Searching for Truth and Voting Our Values

In
America, we have always believed in religious freedom and in the potential of

everyone to serve our country.

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Watching
the first presidential debate this week led me to reflect upon the role of
partisan politics in influencing the future of our country.  Although I
was impressed by both Senator Obama's and Senator McCain's ability to hold
their positions in the debate, it was troubling to hear so much disagreement
about past actions.  What is more troubling is that these points of
conflict reflect the greater misrepresentations extant in the campaign as a
whole.  My only hope is that Americans will be able to see through these
misrepresentations to return to our fundamental values and ideals.

During
social hour after church today, I was talking to an older member of our
congregation.  After talking about my classes at school and his work as a
handyman, somehow we ended up talking about the presidential campaign.  A
supporter of Senator McCain, he brought up valid points about how he respected
the service of a fellow veteran.  Yet the next thing he told me was that
Senator Obama is a Muslim and implied that for this reason he is not fit to be
president.  I found this troubling for two reasons.  First, Senator
Obama is Christian.  Second, even if Senator Obama was Muslim, I would
hope that Americans would not judge him on the grounds of his faith.  In
America, we have always believed in religious freedom and in the potential of
everyone to serve our country.

Returning
to my conversation during social hour, what meant a lot to me was the
opportunity to speak to another Christian about the election.  While we
have a critical division of church and state in our country, I believe that we
must as Christians and Americans engage in these conversations about the future
of our country.  Through these everyday discussions, we can further our
knowledge about the choices we have to make in the November election.  I
hope we can educate ourselves so we can vote according to our values. Watching
the first presidential debate this week led me to reflect upon the role of
partisan politics in influencing the future of our country. 

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