days of nuwanda

My healthcare soapbox

Ok I need to get this off my chest, and it may unsettle some of you, but I feel the need to say it.

Apparently I am not alone in hating this healthcare bill that Obama and his friends in Congress "shoved down the American throat" last week. Not only b/c it equals bigger government interference in our lives, but b/c the way they went about it was shady and seemed to undermine the process of passing legislation. And if polls and blogs are an indicator of the country's pulse, I would say the overwhelming majority of average Americans are not happy about it.

But I'm not really here to blog about healthcare. I don't know anything that bill. I didn't read it, didn't study it, didn't participate in some research panel of doctors who commented on it, didn't even really watch the news all that much. And I couldn't tell you exactly how it will impact me or when that impact will hit me. Do I care? Yes, I do. I think we all care when our bottom line is possibly affected, or when a system is about to change and we don't know what that means to us personally. But at the end of the day, when that bill was signed into the law books, my American way-of-life didn't just up and die, as some popular conservative commentators said it would. In fact, my day went on like any other normal day, my way-of-life and values still in place. Yes, I realize there are bigger issues and principles that this leans toward--the downward slope toward socializing programs--and I get that. I really do. But there is more here...

I guess I'm saying all of this b/c I've been annoyed--and even embarrassed--at some response from the conservative, Christian right who have talked up this healthcare bill so much, to the point of basically painting Nancy Pelosi and Obama as the anti-Christ. Somehow protecting our freedoms became equated w/ a spiritual uprising. It's as though the Republican, conservative agenda has been turned into the Christian agenda, and vice versa. Preserving our freedoms, then, becomes the Christian mantra, and government becomes the evil one that we must fight and protect ourselves against. And I just cannot go there.

Now I haven't heard anyone actually use these words, but the feeling is there, the feeling that as Christians we are to rise up and protect our freedoms, as though God Himself wrote the American Constitution and therefore we live and die by it. Am I saying we throw out the Constitution or ignore it and allow our government to breach it? NEVER! (I took two great courses in college on the Constitution b/c I think it is both precious and worth protecting.) But I am saying that this undercurrent in conservative Christian circles that our most important goal is to preserve our nation and our Constitution--and all that goes w/ that, such as our personal freedoms--is not scripturally based.  If Jesus were walking the earth right now, would he join the Republican party? Would he be joining these Tea Parties and protesting big government? I doubt it. Jesus lived in a much more politically hostile world than ours, w/ Rome controlling most of the known world, and HIs followers believed he had come to rescue them from Rome's tyranny. But Jesus never went there; in fact when asked a politically-charged question about taxes, Jesus said, "Give to Caeser what is Caesars." Why? Because Jesus had another agenda, a bigger agenda. He never took up the political torch. HIs mission was to change people, not political systems.

Do I think, then, that we should stay out of politics, not be involved or informed, not vote? NO! Unlike Jesus' day, we live in a country blessed w/ personal freedoms and responsibilities. We have opportunities to speak out, to voice our opinions and ideas, to elect our congressman and leaders, privileges they did not have in the Roman Empire of AD 30. We should certainly take our responsibilities seriously and vote our conscience and be involved and proactive where God leads us. Many Christians enter politics to effect change, and that is both noble and needed, especially in the times of our day.

But it seems to be a slippery slope of another kind for Christians to become so politically minded, so 21st century American-minded, that they come to think that God's whole agenda is wrapped up in American politics. Does God care, and is He working in our White House and Congress? Absolutely. But His agenda reaches far beyond our Capital and the shores of our great country, and I think we do a disservice to His kingdom to limit God's scope and superimpose our agenda onto His.

Are you fired up about healthcare? Great! Then find an outlet, a way to be proactively effecting positive change where you are, instead of just ranting against the system. Maybe join a ministry that drives seniors to doctor appointments. Or deliver meals to seniors in Meals-on-Wheels. Or volunteer at a local children's hospital.

I realize I'm simplifying things; there's a lot more between the lines of this whole issue, much that I admit is beyond my understanding. But we need to be very careful--of how our worldview is molded by the media (including the conservative media), of how we think of our political leaders who God put into office (according to Daniel 2 and Romans 13), of how we show them respect or disrespect, of how we impact our miniscule window of the world. Isn't that what Jesus would do? Minister to the people right next door. Change the world one person at a time, one attitude at a time, one selfless act at a time. Else we become what Paul describes as "a noisy gong or clanging cymbal" (1 Cor 13), speaking without love.

Finally something good in the news

...for a change (though the press would have you believe I am in a minority).

Here, here!

Every Wed morning (as the kids allow me) I enjoy watching "Prime Minister's Questions in the British House of Commons"on C-span.  I'm  drawn to watching British Parliament in a way you would never find me watching Congress. I guess it's the British accents, the interesting way they all stand up to get their turn to ask a quesiton, the way they jest and poke fun at each other and laugh (you won't hear laughter in Congress!), and the way they call each other "my right honorable friend." Their language seems formal, but the actions are informal and you feel like you could walk in and be comfortable, knowing nothing of the discussion. Where our congressional sessions seem stiff and tensions run high, these question sessions seem almost fun.

I also find it fascinating that PM Tony Blair always has this 3-ring binder in his hands. Whenever he stands to the microphone to answer a question, he puts the binder on the podium, but he never actually looks at it or flips any of the pages. What is in that book? Cartoons? International secrets? Love letters? Hmmm. Tony Blair is so well spoken compared to our President, who I respect immensely but do find it difficult to watch when he speaks to the press. Blair can talk about any topic and seems to be very sure of himself, while Bush often stumbles over his words and seems to be almost unsure of things at times. I realize this only makes Blair a better politician and speaker, not a better leader. But you don't find this kind of interaction in the US. You don't see the President sitting in Congress, answering random questions from senators. Or are they random? Is Blair wearing an ear piece w/ info being fed to him by his top aides? Hmmm. Check it out!

What is a republican.

Found this good post at Woody's about what is a republican. Very long, but a good read.

Rebranding Democrats

Here are some new branding ideas for Democrats. (courtesy of Redux)

Use the Bible when it's convenient

Funny how politicians want to use the Bible to form policy when it's convenient, when it's not too intrusive into people's lifestyle choices, when it fits their own agenda. Here's Hillary doing just that.....Is anybody out there surprised? Nah. Even John Kerry tried to quote Scripture when his campaign told him it would help. (Oops--I think he meant John 3:16, not John 16:3)

Heartland envy

If we are going to talk about the divide in this country between the left and the right, let's stop blaming Bush and start blaming New Yorkers.

Some bite-size quotes from people bitter about Bush winning in rural America:

"New Yorkers are more sophisticated and at a level of consciousness where we realize we have to think of globalization, of one mankind, that what's going to injure masses of people is not good for us."

"New Yorkers are savvy. We have street smarts. Whereas people in the Midwest are more influenced by what their friends say."

"This kind of redneck, shoot-from-the-hip mentality and a very concrete interpretation of religion is prevalent in Bush country - in the heartland."

Whatever!

I caught a few moments of C-Span2 during my lunch hour today. Members of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation were speaking, along with attorneys of the so-called disenfranchised and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Of course the entire discussion was about how blacks were prevented from voting, that election rules are discriminatory, and how all of us white people should basically be ashamed of ourselves.

I don't ever avoid opinions that are different from my own, so I listened intently to the speakers. But it was nothing new. They were making the same claims made before the election, that blacks were somehow being discriminated against at the polls. That whites were not required to show ID but blacks were. That blacks were purposely told to vote in the wrong precinct. That blacks were denied provisional ballots in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, and Michigan. That blacks were not sent absentee ballots in key states. That their coalition had been sent out to precincts all over America to "protect black voters at the polls." Protect them? From what? Shouldn't ALL voters' rights be protected?

I just don't get it. Are we to believe there is some massive conspiracy to keep minorities from having a political voice? Whatever. Stop talking and give me some proof.

Good news--Long lines at the polls

If my little section of the world is any indication, this election will see a high turnout. My polling place is literally across the river [creek] and thru the woods [a couple of trees] from my house in a senior citizen community center. All the years I've been voting there, I've seen maybe 5 citizens in line at a time. In and out. But this year's line was about 5 or 6 times that, and even though I had to stand in a long line in an overly heated room (senior centers, senior homes...they are all about 95 degrees inside!) all the while enduring yet another headache, I felt that deep-down kind of pride in my fellow Americans. We do care, and we do want our voices to be heard. This was one line I didn't mind at all. (There isn't much pride involved when I'm stuck in the slowest lane known to makind at Wal-mart...and I have that oh-so-wonderful luck of always choosing the slow lane. It's a gift!)

One older gentleman in line had a huge magnifying glass he was using to study the ballot, and I was proud of him. There were several twenty-somethings like myself, and I was proud of them. There were moms with tiny babies, and I was proud of them. There were construction workers covered in paint, and I was proud of them. The whole place felt patriotic, and when I heard the machine *beep* to validate that I had miraculously filled out the ballot correctly (we don't have chads, hanging or otherwise, in my neck of the woods), I smiled. Imagine what the Afghan people felt like a few weeks ago, voting for the first time ever in their nation's history. We are truly blessed.

I've been lecturing one of my friends for a couple years now about her record of NOT voting since she moved. She was registered but did not know where her polling place was located, and she never looked into it. I of course felt this was UNpatriotic of her, and kept bugging her about it. So this year she finally contacted someone about it, and guess what.....her polling place is at her apartment clubhouse! No joke! The irony here is beyond mere exclamation points that I could add, so let me just say....It's about time! :)

Election day prayers

Well, the fateful day has arrived when America goes to the polls and lives out the dream of those who fought to build this democracy. Jonathan has been praying for bad weather, and his prayers were answered. It's drizzly, dark, and gloomy here. And history tells us that Republicans are more dedicated and more likely to go out to the polls in bad weather. So we'll just have to wait and see.

We Christians joke about praying for things, like rain on Election Day or for the Cards to win the World Series (guess there were more Sox fans praying this year!), but in reality, this election really deserves a lot of prayer. We know that GOD is in control no matter who we place in the White House. He can change the heart of kings and leaders however He wills. But we still need to pray, for voters today and for the leaders who win.

I've been thinking about John Kerry's statements about relying on the UN to resolve world conflicts, and I wonder what impact that would have on our relationship with Israel. We are Israel's biggest ally (if not the only one) and I believe God has blessed us b/c of it. ("I will bless those that bless you [Israel], and curse those that curse you.") But if we side with the UN in Middle East conflicts, how soon will it be before we turn our back on Israel? A scary thought....

If you are reading this and haven't voted yet, do it now!