I know I am a little late in posting about this, and I am sure that everyone has read their fill of election coverage, but I do have some thoughts on everything. First of all, since this is my first blog concerning politics, I think a little information on my political beliefs would be helpful. First off, I am not a Democrat, Republican or anything else. In fact, I think the party system is mostly inane. I think those whose opinions directly and completely follow the all the beliefs of a particular party or politician probably have no critical thinking skill whatsoever. That rude overarching statement now out of the way, I would like to state that I respect the opinions of others as long as they have a reason for their opinion and can defend their opinion in a logical manner. When I blog about politics, I am stating my opinions, and not trying to convince others to believe as I do. Most people will make up their opinions for themselves, and if something I blog happens to strike a note, good or bad, then so be it.
I identify myself as a social liberal and fiscal conservative. Some might call me a Libertarian, which is probably the most accurate description, but I find myself more moderate than the extremes found in the Libertarian party-- I am less socially liberal and less fiscally conservative than most Libertarians.
All that being said, I am not ashamed to say that I cast my vote this election year for President Obama, and I am rather unapologetic about that vote. There is some persecution that comes with my vote. I am a part of the 18% of people who voted for Obama in the county in which I live. A shocking 81% of people in this county voted for McCain, many of them stating their religious faith as being the deciding factor behind their vote. A county in which a fellow Obama supporter whom I know had her yard vandalized to such an extent that police filed the vandalism as a hate crime. First of all, politics and religious beliefs have nothing to do with one another in my mind, but that is beside the point. I truly did vote my conscience. I believe in the ideas of tolerance and liberty upon which America was founded. I believe in a God of love and tolerance as well. After all, wasn't Jesus hanging out with the "scum" of the earth? I am thinking he probably brought these people to him not by yelling at them, "You're wrong. You're sinners. You're all going to Hell," but through love and acceptance.
Back to Obama, I believe this country can unite behind the message of hope that Obama represents. I am also very much in line with many of Obama's social policies (I don't think there is hardly anyone out there right now with the same fiscal views that I have, but I think if we take care of some of our social situations, then the fiscal will follow). Needless to say, I was proud to have had the privilege of watching the inauguration on the web. The man is an inspiration like no president that I have known in my lifetime, and it isn't because he's black or because he is the son of an immigrant or because his middle name is Hussein. He just has a powerful, positive message of peace, unity, and tolerance that I appreciate. I feel that one day in the future, my children will ask me about the inauguration of President Obama not because he is the first African American president (in fact, I hope that my children are so colorblind to that way of thinking, that the thought doesn't even cross their minds). I feel they will ask me about the Inauguration of 2009 because Obama was a great leader and uniter.
The events that took place during the inauguration were inspiring. I simply enjoyed seeing the mass of people. I really loved the musical arrangement of "Air/Simple Gifts" by John Williams and the interpretation that the performers gave to the arrangement. I also really liked the poem that was read (even though I didn't care for the manner in which it was read). Most of all, I enjoyed the speech from the president that was so realistic about our nation's (and the world's) situation, and I enjoyed Obama's proposed solution to our problems: to band together in order to make the world a better (more peaceful, more equal, cleaner, safer) place.
I have thus far been impressed with the Obama presidency. He is using the power that he has to restore some things that were turned so ass backwards during the Bush administration. For example, he did put a stop to any Bush procedures until they could be reviewed. Most of all so far, Obama is closing down that awful, unjust, inhumane excuse for a "prison" in Guantanamo Bay. He is also restoring interrogations to a civil transaction as far as the CIA is concerned. Those people that were subjected to torture are still people. They may be doing horribly immoral things, but stooping to their level will only incite more barbarism and violence. Let God (or Allah or Buddha or Shiva or Yahweh or Mother Nature or whatever you believe) be the judge of all, not Dick Cheney. I look forward to the things that Obama will be able to do, with it in mind that he still only has limited power and represents only one branch of the government. I know there will be things that he said he would do that will not get done, but the important part is that he will truly make an effort and the things that this administration does achieve will make a difference.
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