Yes, we can...

I meant to be on here writing a blog entry on Tuesday night as I watched the election results, but I was too engrossed in all the excitement. I did, however, write a letter to each of my children explaining how important this night was to me and how important I hope it will be to them one day. I guess it goes without saying that I am thrilled about the decision our country has made to elect Barack Obama as our next president. I am filled with hope. I am optimistic about the future. And I am thankful that there is someone who cares enough about the future to make the sacrifices that it will take to get the job done. Do I believe in Barack Obama? You had better believe it. I have complete faith that whatever decisions he makes are going to be made with the future of his own children in mind. He is going to work hard to make our country a safe and happy place for his girls and for all the other children in America. And you know what? For me it really is not that important that he is the first African American president. I know it is a milestone, but that has nothing at all to do with why I voted for him. He is intelligent, inspirational, and genuine. He is a REAL person, who understands the middle-class, who loves his family, and who recognizes the desperate need for change in our government.

And I am so confused and upset by all the people who look at my vote for him as anti-christian or whatever. I am a christian and I believe in giving people the freedom and the choice to make their own decisions, whether those decisions should be about their sexuality or their bodies or their possessions. I don't believe it is the place of the government to make those decisions for me. I don't believe it is the government's job to see me safely to the pearly gates. That is my own responsibility. I believe it is wrong for me to make judgments about people who choose to live a lifestyle different from my own or who make decisions about their bodies that may be different from the decisions I would make. It is not my place to JUDGE. It is my place to love my fellow man and to show kindness to ALL. Does that make me unchristian?

If you know me at all, you know that I tend to be pretty sarcastic. I can have tendencies toward negativity. I complain a lot. I know all of these things about myself (hey, at least I admit it!). BUT, I actually cried the other night watching Obama's victory speech because I was so inspired and so proud. I think that we need a leader who can do that for us, even if he does nothing else. The sense of hope that he has brought with him is priceless. I hope to see more people around here give him a chance and at least be hopeful. There is so much that needs to be "fixed" and the endless complaining and bitterness about the election results can only hinder the job he needs to do. You really don't have to be a gung-ho as I am... just give the man a fair shot at living up to his promises. It is the best thing you can do for your country right now.

Climbing down off of my soapbox now...