and feet of jesus, the best way to be Kingdom people.  People that bring the life, liberty, and freedom of God’s Kingdom to the sick, the hurting, the poor, the oppressed, those on the outside and underside of our communities, our country and our world.  And Yes I believe the church is changing.  And Yes I understand people are very scared of that.  But I believe change in the church is a good and necessary thing.

So I’m very hopeful today and I willingly choose to believe the best is yet to come for America, for the Church and for the World.

It’s been a long time coming…   But Change Is Gonna Come.

A Change Is Gonna Come – Part 1

This morning I heard a portion of this song being played on the radio.  And as I watched the events of last night replayed and witnessed the celebrations and emotions of my fellow americans displayed in sobs and tears and shouts of joy.  I was very moved.

In one aspect at least for now, Change has come.  Change that has been a long time comin’.  Change that’s long overdue.  

I’m very proud to be an American today.  I think America has come a long way, we’ve got a long way to go, but we’re moving in the right direction.

For me this is a historic occasion today.  I’m proud of the fact that my children have the opportunity to see an African-American man hold the highest office of our land, maybe even the world.  I’m proud that racism, hatred, ignorance and bigotry were defeated in this election.  I hope my children never forget this day.  I hope it has a lasting affect, maybe unseen, maybe unknown but like a deep current moving beneath the surface – real, powerful and true.  And hope their lives, how they view their community, their country and even the world will be forever shaped by this.  I believe change is gonna come.

I’m also excited for all African-Americans, that have been oppressed, that have felt held back, that have felt held down by a system, a government, a white majority for so long.  (This goes without saying I’m sure but…)  I’m hopeful they will feel and understand the importance of this moment and they will grasp hold of the change that has been a long time coming.  And I hope this is just the beginning of change.  And that change in our country will continue to move forward and we will become one nation with a shared hope a shared future and a shared vision for tomorrow.

A Change is Gonna Come

As Performed Sam Cooke (1964)

 

I was born by the river in a little tent

And just like the river, I’ve been running ever since

It’s been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die

I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky

It’s been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

I go to the movie, and I go downtown

Somebody keep telling me “Don’t hang around”

It’s been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

 

Then I go to my brother and I say, “Brother, help me please”

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

 

There’ve been times that I’ve thought I couldn’t last for long

But now I think I’m able to carry on

It’s been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

Permission to vote for a Democrat…

I’ve been talking to a number of friends and family members about the upcoming election.  When I ask them to tell me why they are voting for McCain, the issue of abortion is always tops on their list.  For a few of them at least, I get the feeling that their vote hinges solely on this one issue of abortion.  And since Republicans are Pro-life and Democrats are Pro-Choice they just cannot morally allow themselves to vote for a democrat.  In spite of how they feel on other issues.

I fully understand and appreciate their dilemma.  How can someone that believes life is precious, that life is a gift from God vote for a party that supports killing innocent, unprotected lives?

As my own political, social, and religious views continue to take form this is one of the issues that I’ve had to deal with.  How do you get over the abortion issue?  Here’s a couple things that I’v begun to work through in my mind.

1.)  Abortion is more of a political issue then a moral issue.

Both parties (Republican and Democrat) have used the issue of abortion to further their political aspirations.  Both parties have taken opposite positions to attract a certain demographic of person.  Just look at the labels they’ve coined to identify themselves.  Republicans are “Pro-life”, which obviously makes the Democrats “Pro-death”.  And Democrats are “Pro-Choice”, which obviously makes the Republicans “Anti-Choice”, anti-women’s rights, repressive, etc… 

So every election the rhetoric machine is fired up again and again, igniting the passions of people from both parties, turning out the vote in force.  But when the bumper stickers and yard signs are removed and the confetti is all swept up – abortion – A major plank in both parties platforms – becomes nothing more then a mere sliver that you feel from time and time but never have time to address.

Regardless of which party you favor.  I think we could all agree that neither party is doing enough to reduce the amount of abortions in our country and that is the real tragedy.

2.)  The Real answer is somewhere in the middle.

For all of you die hards out there on either side of the political fence I have some real bad news from you.  Roe vs. Wade will never be repealed and abortion on demand (Whenever and For Whomever) will never happen.  

And is that what we really want anyway?

Why do we have to slide from one extreme to the other,  when the real answer is somewhere in the middle.  Why can’t we all agree that abortion is a tragedy and we need to do all that we can to reduce the amount of abortions in the US.

Check out these statistics on abortion. (It was the first site that came up on Google if you’re wondering).

Who is having abortions?  50% are under 25.  It affects all ages – it’s not just a teenage issue.  60% are white – it’s not just a race issue (Though in relationship to the population, black women are 3 times more likely to have an abortion then white women and hispanics 2 times more likely) Over 68% claim to be either Protestant or Catholic.  Woman that make >$30,000/yr account for over 50% of all abortions.

If you check out the link you’ll notice I flipped the way the statistics were given – on purpose.  Because so often we think that abortion simply affects the young, the poor, the unwed, the minorities.  But the truth is it affects us all.  Four out of ten pregnancies end in abortion and 93% of the time the reasons given are “social reasons”.

The problem is bigger then a Republican or Democratic solution.  It’s going to require all of us coming together and focusing on the best way to reduce the amount of abortions in our country.

3.)  The real tragedy of abortion is not abortion itself.

What causes a women to want to have an abortion?  Is it carelessness?  She made a mistake and now wants to fix it.  Is it laziness?  It’s easier to get an abortion then to practice safe sex.  We can tell ourselves these things if we want, but I think the issue of abortion is much more complex then that.

For a woman to be willing to put herself through an abortion, there must be some pretty heavy things going on.  Life must be hard…  I feel sorry for any women that feels it’s better for her, better for her unborn child to be aborted then to be brought into the world.  That is a tragedy.

I feel sorry for the women who after having an abortion has to live the rest of her life dealing with the guilt and same of her choice.  That is a tragedy.

I feel sorry for a women that feels forced into bringing a child into the world out of moral, religious obligations.  Even though she is terrified, even though she feels unprepared.  That is a tragedy.

I feel sorry for the children born into abusive relationship and disfunctional families.  Children that are brought up feeling unwanted and unloved.  That is a tragedy.

I believe God grieves – God mourns for those in any of these circumstances and so should we.  Killing an unborn child, that is a tragedy – but it does not lessen any of the other tragedies abortion presents.  And in my mind any solution to abortion must address all of the issues, not just one.

4.)  What’s needed is a consistent ethic of life.

Our politicians and even our church leaders have done an excellent job making elections about small things – individual issues, like abortion.  Everyone has the one or two issues that are important to them and they vote based on where the party line falls.  For those of you on the Right, my friends (As John McCain would say), my fellow believers.  Those of you looking at Abortion as your watershed issue.  Consider this…

4,000 children a day – die from Abortion.  Yes, a terrible tragedy.  But…

9,000 children a day – die from Aids.

30,000 children a day – die from hunger/disease/poverty

500,000 children a year – die from Wars/Conflicts.

As you carefully consider which candidate, which party to vote for in the upcoming election.  Please consider the fact that as a Christian we can’t focus on just one issue, but we must focus living a life consistent with the life that Jesus lived out in the gospels and asked us to follow.  And I think for us today that would include issues like…abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, nuclear weapons (war), poverty, and racism.

Does the candidate or party you support have a consistent ethic of life?

So as election day draws near, consider all of that.

And just in case you need to hear it from somebody.

Yes, You do have permission to vote for a Democrat.  And you shouldn’t feel the least bit guilty about it.  I don’t.

Small Things…

Been reading some articles Here …  Here …  Here … and Here

Yesterday really frustrated me… the whole pig and lipstick deal.  McCain and all the Republicans that followed his lead yesterday are so full of crap. I don’t like to make personal statements or generalizations about people or parties but what i saw yesterday, I couldn’t believe it.  They float out accusations and fane offense to cause a distraction, deflect people from being concerned about the real issues. “Small Things” as Obama said in his speech.

“Because if you don’t have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.  You make a big election about small things.”

when you don’t have any fresh ideas or new policies you resort to scare tactics, lies, distractions – make the election about small things. I read today where Rick Davis, a top McCain adviser, said: “This election is not about issues. This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates.” Small things… After hearing the comment in context yesterday I couldn’t believe that a half-educated intellectually honest person could reason Obama taking a stab at Pailin with that comment. But on my way home listening to the radio. People were calling in in droves- agreeing with the Republican BS.  A state congressmen even (Republican of course) called in saying Obama knew what he was doing and should apologize- The host (Mitch Albom) was livid. Never heard him more upset – Not because he’s a Dem, but because people are so stupid, so brainwashed, so blind to the same old political game, same tactics that got us where we are at today. Small things. People don’t want to know the truth. People don’t want to question what they’re being told – what they are fed by their trusted sources (Limbaugh, Hannity, Fox News). They are content to swallow the poison of small things. And without even knowing it we’re slowing dieing. Slowly fading away. Slowly becoming insignificant.

I do fear that this election is becoming about small things.  The spin doctors from both sides are working overtime.  Attack ads are being released every day now.  Fact checkers are working overtime to debunk claims and dispute lies.  

Make no mistake about it.  I’m voting for Obama.  But I’d like to think I can still think objectively about what’s going on.  I’d like to think that I can see the Big things…the important things.  The things that will shape the future of our country, the future of the world.  That I can see the forrest through the trees.  Not everyone can though…  And I think that’s the way parties, politicians, pundits and the like want it.  They are in the business of winning their candidates the election.  Remaining at the center of power.  Whether by hook or crook.  Several years ago, people complained of the election being stolen.  You remember the thing about ballots and hanging or pregnant chads.  Well I fear that we are being robbed of much more then that today.  We’re being robbed of our ability to think independently and honestly, robbed of our ability to discern between the truth and lie, robbed of our ability to focus on issues and policies….big things that matter.  Robbed of our opportunity to make an impact, to bring about change.  I do not believe Barack Obama is the Saviour of the world (We can have only one and that’s Jesus), but as this election process goes on and on the differences between Obama & McCain are becoming more distinct and clearer in my mind then ever before.  I do not consider myself a Democrat…have never voted for a Democrat But I am 100% against everything the Republican party has come to represent…and with each passing day a RIGHTeous indignation toward them continues to grow within me.

One writer said this yesterday…

“Yet, if McCain ends up winning this thing, we can only conclude that it’s because he so fully embraced a form of Rove Republican politics — tactics so unprecedented in their deceitfulness and snark that they will have successfully obscured a full decade of undisputed failure, not to mention what Mort Zuckerman called this week “the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.”

Another quote keeps ringing in my ear as well.

“So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause.”

Am I scared?  Am I worried about losing an election?  Am I afraid my candidate won’t win?  No.  I’m scared of what we’ve become as a nation and I’m worried…I’m afraid that the worst could be yet to come.