Politics, Schmolitics

I am officially declaring that I am DONE with politics for the remainder of the presidential election.  No more debates for me.  The debates are so frustrating because both sides lie and spin and stretch the truth, and I am left feeling manipulated, frustrated and utterly helpless to do anything about it.  I have a tendency to be overly passionate about politics but I don't feel good when I am in the thick of it.  I am so sick of all the negative adds coming from both sides and the ENDLESS discussion by all the talking heads about things that don't really matter all that much.  I know who I am voting for, and I know that won't change, so why subject myself to that?!  I am voting for John McCain.  I say that with some trepidation because I'm not completely confident that he is the right person for the job.  I am nervous about Sarah Palin, mainly because of her lack of experience.  But I feel like I am choosing the "lesser of two evils" (even though I really don't think Obama or McCain are evil).  I seriously considered voting for Ron Paul, but a vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Barack Obama, and I truly believe that Obama would not be good for what I believe America should be.  

This weekend was general conference for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Every 6 months the leadership of my church meets and has a worldwide broadcast where the leaders speak to the members for the purpose of giving guidance and direction.  Elder Boyd K. Packer gave a talk yesterday afternoon that really touched me.  He began by discussing the early saints of the church, and the persecution they suffered.  This persecution was greatly intensified when they were living in Nauvoo, IL in the 1840's.  They suffered mobbings and cruel persecution for their beliefs.  They sought redress from the governor of Illinois, Governor Boggs.  In response to this Gov. Boggs issued a proclamation that all mormons should be treated as enemies and should be exterminated from the state.  The situation became considerably worse after this extermination order was issued and finally the saints decided to leave and go west to no-man's land, where they could live and worship in peace.   These saints had turned Nauvoo from a swamp into a beautiful, thriving city where they had to leave literally all of their earthly possessions.  They had to leave behind the land and homes that they owned and walk across the country in the most deplorable of conditions to escape what had become state sponsored terrorism against them.  Eventually they attempted to appeal to the federal government for redress.  This was attempted several times.  On the last attempt Pres. Martin Van Buren told them that "their cause is just, but there is nothing I can do for you".  So their country, America-the land of the free, had turned her back on them.  Looked the other way.  Despite all of this, on July 24, 1849, when the saints had been in the Salt Lake Valley for 2 years, they had a celebration of America.  They all wore red, white and blue, waved American flags and celebrated the country that had allowed them to be "exterminated".  Despite all they had been through they still loved the idea of America, because that idea was divinely inspired.  The people running the country had made mistakes, but the idea of America still existed and offered them a chance of worshiping God how they wanted and offered them the chance of doing this peacefully.  And eventually this did happen.  

I love America.  I love the divinely inspired idea of America.  I love that I can live where I want, become whoever I want to be, and worship as I please.   I think that government has become so corrupt that most in power don't remember what America means.  The system of getting elected to congress or as president in this country has gotten so far off track that you can't possibly do it without getting your hands dirty.  I don't know that anyone can fix it.  So, I will support the candidate who I think will do the least harm.  But I will not rely on the government for anything.  I will rely on God, my family, and my faith.  I guess Barack would call me bitter for that, seeing how he is so much more enlightened and progressive than I.  But I call it smart, because the more you rely on government, the less freedom you have.  And I love America because I am free.