Do What You Want... But Have Your Eyes Wide Open

I have not been one to forward many of the political emails that are currently circling the net regarding either candidate for President. First, I have family and friends who I know are at both ends of the spectrum in regard to their political affiliation. Second, while I may disagree with them on issues and principles, I did not feel it was my place to coerce or argue over their free will to vote as their own conscience dictates. Although this email may be considered a departure from that view, I offer it not as an argument about how you should vote, but rather as a realization about what you are truly voting for. I’ve heard every kind of emotional and downright racist reasons for voting for and against both of the candidates but these have not played into my decision for who I will support.

As I listened to the second presidential debate last night, I was overcome with a sense of foreboding about what lies ahead for our country regardless of which candidate is elected. Specifically, when all the rhetoric and political posturing is done, both the Republicans and Democrats have played significant roles in the current financial crisis and neither side has any comprehensive or decisive plan to solve this mess. In essence their own ideologies and self serving desire to stay in power will always prevent either party from taking the difficult steps necessary to heal our economy and bring our stock market back from the edge. Most notably both candidates have within their inner circles individuals who played pivotal roles in the current financial meltdown and continue to have an influence on their policies and plans. So in the end, although the economy is foremost in most peoples minds, the differences between the candidates and how they will address the problem are very similar and will likely not result in the quick and decisive turn around that we all desire. Instead the difference in the candidates will come down to the social issues that each of us consider and believe in one fashion or another.

Although it was not a topic in the debate, the true difference in the candidates is only truly measured by their stances on issues such as abortion. Without rehashing or rearguing the reasons for or against, I will make this one statement: 98% of the public arguments are over the issues of whether it should be allowed in the cases of rape, incest and the health of the mother, but less than 4% of the actual abortions occurring apply to these conditions. Therefore, the remaining 96% are for convenience and simply a CHOICE based on simple selfish reasons by the mother and father. Regardless of whether you consider this right or wrong, the only true difference between the candidates is on this issue. Whoever you support be aware that they have this stand on this issue and your support of that candidate will enable their action on this issue.

I too am fearful about the future economy and the impact it will have on my family but when faced with the moral issues I am forced to make the decision... will I support righteousness? Or will I follow my own fears and cares over my family’s welfare. This is one of those issues that I have to step back and come to the decision "As for me and my house..."

McCain is pro-life and consistently votes pro-life.

Barack Obama was one of a small number of Illinois legislative members who opposed the bill that is listed below.
The bill in essence created a law that when a child who was trying to be aborted was born alive that the child would be entitled by law to receive necessary medical care. The alternative embraced and supported by Obama was that the child would be left to die even though it was born alive and by even scientific terms was no longer a "fetus."
Unlike many other arguments or emails, I’m not just giving you my opinion, I’ve listed below the body of the bill that Obama opposed.

Regardless of your beliefs on the matter, this is where Obama stands on this issue and if you support him, then you are adopting and supporting his position.
Your decision is yours alone.. But now you have to make this decision with your eyes open...

State of Illinois 92nd General Assembly Legislation
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92_SB1661eng

SB1661 Engrossed LRB9215508WHcs
1 AN ACT in relation to civil liabilities.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Induced Birth Infant Liability Act.
6 Section 5. Findings and intent. The General Assembly
7 finds that all children who are born alive are entitled to
8 equal protection under the law regardless of the
9 circumstances surrounding the birth. Children who are born
10 alive as the result of an induced labor abortion or any other
11 abortion are in special need of protection due to the fact
12 that the intent of their birth is to cause the death of the
13 born child. Therefore, it is the intent of the General
14 Assembly to protect a child who is born alive as the result
15 of an induced labor abortion or any other abortion and to
16 ensure that the child receives all medical care necessary to
17 preserve and protect the life, health, and safety of the
18 child.
19 Section 10. Induced labor abortion; actions. If a child
20 is born alive after an induced labor abortion or any other
21 abortion, a parent of the child or the public guardian of the
22 county in which the child was born may maintain an action on
23 the child's behalf for damages, including all costs of care
24 to preserve and protect the life, health, and safety of the
25 child, punitive damages, costs of suit, and attorney's fees,
26 against any hospital, health care facility, or health care
27 provider who harms or neglects the child or fails to provide
28 medical care to the child after the child's birth. Any
29 damages recovered shall be used to pay for the cost of
30 preserving and protecting the life, health, and safety of the

SB1661 Engrossed -2- LRB9215508WHcs
1 child. If the child does not survive, the balance remaining
2 after the costs of preserving and protecting the life,
3 health, and safety of the child are paid shall be deposited
4 into the Neonatal Care and Perinatal Hospice Fund.
5 Section 15. Neonatal Care and Perinatal Hospice Fund.
6 The Neonatal Care and Perinatal Hospice Fund is created as a
7 special fund in the State treasury. Moneys deposited into the
8 Fund shall, subject to appropriation, be used by the
9 Department of Public Health to make grants for neonatal care
10 or perinatal hospice.

This is a re-post of one of my first posts on this blog, but seemed so relevent to the current election that I felt compelled to post it again.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

[This was sent to me today in an email, I'm not affiliated with the author nor even know if she is indeed 14, but the wisdom in what she says is ageless. If the author is 14, I'm impressed by the eloquence of her message, but even if not, I'm challenged by her message nonetheless.]

Check out this article from the next generation So well refers to - this girl is only fourteen years old, yet so wise!

Unless the Lord Build the House
by Heather Layton

As a fourteen year old student and concerned citizen of our great land, there are many questions to be answered. Sometimes I wonder if the goals I am trying to set in place for my future will be threatened—threatened by a lack of voter interest for example. Is our country laboring in vain? Could it be that we should heed the wise words of our Benjamin Franklin, who declared at the Constitutional Convention: We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.

(1)How can “the Lord” build our house, our country, when many of our elected officials are fighting to keep Him out? Could it be that by choosing not to vote, that our society allows “builders of Babel”(people who don’t speak our founders’ faith-filled “language”) to become elected officials of our great land? Genesis 11 tells us the story of the building of the tower of Babel. The wisdom of God, in fixing upon a sure way to stop these proceedings, dispersed many languages among the people. How could they work together if they could not understand what the others were saying? God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has various and effectual means to baffle and defeat the projects of proud men that set themselves against Him and His word. Have our citizens elected proud officials that no longer feel the need for the ultimate builder? The Bible says “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:13-15.

Students are told by these same elected officials not to pray or bring a Bible to school anymore. We are told we can’t even display the Ten Commandments, which are the very words of wisdom that, if followed, would solve so many of the problems we face in our schools. Many youth are looking for answers in all the wrong places because the adults in our government are telling us we can’t look in the right ones. We are the next generation. I want to make a difference in America. Of all the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin has the unique distinction of having signed all three of the major documents that freed the colonies from British rule and established the United States as an independent nation: the Declaration of Independence, The Treaty of Paris, and the United States Constitution. We would be wise to take note of the words of such a man, study the values of our candidates, and vote for candidates that will put his words of wisdom into action. With the upcoming elections drawing near, you can make a difference too. For future generations, I urge every voter to also follow the words of Christ and study to show yourselves a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.
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1. Madison, James, The Papers of James Madison, Henry D. Gilpin,editor (Washington: Langtree & O’Sullivan, 1840), 2:985.