I remain ecstatic about the election but unfortunately we took a step backwards in California with the passage of Proposition 8. Proposition 8 ostensibly overturns the California Supreme Court's decision to allow Gays individuals to marry.
A Catholic Bishop actually said that Proposition 8 does not discriminate against any one group. In an ironic way, he is partially correct. It is not only Gays that are incensed but straight people like myself, as well!
I simply do not understand the logic that would stop two people who love each other from marrying. Anyone who thinks this is ok has some deep soul searching to do.
Marriage is a spiritual decision between two people who love each other. My church (Unitarian Universalist) is fully for Gay marriage. Disagreement is part of our democracy. Imposing our way of life on others is a violation of the freedom our country was built upon and a blatant violation of separation of church and state.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The World is Celebrating
The World is celebrating. I woke up this morning feeling a renewed hope in not only America but for the entire world. Images are flooding in from all over the world of people hugging and smiling.
Americans not celebrating today need to understand that many of us see ourselves as planetary citizens. We want all the people on our planet to thrive and grow. We want our planet to survive. We want happiness to spread. We care deeply about our country but we want to see it as offering solutions rather than adding to problems.
We now stand on the threshold of a renewed moral imperative. We believe that Barack Obama will reach out to a world that has yearned for us to come to our senses.
We have been looking for enemies everywhere. And the more we have looked through this distorted lens of tough guy with the huge tree-trunk sized stick, not walking but stamping on the ground, the more we have unwittingly contributed to the growth of our enemies.
Our greatest commodity can once again be our spirit. Within us is vitality and goodwill. We have the potential to make our economy strong again, this time in a way that serves the needs of more Americans than ever before. We have a vast military that we can rededicate to serve peace and not as a threat. We must announce to the world a promise that we will not be the first to use nuclear weapons. We must downsize our military budget so that it is remains by far the largest and most effective force in the world but not as large as the entire world combined!
We must be willing to reach out, to take the high road as we used to. Then the world will follow us again and the United States will not be a poster child for terrorist recruitment.
We must be willing to talk to our enemies. The result will be that we will again be on good standing with our neighbors and those that choose terror will be increasingly isolated from the world community.
We all want the same thing. As John Lennon said: “give peace a chance.”
Americans not celebrating today need to understand that many of us see ourselves as planetary citizens. We want all the people on our planet to thrive and grow. We want our planet to survive. We want happiness to spread. We care deeply about our country but we want to see it as offering solutions rather than adding to problems.
We now stand on the threshold of a renewed moral imperative. We believe that Barack Obama will reach out to a world that has yearned for us to come to our senses.
We have been looking for enemies everywhere. And the more we have looked through this distorted lens of tough guy with the huge tree-trunk sized stick, not walking but stamping on the ground, the more we have unwittingly contributed to the growth of our enemies.
Our greatest commodity can once again be our spirit. Within us is vitality and goodwill. We have the potential to make our economy strong again, this time in a way that serves the needs of more Americans than ever before. We have a vast military that we can rededicate to serve peace and not as a threat. We must announce to the world a promise that we will not be the first to use nuclear weapons. We must downsize our military budget so that it is remains by far the largest and most effective force in the world but not as large as the entire world combined!
We must be willing to reach out, to take the high road as we used to. Then the world will follow us again and the United States will not be a poster child for terrorist recruitment.
We must be willing to talk to our enemies. The result will be that we will again be on good standing with our neighbors and those that choose terror will be increasingly isolated from the world community.
We all want the same thing. As John Lennon said: “give peace a chance.”
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Anxious Final Hours
For the past few days, I have been busy making hundreds of phone calls for the Barack Obama campaign. Now the phone calls are over and I am sitting in front of the tv watching CNN. Not much yet but a tease.
I cannot remember a time that an election has been so important. The 2004 election had a lot at stake too as many of us knew where we were heading with a second term with George Bush. But this election contains elements which distinguish it from all elections in the past.
Yes, part of it is that we may elect an African American as our first president but this is only a small part of the story. Many of us believe that the election of Barack Obama will usher in a new era of understanding.
We all hope that a Barack Obama presidency will heal many divisions. The smaller but still significant part of this is the racial divide that will be challenged and the healing that will occur in the United states. The larger picture will be the message we will be sending to the rest of the world.
Barack Obama is in the words of William Buckley's son, Chris Buckley "what the historical moment seems to be calling for."
So many of us feel that the suffering around us is not merely economical but also spiritual. For this reason, we are praying for a for a Barack Obama presidency. Barack Obama has the potential to unite us.
To all of you who did not vote for Barack Obama. please give him a chance. Allow yourself to hope.
I cannot remember a time that an election has been so important. The 2004 election had a lot at stake too as many of us knew where we were heading with a second term with George Bush. But this election contains elements which distinguish it from all elections in the past.
Yes, part of it is that we may elect an African American as our first president but this is only a small part of the story. Many of us believe that the election of Barack Obama will usher in a new era of understanding.
We all hope that a Barack Obama presidency will heal many divisions. The smaller but still significant part of this is the racial divide that will be challenged and the healing that will occur in the United states. The larger picture will be the message we will be sending to the rest of the world.
Barack Obama is in the words of William Buckley's son, Chris Buckley "what the historical moment seems to be calling for."
So many of us feel that the suffering around us is not merely economical but also spiritual. For this reason, we are praying for a for a Barack Obama presidency. Barack Obama has the potential to unite us.
To all of you who did not vote for Barack Obama. please give him a chance. Allow yourself to hope.
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