We Are American

Last night, of course, we watched the election results come in. K ran around with her baton twirling it and cheering for whoever they were talking about on TV at that moment. It was cute, it was also annoying because I was trying to listen and see what happened. At one point, she started only cheering for Obama. I finally asked why she wanted him to win. She looked at me as if I was losing my mind and said ‘Because he’s the PRESIDENT.’ {Later she added that his ears were not pointy and that also influenced her decision lol}

Later, when they announced he’d won the election, she was again happy but just ready to go to bed. In her world, he is president and therefore deserves her respect. I felt a wave of pride as I realized she is learning THAT from me. It doesn’t matter who you cheer for, when the race is over you are happy they won and move on.

BECAUSE we are American, we have the right to vote and choose a President. We have the right to air our opinions, desires, and needs. Unfortunately, it also means we have the right to be dumb. Obama won the election but lost the race. The republicans were already saying if he won they wouldn’t work with him. The power balance is the same as it’s been for four years. The fights will continue. No president stands a chance with half the world against him.

I believe there is a fundamental moral practice that has been lost over the years. Just a few years ago, Joe Wilson yelled ‘you lie!’ twice during a joint session of congress over the immigration policies. Fact checking later showed that the president did NOT lie. But that is beside the point isn’t it? It was disrespectful to yell at the president (of any party, of any color). He is your president. He is the only one in this country who deserves your respect above all others.

I do not believe we should always agree or blindly agree with the policies of those in government. I believe it’s up to us to listen, to read, and to learn what is going on and as a country we push our leaders to follow the direction we all feel we need to go in. Isn’t that democracy?

From Wikipedia : Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy allows eligible citizens to participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination.

At the end of the day, the sad fact is too many people don’t feel this way. They don’t believe we should follow our leader and push for a better America regardless of who the leader is. They only believe you respect the leader you want and trash the other one. But my little girl is learning the right way, I am proud of that. Did I vote for Obama? Nope! But I’d still take my theoretical hat off to him out of sincere respect because he is my president. He is your president, shouldn’t you respect him as well even if you don’t always agree with him?

Judge Not

Last night was also intriguing because I got deleted from a guy’s facebook account. (Let’s be clear here, I don’t care lol but I think it’s got a deeper lesson than just humor).  There are many views on what’s right, what’s wrong, whats legal, what’s illegal, what’s a sin, what isn’t. Who is right? You? Your religion? Me? Mine? Them? Theirs? Who is to say that what you believe is right is THE right? Now, I’m not after shaking anyone’s fundamental beliefs and if you read on I think you’ll walk away with your own beliefs strengthened in some way.

To begin with, here’s what I do believe. I believe in freedom. The freedom to choose how you live your life and what religion and/or branch of religion you want to follow. Any of it, so long as underneath there’s one core value that’s the same : do not hurt others. Muslim? Fine, so long as you do not believe in killing/hurting others. Christian? Fine, so long as you do not believe in killing/hurting others. Catholic? Fine, — see where I’m going with this? No one has the right to kill or hurt unless it’s in self defense. Period.

Beyond that basic core value, the rest is essentially the same. Prayer, self awareness, do unto others, respect your elders, respect your parents, live your life according to your values and beliefs, and strive to make yourself a better person inside and out daily.

According to some, being gay is a sin. But if you aren’t gay, why are you worried about it?

According to some, adultery is a sin. But if you aren’t stepping out, why are you worried about it?

According to most, judging is a sin. But yet you do it daily and rightfully so.

According to most, lying is a sin. But yet you do it daily. ‘I feel fine’ when you don’t is a lie. A lie is a lie is a lie.

According to some, sex before marriage is a sin as is having a child out of wedlock. But if you didn’t do it, why are you worried?

Each religion believes theirs is best and that’s fine. But each also screams others are wrong, and that’s not fine. You shouldn’t judge me for what I believe, because I’m not judging you. I won’t judge you, I might pray for you though. I focus my time and energy on me, as I should. If others around me want to be angry because of who I am and what I believe, then deleting me off of facebook and twitter is probably a smart move. I will not change for you. I will not judge you or others for what you believe. I will admire you for standing firm in your beliefs, and for not trying to shove them down my throat. I will respect your beliefs and your choices even when they differ from my own because you are free to believe how you want to believe.

Judging is something that we all do, and we all should do on a daily basis. The bible teaches we should forgive those who have trespassed against us. We have to judge in order to know if there’s been a transgression.

At the end of the day it all comes down to this, you are free to present (preach) your beliefs to anyone. Any beliefs, any religion, any views. They are free to not agree with you, to agree with you, or to change their beliefs to yours. It’s our fundamental freedom as a human to make up our own minds. When someone doesn’t agree with you, pray for them (or chant, or whatever it is you believe in).  You don’t have to be ugly about another’s decision to accept that they have the right to their beliefs just as YOU do. You should forgive them their transgressions and love them or walk away and focus on your own transgressions. You have them.

Sorry, but you do. We all do, we are human.

On a final note, I hope I never feel the need to write about politics or religion again!! This post is a double whammy to get it all out of my system and move on myself :)