Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Election Day 2008

I just wanted to share some thoughts I have on this Election Day. Now, I am not as well-informed as I would like to be, and that is my own fault, so I am not going to sit here and tell you why I like one candidate over the other, but I would rather like to share what I wish would've been different during this election process. You obviously don't have to read this, it's more for my own journal-keeping sake, but here goes.



These are our candidates for President:



John McCain - Republican
Barack Obama - Democrat

Now, I don't necessarily like either of our choices. I don't think either of them have the experience that we need in office. I am obviously wishing that Mitt Romney made it as the Republican nominee, but that didn't happen, so there's no use going over that road again. Though I would like to post a picture of Mitt as I think he's very attractive (he reminds me of Mark Eubank in a way...do you see it?)

So here goes...I am sad at the way this election has gone. I'm sure they've been this dirty and negative in the past, this is just the first time that I've been old enough to really care and pay attention. I can hardly tell you what either of these candidates STAND for, but I can tell you what they DON'T like about their opponent. It just makes me sad that this is what we have come to. Let's hear what you believe in, what you stand for, what you will do to change things and make things BETTER. That's what I want to know. And I don't know because that's not what this election has been about.

I am also sad that the LDS Church is being attacked. We believe what we believe. You can believe what you believe. That's the beauty of this Country. We are free to chose for ourselves what we want to believe. And I think as a church (except for some individuals in our religion, just as their are certain individuals in all churches/organizations who aren't truly converted in my opinion and thus they don't stand for anything but rather they pick other people apart and find their "false") we will accept you and love you for what you believe in, even if we don't agree. We have free agency. We all are passionate about different things. But can't we appreciate each others differences rather than attack each other for them? This article came out today about a commercial that is going to run in California concerning Proposition 8:

LDS Church responds to Prop. 8 ad, November 3rd, 2008 @ 10:04pm

By Carole Mikita and Becky Bruce

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement today in reaction to what some are calling a particularly vicious attack ad in California's Proposition 8 battle over same-sex marriage.

The ad, targeting Latter-day Saint missionaries, started on the Internet and is scheduled to air on TV tomorrow.

The anti-Proposition 8 group Courage Coalition released the ad on YouTube. In the ad, two young men dressed as Mormon missionaries visit a lesbian couple then proceed to confiscate their wedding rings and tear apart their marriage license.

While experts we talked to called the ad "offensive" and "over-the-top," Courage Campaign leaders say it's a final attempt to influence votes. "It went up on YouTube this weekend, and we were able to find some money to put it on the air tomorrow. Had we been able to go quicker, we would have," said Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs.

Latter-day Saint Church leaders issued this statement today: "The Church has joined a broad-based coalition in defense of traditional marriage. While we feel this is important to all of society, we have always emphasized that respect be given to those who feel differently on this issue. It is unfortunate that some who oppose this proposition have not given the Church this same courtesy."

A communications scholar says negative ads are part of the American election process, but this ad goes beyond that. Dr. Dennis Alexander, professor emeritus of the University of Utah communications department "These young men rummaging through these women's house, or that sort of thing, you know, smacks of the same fear factor that if you're not with us real Americans, then you're terrorists. It's so bizarre, it's over the top," said Dr. Dennis Alexander, professor emeritus of the University of Utah communications department. Alexander continued, "It's this assault attack, where one goes after the character of the individual, or in this case, the character of a church, or whoever they think are the proponents or opponents of it, and it's annihilation politics."

Polls in California show the vote is likely to be very close. Tonight, it's too close to call: only 3 points separate the sides, and that's within the margin of error. We'll have complete coverage of the vote tomorrow on Eyewitness News.

Why must we come to this? I guess that's what the world is coming to and it's sad. But at least I know what I BELIEVE IN and I can only control myself and how I respond to things. So I will keep praying, and I will vote for the candidate that I think is the best option for me, and that's all I can do. I guess I am just hoping that these next 4 years go by quickly and that there isn't too much damage done by whoever wins. And hopefully the next time around people will learn to stand for something. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

4 comments:

Heather Ashby said...

I am also disappointed that I can't vote for Mitt. Some people have told me they think he was just trying to get his name out there, knowing that Obama or Hillary would win, and then plans to run in 2012.
On the Prop 8 thing, my mother in law emailed me some of her thoughts today that I thought were very interesting.
"In the spring of 1976, then Elder Ezra Taft Benson presided at our Stake Conference in Bountiful. He warned that as the world continued on its course toward the Second Coming, evil would become more evil and righteousness would become more righteous. He said there would be a "great polarizing" throughout the world and a huge gulf would form between good and evil. There would come a time in these Last Days that “good and honorable people” could no longer stay in “gray areas” because they would be forced to take a stand on one side of that gulf or the other."
My SIL that lives in CA right now said this: "I think as time goes on it will become more and more imperative to draw a line in the sand and [tactfully and respectfully] prove we're on the Lord's side. I have never before had to do that in as dramatic fashion as this and it feels good."

Angela said...

The members have worked so hard on Prop 8. David's family has waved signs, given money and my sister in law even took work off today to help drive people to the polls and whatever else they needed. I pray their efforts pay off, it is a big deal for all of us. I appreciated your post. Take care

Jokilyn said...

I can't tell you how hard it is for me to watch the battle on Prop 8 and have to sit in silence. As he is quite open now on his blog and Facebook page, I don't feel bad sharing that my brother is gay. I feel very strongly about not condoning gay marriage, and was VERY pleased that Prop 8 passed - but I can't speak any of that on my own blog because then he'll see it as not "supporting him." Even though he's chosen to stay with his wife and 4 children, and not live the "gay" lifestyle, he is (and his wife, surprisingly) VERY outspoken about gay rights. He feels that he and his wife have a "calling" to preach tolerance and acceptance among fellow LDS people. From reading his views and things he has studies, I fear that he is being led further and further from the gospel. My ultimate fear is that he will eventually leave the church and decide to pursue a gay relationship. Then what? Then how do I show him I still love him and accept him for who he is without accepting the actions he's pursuing?

Okay - off my soapbox now. I just feel like I've had to bottle all this up because I can't post anything where he'll read it without being viewed as being "against him." *sigh*

P.S. Don't mention this in any comments on my blog - hopefully he won't track this down, and if he does, hopefully he realizes the difference between supporting HIM and supporting his VIEWS.

Chels said...

I agree with everyone's comments. I just have to clarify that I have many gay/lesbian friends and I love them and I want them to be happy! The main point of this post was to express my feelings about the battle over Proposition 8. It's just sad to me that the "Courage Campaign" leaders stooped to that level. That's what I was mainly speaking about. Let's fight fair people. And then let the voters decide. It just bothers me when people attack each other for their feelings and beliefs. I feel as if the Church has stood by what they believe while being respectful to the other side and I just wish that we as a Church received the same courtesy.