Reflections on the Election Season

I should be working on my NaNoWriMo right now, but I felt compelled to sit down and write this first.

First of all, I want to say a big fat congratulations to our new President-Elect, Barak Obama. Yes we can, indeed.

Secondly, I'd like to jot some thoughts down that center around the hateful, skewed beliefs our country and the state of California are currently wrapped up in. I stayed up until past 2 in the morning following Prop 8 obsessively; I'm sure as you are all well aware right now, it unfortunately passed. And I honestly think that's a shame. I was looking forward to being both proud of my country AND state last night, but unfortunately, it didn't work out that way.

For me, this election season has been nothing short of stressful. Details aside, my house is not really one that is ideal for expressing political opinion openly. I could practically feel the lecture waiting for me as I stepped through the door last night, elated about Obama's win. But I decided not to let it get to me too much, as I am now a legal adult and my parents technically have no say over what I choose to believe or who I choose to vote for. Until, however, one of my parents insinuated that I couldn't be "a real Christian" because I had voted for Obama.

And, quite frankly, that pissed me off.

My current feelings about Christianity aside, I want to point something out: anyone who espouses beliefs of hate and fear and superiority and elitism cannot in good conscience call themselves a Christian. Why? Because Jesus clearly preached a life of humility and grace and love for anyone and everyone. Jesus lived in near-poverty and was completely content, whereas we Americans seem to have this looming fear of government taking things away that "are rightfully ours". Well, if you really think about it, it's not really yours anyway. It's God's, if you choose to believe in such a being. At the very least, the resources we are so intent on hoarding and keeping to ourselves came from the Earth and the environment that is so gracious as to let us live as we have been.... but that's another point altogether.

As regards Proposition 8 (which I voted no on, thank you very much), I'll say this: I'm very aware that the Bible states there can be no such union other than a man and a woman. Believe me, I'm very, very, painfully aware of this. But those people who have voted yes, overturning a legitimate California Supreme Court ruling in order to return to suppression and ignorance... ugh, it makes me sick. People are entitled to have their religious beliefs, of course, but those religious beliefs should never infringe upon the rights and inherent freedoms of someone else. Ever. Doing so is going directly against the principles that this country was founded on.

Prop 8 opponents... don't worry. You've fought hard. The close race is just a testament to that. Our time will come.

Thanks for reading.