Why I voted for...

Why I voted for...

A college friend recently asked why I voted for Barack Obama, this is what I told him...

"Let me put my thoughts into my own words first, then share with you some stuff I heard from Don Miller (Christian author of Blue Like Jazz).

I have voted Republican my entire life. My father is a strong Republican and very active in politics. He taught me to value to the political process and invest my time and resources in candidates we support. So since I was a child, I volunteered at the polls passing out material for candidates, and then when I turned 18 I volunteered as a poll worker.

Four years ago, I began to seriously discern my vote, not just rely on my father's opinion. Sort of like when people believe in God only because their parents do... I had to figure out what I thought regarding the political parties and their particular ideologies. I prayed earnestly through the 2004 election and decided to vote for George Bush.

A year later I traveled oversees for the first time on a mission trip. During that trip, I was approached by numerous evangelical Christians who wanted to know if it really was the evangelical vote that elected Bush for the second time. When I told them "yes, it was largely due to the evangelical vote and that evangelicals largely voted for Bush" they were shocked. Their image of Bush was anything but Christ-like. He did not measure up to their image of Christ, a peace-maker, who cared for the least of these. They asked me why I voted for Bush. When I told them it was because abortion was an issue I cared deeply about (side note: my husband and I have tried for eight years to get pregnant- it really grieves me to know there are women who are pregnant and terminate their pregnancies). But when I had to defend how voting for Bush was going to make the difference on abortion, I couldn't connect the dots. Even though I hate abortion, I don't believe you can legislate morality. That is why I spent 10 years working for Young Life. I believe we have to prevent unwanted pregnancies, not simply "outlaw" abortion (see below on abortion). In the end, I gave away my vote on a premise that I don't even believe in. In hindsight, I definitely would not have voted for Kerry- so I'm not sure what I would have done...

It really shook up what I believed about how I should vote. Since then I have spent countless hours (and really days, weeks, months, and years) discussing this very issue. If you look at my status, I label my religious beliefs as "red letter Christians". I think evangelicals have moved away from the teachings of Christ. I want my vote to reflect what was important to Jesus- across the board, not just on one or two issues. And I don't want to ever be "in the back pocket" of either political party. I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "God is not a Republican or a Democrat".

I still believe in the political process. The government plays a critical role in each of our lives, and I want faith to inform and infiltrate that process. That being said, I'll mention one last idea that has greatly shifted my political ideology and why I voted for Barack Obama. A friend of mine, from a war torn political polarized country (worse than ours) said once, "Don't vote for the candidate that serves your needs the most, vote for the candidate who will serve the least of these". I believe, in this election, Barack will do his best to serve the poor, the outcast, the oppressed, the forgotten, the very ones that Jesus came to serve. Will he be perfect, absolutely not! Is McCain "more American"? Depends on how we define what makes us "American". I don't believe it has to do with where our hands our during the pledge or if we wear a lapel pin or not.

Here are some specific comments on the "issues":
Donald Miller is a Christian leader and author who is publicly campaigning for Obama throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Donald Miller on Abortion: "I am a pro-life voter, but do not believe John McCain’s plan on the issue will work. McCain’s only stand on the issue has been a recent switch to a pro-life position, and a promise to continue the attempt to criminalize abortion through the Supreme Court. I believe this is an empty promise, and anybody who understands our judicial system would know this. Chief Justice John Roberts of the Supreme Court (our most conservative Judge, many feel, and the pro-lifers greatest hope for the plan to criminalize abortion) has stated that Roe V. Wade “is the law of the land” and has been backed up in precedent by the Casey case. He does not believe it is plausible to overturn both rulings. Of course it is possible, but it would take a judicial miracle and the appointment of even more conservative, activist judges. This is the only way the overturning of Roe V. Wade will happen. The continuation of rhetoric about being pro-life but not having a realistic plan has tired me of the Republican Party. As more and more evangelicals walk away, I hope Republicans will stop giving lip-service to this important issue. My hope is they will realize they are going to lose more and more votes until they are willing to engage in a bipartisan effort to make progress with comprehensive legislation that is realistic and actual.

"The Democrats have proposed comprehensive legislation called the 95/10 initiative that aims to reduce the number of abortions that take place in this country by 95% within 10 years. While Barack Obama is a pro-choice candidate, he supports this and similar legislation. This is the only proposed and realistic strategy that can move us around the cultural impasse that is breathing hate and anger into the Christian community.

"While Barack Obama opposes late-term abortions, he has made promises to the National Organization or Women to make progress in a woman’s right to chose. I wish Obama were more strong on this issue. Still, I do feel he will accomplish more than John McCain, as John McCain has only recently taken this position and offers no legislation and no plan.

"This is a very debatable issue. There are facts on both sides that seem to refute any argument made. But I have had to do the research and take a position and, for now, this is my position."

Donald Miller on Gay Marriage: "This is not an issue I think much about because I am neither gay nor married, but I understand the evangelicals desire to protect the sanctity of marriage and define it as an exclusive relationship between a man and a woman. I agree with both candidates on this issue as they both oppose gay marriage but protect constitutional rights for domestic partners. In order to oppose civil rights for homosexuals, you would have to change the constitution which I think is dangerous. I agree with McCain and Obama both on this issue as they have stated the same position.

"On other issues that are no less important although less heated such as the economy, globalization and trade, the environment and energy, I support Barack Obama’s positions over John McCain’s."

Donald Miller on Faith: "But let me make something very clear. I don’t dislike John McCain. I think he is a good man and a drastic improvement over Republican candidates in the past. I do wish he were a Christian, or would talk about faith, Jesus, Redemption or the Cross. Barack Obama does, very often, and very unashamedly.I am uncomfortable with the idea of a truly secular man in the White House, a man who has no church, no pastor, does not read the Bible and may not even pray. John McCain seems like a good man, but a secular man. I want our next President to talk and listen to God."


www.donaldmillerwords.com

Ike

I realize it has been over a month since I posted and my goal was one a week. Stupid goal going into a new school year. Nonetheless, I must follow some sort of routine or practice a little discipline if I'm ever going to get anywhere with this "thing". Even if it's crap...

Delaware just survived Ike- with his hurricane force winds, something we don't see very often in Ohio. We faired well, though our neighbors did not. They had a tree land on their front porch while it was in contract to be sold. Crazy. There are thousands without power, which brought on the question at Jubilee team tonight, "What is your favorite thing to do when the power goes out?" Reading and sleeping topped the list. It's amazing how quickly we have lost our creativity. We were lucky to not loose power, but we did loose our cable and I thought I would go nuts without watching the news for 12 hours. Sad.

I mentioned school has started. When my friends ask me about my job I always proclaim that I have the "best job ever!" It's true, but it is also very demanding. Or at least I make it seem that way. Sometimes I act like I'm saving lives! I have a tendency to be a tad dramatic. The first month has left me quite overwhelmed and exhausted. Today it caught up with me. I just got to a point where the walls of my office and my "to do list" were closing in. It was hot (literally) and crowded, and I could not think past the next minute. Total tunnel vision. God, in His sovereignty, puts people in close proximity to me that can sense when I am slipping into that tunnel and pull me out. Jessica is one of those people. She calmly spoke reason and truth to me, and helped me to realize it was time to breathe. So I did just that. Walked into the upper chapel with a couple quality prayer books (one was Celtic- of course) and thirty minutes later gained a whole new perspective on my place in the universe. Told you that I could be dramatic.

A Muncie Girl

As Norville Barnes proclaimed in the Cohen brother's classic, The Hudsucker Proxy, "You're a MUNCIE girl?" Yep, I'm a MUNCIE girl. I was born and raised in the most average town in America. It has given me a mixed blessing of naivety, wide eyed optimism, and genuine interest in any culture different from... well average.

Some have called "Hoosiers" the proudest people in America. They definitely have a zeal about their state and what makes them "hoosiers". I know that begs the question, "What is a Hoosier?" The most common myth tells the story of a greeting commonly given when someone comes over to visit, "Who's er?" or "who is here?". Basically, our title derives from sloppy pronunciation. We may not know what a Hoosier is but we are proud to be one!

My childhood was perfectly, or painfully depending on your perspective, normal. My parents moved to Muncie from Ohio via Pittsburgh looking for a nice college town to raise their children in hopes they would attend the local university. It worked, we all did. They have lived in the same four bedroom ranch for the past 40 years. My sister was born the first year they were in Muncie, and my brother and I followed five years later. In face, we arrived within 4 minutes of each other on August 26th, 1972. Yes, we are TWINS! A fact many of my friends still find fascinating.

Our values were very typical of middle America. Family and faith ranked high on the list, but we were also busy chasing the ever elusive "American Dream". Whether it was studying hard around the kitchen table so we could get into college, or jetting from dance practice to soccer practice to youth group, or dad working long hours to earn the latest incentive vacation to Hawaii, we were always trying to keep up with the Joneses. By the way, who are the Jones and do they know everyone is out to get them?

Basically I remember being happy. We spent most of our days playing in the sandbox with little concern about war or violence invading our little world. Yes we were sheltered, even though I have actually grown to resent that term. I guess I resent it because it as much as I cherish my childhood, it was very protected from anything that was a perceived threat to the "American dream". Still, even as someone who grew up in duress and hardship would say, "it made me who I am today".

I was never one of those kids who hated their parents. They were and still are really good people. They are loving, approachable, compassionate, the kind of people who would give you the shirt of thier back. They also created a comfortable and inviting home. When my friends would come to visit they would call my house "homey". I wasn't sure what that meant, but I figured it was better than "office-y" or "school-y". Now I know it was because of my parent's gift of hospitality and their ability to make everyone "feel at home". In fact, for years after I moved away, my friends who still lived in Muncie would come to my parent's house every Sunday for brunch! I can only pray I created a fraction of that atmosphere in my own home.

As I imagine the impact my parent's move to Muncie made on my life, I am convinced that I would have lived a very different life had they stayed in rural Ohio or suburban Pittsburgh. It is truly humbling to think about. I am who I am because I grew up in the most average town in America. Not content to stay average, I have moved away from Muncie, but I will always respect and appreciate the perspective I have on this world because I was a "Muncie girl".

It starts now...

With the encouragement, care, and love of many I have been blessed to meet over the passed few months, I have finally decided to launch "the book". This blog is the beginning of me sharing my stories, musings, thoughts, beliefs, and reflections on life, God, and culture.

If you happen upon this place please do not think that I take myself seriously enough to think that this will "go" anywhere. However, I cannot ignore the call on my heart and the prophetic words of encouragement that told me I need to tell these stories. They are not all my stories, but luckily I have been a witness to them play out in the lives of others around me.

The title "Jesus Saved Me From the Cul-de-sac" comes from Gary Haugen's acceptance speech when he was awarded the Amos award by Sojourners in 2007. Gary started International Justice Mission, "a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression" after working for the U.S. Department of Justice assigned to the United Nation's Center for Human Rights. When sharing his story of coming from the privileged life of a Harvard graduate to fighting for the rights of the most oppressed and poorest people on earth he said, "Jesus saved me from the cul-de-sac". Gary could have very well taken his law degree, prestigious and powerful position in the U.S. government and pursed a career in politics or private practice. But, Jesus showed him the broken lives of the "least of these" and his life has never been the same since.

Gary's story resonated with me. I grew up, not on a cul-de-sac, but on a quiet suburban street in middle America. In fact, my hometown, Muncie, Indiana was designated the "most average town in America by a group of sociologist in the 1920's. My parents are still married after 40 years, I have one brother and one sister, we even had one cat and one dog growing up! We were solidly middle class, I worked my way through high school and college, and was the 50% of my graduating class (ranked 182 out of 364)! I was on my way to living an average, comfortable, American life full of consuming and oblivious to issues of injustice in our world.

Thankfully, Jesus saved me from all that! I didn't stay in Muncie, I married a Vietnamese refugee from half way around the world, and we have adopted an African-American ex-drug dealing adolescent. I am consumed with studying economic justice, environmentalism, peace and reconciliation, politics, and how my faith commands me to care about each of these issues and many more. Life is bigger than I ever imagined!

This blog is a venue for me to share these stories, my passions, and all that I see God doing in this big world I am discovering! I dedicate this work to those that have inspired/ kicked me in the butt to finally start writing (Jessica, Robyn, Amy, Kelly, Pam, Luong, my CGC's at NWMC, and the prophet in the parking lot at GFS!).