A Pumpkin Of A Different Color

It's official. Within the first ten minutes of the debate, which is currently on, between presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain I made a decision regarding the election next month.

First, I am pro life. I do not believe I have the right to take another persons life. This is the main reason I cannot vote for the majority of people in the republican party. I do not believe it is my right to determine when another human life should end, regardless of how horrible the crime was. Some may say "you wouldn't understand what it was like to be the victim," but I say "no unfortunately that is not true." I believe in taking care of those who need help, those who are widowed and orphaned. A guy that does not take the responsibilities of fatherhood effectively create widows and orphans. I believe it is our responsibility out of love to take care of them and it is an unfortunate fact that our government has to mandate how that is done because true charity is lacking in our society. So we have entitlement programs and welfare. I am opposed to war. I believe in the teachings of Jesus and He taught to turn the other cheek. He never said how many times. Love will prevail, I believe this, I fail at my attempts to live this often, but I try none the less. I believe in small government, the smaller the better, I don't see it getting smaller though.

This evening, Senator Obama pretty much handed Senator McCain his ass on a corporate silver platter. They are both smart men, Obama was not persnickety at all and McCain seemed to be demeaning towards Obama. That didn't impress me, it came across as a sophomoric move. Senator Obama seems sincere. Senator McCain seems to be pandering to his party, which by the way is not his past record. Senator Obama says what he believes, and I can say I believe what he says. This does not mean I agree with his policies or will support him with a vote to progress the policies. If I were voting on personality and conviction, then yes he would be my choice, but I am not I am being asked to vote on policies that I cannot come to grips with agreeing upon.

So I said I am pro life. I would not choose to take the life of an unborn child, no the Bible is not crystal clear on when life is conceived, but it does say that God knew us before time. What does that mean? I don't know. One thing I will admit to, I would understand with sad and heavy heart if a woman who had been raped, or a victim of incest was to get an abortion, there is a part of me that understands. This is less than 1%. I am not saying this is the best thing, I may very well be wrong in saying the above but it is how I feel. I do not think it is my right to judge someone who has chosen to have an abortion. I can voice my opinion, but it is only that, my voice, my opinion. Education could prevent so much. I believe education is key to much of what democrats would rather throw money at, and let continue on, in a cyclical manner. This is destructive to many healthy societal morals. I do not believe in the redistribution of wealth. Look at Cuba, it doesn't work.

So who am I voting for? I'm not, I am exercising my right to abstain and praying that God places the right person in office for our country. This means I am willing to pray for whoever our next president is, and trust me I think they will need all they can get.