Searching for Faith in the 2004 Election

01 November
2004

Searching for Faith in the 2004 Election

I just thought I would add a post to let you guys know I was still around and not too afraid to post. I have just been extremely busy - business, clients, child and all. Scott and I have been having our own personal battle of the emails. I figure if I have lasted this long that I have pulled off an absolute miracle.

This is an excerpt from our most recent email:

"You can pretty much look at any war and find a strong religious connection. The reason our forefathers came to America is based on the strong relious
beliefs of our people. Most wars are based on religion -- look at Israel
and Palestine. How ironic is it that these groups seek peace yet they must
find war first of all. In many cases, it feels that the war will never
reach a conclusion.

As to this election, faith whether religious or not speaks loud to the
people of our country. Followers of George W, have a faith that he brought
us into this war to end the devistations brought on by Saddam, faith that
Ossama will find his end at the end of a missle attack by the US, faith that
the Iraqi women are no longer forced into servitued. Followers of Kerry,
have a different kind of faith. Faith that he will bring the American
people out of this war, faith that Kerry is the better answer of Bush, and
faith that we can feel free and and peace in our homes again.

I am a believer that faith is not always about religion but what is in our
inner gut of what seems right or what we dream to be the right answer. I
think that each individual must live for an individual faith. If you
believe in nothing, then you are left with nothing.

I am not a person of great spiritual faith myself. I think that religious
icons have forced us into a point of uncertainty. We have had too many
"pit-preachers", too many priests molesting young boys, and too many corrupt
religious leaders. I believe that faith must come from within. If you
were to look at me and my overall beliefs you would most likely guess that I
would vote for John Kerry. I do agree with certain things that he has said
through out this campaign. My problem with him is that I don't believe that
he has faith in himself or his internal beliefs. Nor has he convinced
enough people to believe and support him. Bush however, has not proven his
case fully either. But once he makes a decision he has stood by it.

As to the question of religion, the funny thing is that both of these
candidates show there religion on their sleeves. The question, left to many
is which one do you feel more strongly about. Bush has stood his ground on
all of his beliefs and decisions -- right or wrong -- he has stood by his
decisions. Kerry's primary downfall is that he has not stood by his faith
and his indecisive manner has caused many to question his capabilities as a
Senator and future President.

Religion when it comes to the citizens:

Kerry is strongly in need of support of the "black" vote as they call it --
This group has always had an extremely strong religious faith. They needed
their faith as they were being enslaved by the Southern Plantation owners.
Kerry is having a hard time connecting with this group on multiple levels.
You may question yourself, why Bush isn't getting more of these votes since
they know what is was like to live in an Iraqi type of enviroment prior to
1865.

Bush is strongly in need of the support of the votes of the soldiers and
family members -- This group must gather each of their strengths to feel
they are safe in a foreign country. Bush is the President who has sent
these families overseas. However, Kerry has given them no reason either to
make them feel safe or to make them believe that they will be able to come
home any sooner that Bush will bring them home.

In today's world, I think faith does not always boil down to a book or
religious leader but how do you feel your decisions are the right one for
the people. I think that we each need to see the light at the end of tunnel
and to feel safe again. I believe to a degree that our religious leaders
have forced us from their flocks so that we are filled with uncertainty. I
also believe that I enjoyed going to a church previously. It gave my soul a
good cleansing feeling. However, the problem arose when the members of the
church opened their mouths and inserted their foots. I do believe the
American people need to find a faith and spiritualness that can bring
gladness to their soles again. For me, I'm not sure where that can be
found.

I don't know if this answered any of your questions. Religion will always
unfortuanately be the center of most wars. I guess idealism is the route of
religion. In religion, we are searching for our idealistic world. But this
idealitic world must begin from a faith in what we are or aren't doing is
the right thing to do. I think that is why Bush is getting more votes than
the democrats are/were expecting because he feels that what he is doing is
the right thing to do. However, realistic Kerry is or thinks he is. He has
not given anyone the faith to believe in him.

Ironically, in the 2000 election, I wasn't sure who I would vote for up
until just before the election. After, 911 I was certain I had made the
right choice because I knew that Gore would not have gotten the strong
backing that Bush got. I think that we the American people ride a fine line
of what is right and wrong. We each have to find the spot in our heart to
justify our beliefs and have faith that we have made the right decision."

I hope this has given each of you a little incite. I do believe tomorrow will be the turning point for the future of the USA. It is up to each of us to decide which path we would like our world to take. Neither of these candidates are the perfect candidate however our destiny will be decided tomorrow.

Dan: I apologize for the long post. I am exhausted and couldn't figure out the extend.

Posted by kristel at 22:38 | Comments (4)

Comments

Having Faith for 2005

I believe that one needs support to get through any situation. When one is ill, you look to your family, your church or temple, and your community. When you graduate, you celebrate with those you love. This I can see and have experienced many times.

I fear for my friends and loved ones who are overseas fighting a war that was justified in the beginning but now seems more reminiscent of Vietnam where people kept arriving and dieing and fewer came home at the end of their tours. When they came home finally, they were a little shocked, and they had changed. We have young men and women in Iraq fighting for an ideal with only our support. The US has been trying to do this alone too long.

Bush went ahead without our political and economic allies to fight a very difficult war. He has achieved some success, and we have learned that whereas we went into Iraq with good intentions to find ourselves empty handed.

Kerry intends to reunite with other countries to end this war and bring some of our troops home for a much needed and deserved break. Bush tried this and failed once. I have not heard that he is attempting to bring anyone else into this war who can support us both financially or militarily. Without increased international support, I fear for our nation and for the nation of Iraq. Too many people have died. I am voting for Kerry who supports my ideals of saving American and Iraqi lives and ending this war by seeking help. I wish we had your support too.

Posted by: erin at November 02,2004 04:24

Re: Searching for Faith in the 2004 Election

Too many people have died indeed, Erin. I, too, am voting for Kerry (just did, in fact, and it felt wonderful) for many reasons, but one of the main ones is his feeling that I share that Bush mislead us into an unnecessary and unjust war. Eight marines died in one day over the weekend. What's the total US soldier casualty count now? 1,100? More? And they don't "do" body counts of Iraqi civilians, right? Just collateral damage, right?

I happen to believe John Kerry when he says that as President, he would never lead us into war unless he could look a soldier's mother & father in the eye and tell them with sincerity that such action is a LAST resort.

You write: "Bush has stood his ground on
all of his beliefs and decisions -- right or wrong -- he has stood by his decisions."

It baffles me. I honestly cannot undertsand the logic behind this statement. Since when is stubborness a virtue? You say "right or wrong" -- but if someone is wrong, they are wrong. Standing by a wrong decision, especially a decision with such grave implications as this war, will NEVER get my support.

You claim that Kerry "has not given anyone the faith to believe in him." I beg to differ. He's given many of us reasons (call it faith if you'd like) to believe in him. And that is why for me, voting this morning felt so incredible. I know that I feel hopeful, more so than I ever have and I sort of doubt I'm the only one.

Posted by: Kristin at November 02,2004 08:16

Re: Searching for Faith in the 2004 Election

Kristel-- your right, religion has been the basis for most of the wars of the world, but not because they disagree, but because a religious zealot is trying to conquer the other.

Its Bush's zealousness that has concerned me the most over the last four years. Ever since they saw Jimmy Carter win with the southern Christian vote, Republican presidential candidates have and to some success aligned themselves as "Christian conservatives." And for those that believe that Reagan, Bush I and Bush II have been that conservative all their lives, do your research!! You just don't rise to power in California and Connecticut (this is really where the Bushies hail from) on the conservative Christianity bandwagon.

I saw this little tid bit on the news the other night--Kerry has been a Catholic all his life. W. has been an Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Methodist - admittedly they are all very similar forms of the Christian faith.

I recognize that everybody has the right to change faiths, I might too one day. But I don't think we have the right to claim God's will. By putting our American soldiers in battle without armored vehicles and needed back-up (my latest pet peave in the Iraq war), I don't think God can save the ill prepared even if George W. Bush prays for it.

Posted by: Abby at November 02,2004 10:56

Re: Searching for Faith in the 2004 Election

I guess I should clarify myself for those of you who misinterpreted what I said above. I must have been too long winded like Kerry.

For those of you who actually know me, I am not the right-wing republican you have made me out to be. If you actually read what I was saying above, you would note that I was not saying this election is revolving around religion but each of our individual faiths in mankind.

Furthermore, if you had actually really read it you would have noticed that I did agree with Kerry on several major issues. I was not hoping to change any of your Kerry votes. My point was, that for me I didn't think Kerry was the strongest ticket. I am not a straight party voter, as I am sure some of you are. I am a very open minded person. If you looked at his figures on healthcare, they didn't stand up. Futhermore, his taxes changes on the wealthy would be more harmful than helpful for the lower percentage of our population. The more money you take out of the Small Business Owners pockets the less jobs they can pay. I did support him on stem cell research, rights of homosexuals, and many other major issues. My reasons for supporting Bush are also numerous.

My major point above was to say that for me Bush was the right answer. I will know better than to play devils advocate in 4 years.

Also, as to the point made by another writer about Bush losing 48% of the popular vote. Please keep in mind that Bill Clinton could not even get 50% of the popular vote in 1996. Just food for thought.

Now is not a time for divided country. Hopefully, we can all have a few drinks over this in the near future and NOT discuss the election.

Posted by: Kristel at November 03,2004 15:54