i saw history being made. i watched as the nation overwhelmingly voted in the first black president of the united states. truly amazing. if only dr king were here to see this.
i saw america overwhelmingly choose to uphold the politics of hope over the politics of fear.
i saw america choose to put this country on track to restoring our standing in the international community. in this global community, each person on our planet is our neighbor, and tonight, i saw my country choose to support a candidate who loves those neighbors as he himself is loved.
i saw america choose a candidate who understands that the issues that challenge this country go beyond binary ideological warfare. i saw america choose a candidate whose intelligence drives him to tackle the root causes of problems, not just their symptoms.
i saw my generation take a stand against accusations of apathy. i saw my generation help turn this country towards a new day of hope, redemption, and a brighter future.
i saw fellow people of faith choose a man who truly embodies what it means to walk the walk.
i saw fellow people of faith utter racists comments in response to their new president-elect.
i saw fellow people of faith insinuate that god's will would only be done if mccain were elected. i saw fellow people of faith insinuate that the end times are nearer because of obama's election. i saw fellow people of faith suggest that obama is the antichrist. (as a side note...i'm tempted to write down the names of everyone who says they are scared now, or who said the country is headed for bad times, or said things like 'oh crap' when the results came in, and i want to go talk to them in two years, and ask them how they're doing. yeah. also, if the country does head into worse times, how is it not president bush's fault after what he drove the economy to and how he tarnished our foreign relations?)
i saw the american people unite under president-elect obama.
i saw barack obama win the election for president of the united states without the help of the supreme court or lost ballots.
i saw history.
5 comments:
Here's to history. Here's to democracy. Here's to hope. Here's to the future!
- erin j
and i am so glad for you that you got to see all this at your young age. think what else you'll get to see during your life, and your children's children!
David - this is from a woman Rebecca and I knew years ago in Houston. I thought it to be a very gracious and faith-filled response from a disappointed ardent McCain supporter.
Here she goes:
Although I am sad (very sad!) about the outcome, I must say that listening to Barack Obama's speech, and seeing the faces on the scores of people, my heart swelled with happiness for them. It all meant so much to so many different people. We all, every one of us, witnessed history in the making. My prayer is for our incoming president; that he will... Read More live into the speech he made last night, and that we all, as Americans, will be able to support him as God would have us do. It's a hard thing for me to see someone as great at John McCain not be able to serve our country as president, but as he said last night, Mr. Obama will be the president to all Americans. It's hard for me to see all the stuff that I disagree with Mr. Obama on be okay with so many Americans, but I trust that God is big enough to handle it all, and at the end of the day; at the end of all days, "all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well". In the meantime, I'll be praying...
David, you don’t know me so let me tell you a couple of things about myself, I am now and was raised in a Christian home, I had 3 letters of appointment to a Non-denominational Seminary, I am 46 years old and a Jefferson/Constitutional Conservative.
I try and walk in my faith daily, but I as others fall short.
As I watched history being made last night I was proud as an American that we hold free elections, a right. I would like to share what I saw…
Now you said “…overwhelmingly voted in the first black president…”, I would venture to say that my God doesn’t see in colors and I would hope (using Barack’s slogan) that we as a nation can get past the color issue (especially since he is not black, he is bi-racial, as most Americans probably are). But also I don’t know if you should consider a win that was only separated by 7,342,681 (52% to 46%) votes as overwhelming.
Would you be willing to expand what you believe American’s Politics of Fear are? Since I don’t live in fear, and have feared nothing during this past political season. I do have concerns about the future of our nation but I will get to those later.
I am just curious as to why you are so concerned as a person of faith as to what others think of you or us a nation, as opposed to living unto the Lord? Also, I would ask do you believe that if you just keep loving your neighbor, no matter what or how they treat you, that they will then return that love? If so if I hit you would you just take it? Or would you defend yourself (or loved one) and then if I hit you again and again would you just continue to take it?
I noticed that you appear to believe and follow what Brian McLaren says, so what I am wondering is he said “Matthew 25 guy” and I am curious as to is he referring to the parable of talents?… and have you spent much time understanding verse 29"(W)For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.” The summary of this parable is that everyone has something or means and they must use them or they shall gain and have nothing. Also when you consider verse 31/32 (the judgment) would you consider the United States a “sheep” or “goat”? For I would ask you to consider how much the United Stated GIVES FREELY to other nations around the world, I would or could understand if we were only taking and barring or hiding our talents, but we are not.
Similarly… our Constitution states “…promote the general welfare…” NOT “PROVIDE welfare”…. And if you read the word and relate them as the founder presented them it would “Get off you back side and use your talents, so that you will have more and can share.” NOT “Here are your talents and since you CHOOSE to do nothing here are my talents for you to use/waste and then we will both have nothing.”
As for “walk the walk” we will only be able to see what steps he takes in the future, for we have noting to judge him on in the past. Also, if he stumbles as a Young and Inexperience President then we will all stumble.
Now, I would ask are you a man of faith? Because it appears by your post that you harbor much animosity towards others because of statements or actions and this is a form of passing judgment and to this I would point you to Matthew 7:1-3 “ 1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
And to share a side note for you… if you believe that because Barack was voted in and that he has now will have both the Presidency and the Democrats will hold the House and the Senate he should be able to make sweeping changes Correct? Then can you explain to me why at a local level, state of Washington. The democrats have had control of the Governors office for 23 years and at least the last 4 years they have had control of the Legislator. So…. Why haven’t we had all these utopian changes that we keep hearing about on the campaign trail? Even as early as last night there was a “go back” because former Governor Gary Locke said “… the state deficit is not going to be 2.3 Billion it will be more like 4.8 Billion and probably more than that…” and “… I don’t see how the Governor will be able to make all the changes without raising taxes…” So, would this be a beckon of truth…. She knew during her campaign that she will have to raise taxes, and she knew that the deficit was going to be more…
My concerns are what future my children and grandchildren will have. I am concerned about Constitutional Rights being removed or limited and the introduction of Socialism being instituted, not generosity not from the heart.
I have seen and believe that the “Dumbing Down” of our County has happened through Academia.
So, lastly I would ask you a couple of more things as a young man…. How much of your income are you willing to give to others (paying taxes)? Is there such a thing as giving to much?
Matthew 7:6 “"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”
Peace be with you and may God open your eyes, and age and experience enlighten you.
Hey Shawn!
You said a lot there, but I don't have time to really get into all that.
One thing I was wondering about though was your use of Matthew 7:6.
You quoted the first 5 verses of the chapter on judging others but seemed to imply that verse 6 was about wasting money on people who don't deserve it or something. Did I read that correctly? You do know that most people that stay in context of that verse come to the conclusion that Jesus is speaking about sharing the gospel and not about money, right?
I don't know, maybe I'm just missing something.
Also it seemed interesting that your comment was of a different tone then your blog post from the same day (which I enjoyed reading): http://wabowhunter.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-letter-to-new-president.html
Hmmm...Just some thoughts of mine.
Post a Comment