Waxing Political

People have been wondering why I wrote the last post. It's because I'm more than "marginally appreciative" that Obama won but I'm so used to repressing all political thought that writing a political post was somewhat difficult for me.

So my last post ended up being not very politically charged at all.

I'm one of those un-American Americans. I voted for Obama and I'm happy that he won.

I grew up in Canada, as I've mentioned before and I thought for my whole life that I was more of a Republican. And then I moved to Utah and learned that the Republican ideology didn't fit well into my own. I became a misfit of sorts, doomed to suffer through morbidly "patriotic" testimony meetings on 4th of July weekends and never opening up my mouth, politically, for fear of being painted an unpatriot or having my soul condemned by some well-meaning Republican.

I've felt relatively unfree since moving to the States. Granted, a lot of that is probably because I was a democrat living in a republican state. Part of it has to do with my upbringing. I grew up in a social democracy, in a mixed economy, and I believe there's nothing wrong with that. Part of it may even have to do with the current administration and its several "big brother" initiatives.

At any rate I've most often held my mouth shut, but I kind of feel like I want to explain a bit about how I feel.

I am pro-Palestinian. But I'm not anti-Israel: I don't understand why Israel was formed. It was Palestine. People lived there; they were wronged when Israel was formed. We had no right. But what's done is done and Israel now exsists. There are people in Israel who were born in Israel and it would be wrong to just kick them out and give the land back to Palestine. So now the topic is a little more confusing than simply whether or not you are for or against Israel. I don't believe that forming Israel as a country constitues the "gathering of Israel" because I thought that was done through missionary work. Not through oppressing other people. And I don't know why the United States whole-heartedly supports Isreal through almost anything. I think there needs to be more fair discussion about the rights of Palestinians in Israel.

Arabs are semites: I've always found the whole anti-semitic thing a little funny when used against Arabs since Arabs are semites. I realize that anti-semitism technically only refers to Jews, but I personally think we should expand the definition to include Arabs as well since they are being persecuted today. That way Arabs against Jews are anti-semitic and Jews against Arabs are anti-semitic and non-semites against either Jews or Arabs are anti-semietic, so basically everyone winds up being anti-semitic. I realize the ADL isn't exactly on my side here. But maybe they should be because they claim to want justice and fair treatment for all.

Arabs aren't terrorists: They just aren't. I personally have never met one Arab who has been anti-America, although I've met many Americans that are anti-Arab, and I've met a lot of both Americans and Arabs. Islam really is a religion of peace; it's the few radical extremists that give Muslims a bad rap. I've never been threatened because I'm Christian. I don't have to wear a veil. And I believe that the Qur'an was an inspired book.

Maybe we should talk to Iran: For years America has been all talk and no ears. We've been impossible to work with, taking a "my way or the highway" approach to anyone we disagreed with, only to our own demise. If we happen to disagree with someone we seem to, in recent years, either bomb them or put sanctions on them. Heaven forbid we actually talk to them and work out an agreement.

Socialism is not a dirty word -or- the cold war is over, people: Yes, I've read Ezra Taft Benson's words. And other prophet's words as well. Still, I think that the definition of "socialism" has changed since the writings of Karl Marx and since Ezra Taft Benson's speech in 1977. And I must say that I kind of agree with Harry Reid....and he wasn't berated by leaders of the church or excommunicated or anything, so I think that's probably alright.

I think that socialism is not the same thing as Soviet communism. We are a government of the people, by the people, for the people, after all and I believe that I should have a say in the economy. We aren't going to become the USSA just because we get socialized medicine. I've lived in more than one socialized country and they aren't all bad.

I'm against gay marriage: And I would just like to point out that California, a democratic state, voted to pass the ban on gay marriage. So obviously not all democrats are "bad." I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. I believe that we need to be working harder to preserve families. I think that Obama will help do some good in this area. I like that he is encouraging America to switch off the TV and actually spend time with their families--if only for doing homewok.

I'm pro-life: Both abortion and euthanasia are tricky topics. As a general rule I'm against both, although there are a lot of grey areas. I simply think that people should endure to the end of whatever trials are handed out to them. I think passive euthanasia is fine since that still leaves the life/death decision up to Heavenly Father, but active euthanasia is not alright. I also disagree with doctor-assisted suicide.

I kind of want to live in Star Trek: Trust me, six months ago I didn't ever think I'd be a "Trekie" on any level. But now I guess I kind of am. I like that people can speak whatever language they want and everything done is for the common good of the whole. I think having Spanish and Chinese and whatever else on signs is perfectly alright with me. I don't care if not everyone speaks English, even in America. I think that we, as Americans, should be seeking to learn other languages rather than insisting that everyone speak English. Sure, learning English is great, but other languages are wonderful, too.

So, anyway, that's kind of my political views in a nutshell. Obviously it's not my opinion on every topic out there and I'm not the greatest source for political musings. I didn't major in political science...but chances are, neither did you.

I do wish, though, that we had more "active" parties in America that could actually voice their opinions and have it be heard; that actually had a chance at getting any votes in an election; that wasn't absolutely laughable. I've never heard much about any other parties and I doubt that any party out there will ever win the popular vote.

But maybe I'll start my own party. Anyone want to join?