On Latte-Drinking Liberals…

I hope as we move closer to November 4th that we will not let stereotypes on either political extreme continue to divide our country.    

“…The way I’m portrayed 24/7 is as a freak! I am the latte-sipping, New York Times-reading, Volvo-driving, no-gun-owning, effete, politically correct, arrogant liberal. Who wants somebody like that?”– Senator Barack Obama I was sitting this morning in my apartment in Berkeley, drinking green tea, worrying about my graduate school midterms, and reading the Sunday New York Times Magazine.   I found myself drawn to an article about Senator Barack Obama’s efforts to appeal to voters from very different places than Honolulu or Harvard Law School or the South Side of Chicago.  Reflecting upon his portrayal in the conservative press, he evoked a common stereotype of young, urban liberals.  I must confess:  Yes, I do read the New York Times regularly.  Yes, I used to drive a Volvo.  Yes, I grew up in a place that values political correctness, perhaps too highly.  And yes, on occasion I do drink a latte in addition to green tea.  Yet I hope and pray that I am not and will never become an arrogant liberal.   What I share with many Republicans, Democrats, and Senator Barack Obama himself is a faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I share a same commitment to God, to community, to our nation, to caring for the least of these.   I hope as we move closer to November 4th that we will not let stereotypes on either political extreme continue to divide our country.