Posted by
David on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:46:36 PM
Adversity is life's gift that regularly tests our faith and strengthens our character. Nobody asks why when things are going good but when the good times go, most demand a reason to the question why and often times many simply complain. But difficulties are the times when we are stretched and tested.
Ronald Reagan was the first president that I ever knew. I grew up with him as he defined for many of us what it meant to be the President of the United States. Some of the great themes of that time revolved around the Cold War: East vs. West, Good vs. Evil, Machine vs. Man. As kids we used say that Americans had red blood flowing in our veins and the Russians had blue blood. The symbolism was seen in the nineteen-eighties when Rocky fought the machine-like Russian where the Russian fought like a machine but Rocky fought with his soul. That is what I remember most... Reagan fighting the powerful machine called the Soviet Union by talking to the American people about something called Character... Character. Why? Because he believed the soul of the American people is what made this country run and what made this country great and was not simply made great by the strong arms of power of which the worlds of antiquity only knew of.
This political season is not ideal for those who remember Reagan. As time goes on, some of our memories fade a little when thinking back. And in this up and coming election (just as important as those in the past) we have a choice of two candidates.
For many John McCain isn't ideal for those of us who remember past greatness.
But this election is not just about the candidate we have before us... but I believe it is about our own character. When I think about character, I think about a tree with it roots running deep and when the strongest winds and rain blow even some of the branches sway as some of the weaker branches and leaves break away. Nevertheless, the tree stands firm, respecting the forces that had come against it, a little shaken, some places broken, and yet as if to still laugh in the face of it's adversity because it still stands firm.
The American politics of late is one that truly lacks a sense of humor... it is a fierce sport, surely as democracy intended it to be. But don't you remember Reagan laughing? He had a great sense of humor even though there were many great trials... did it have something to do with Character?
Many in the Republican Party can see clearly that the party is torn. But we must hold on to the ideas that were imparted to us, especially that Character and Conservatism always go hand-in-hand.
Today, adversity is testing our faith as Conservatives and as a party, but we also have a great opportunity to be strengthened by it.
Again, for many of us this election is not an ideal situation. Many will want to just sit this out. But may we as Conservatives and as battered Republicans not defeat ourselves by losing vision in the midst of our own faults and imperfections as deep as they may seem. But inspite of them we need to take control, come together, get a sense of humor, smile in the face of our challenges, and work through them.
If we do, I believe we will be better off for it and the Republican Party's character will have proven to be deeper by overcoming its flaws. If not we will be handing the entire government over to those who do not share our core values.
John McCain is not perfect, at times he has even had a hand in compromise, but he is our leader and the only one who stands in the way of keeping our opposition from taking the Presidency and both Houses of Congress. Or will we simply hand it to them?
How will we handle our own imperfections? Will we have the courage to overcome them? Or will we hand the victory over to those who carry another philosophy; a philosophy which is not merely an imperfect Conservatism but a way of thinking and governing that is its complete opposite?
This election, let's carefully consider what is before us:
Pro-Life, Constructionist Judges, Lower Taxes with Spending Contraints, Vetoes on Earmarks, Traditional Marriage, Securing the Borders First, Health Care Empowering Patients,
Win our Wars, Strong Defense, Negotiating from a Position of Strength
vs.
Pro-Abortion, Pro-Partial Birth/Infanticide, Liberal Judges, Higher Taxes without Spending Constraint, Sex-Ed for Kindergarteners, Gay Marriage, No Real Immigration Policy, Nationalized Health Care, Surrender our Wars, Compromised Defense, Negotiating with our Enemies without Pre-Conditions
This election there is a choice. How will we deal with our own obstacles? How will we choose?