I want to speak for a moment about the war in Iraq. There is a consensus this November that the elections are a referendum on Iraq. People will vote Democrat because they think Iraq was a mistake and that will show President Bush that he was wrong. First of all, voting for a Democrat in a House or Senate or even Gubernatorial race won't change anything in Iraq. The President has sole Constitutional authority to do as he sees fit concerning the war in Iraq. Even if we had a super majority of Democrats in both the House and Senate, all they could do is defund the war effort. They can't force a troop withdrawal by voting for it. That's the President's decision.
But that's not what I want to focus on here. I would like to focus on the word "commitment." Do we Americans even know what the word "commitment" means anymore? Contracts are a form of commitment. When is the last time you saw a professional athlete refuse to show up for practice at the beginning of the year because he wants a better contract? Regardless of the fact that the athlete is still under contract with the team, he feels that he deserves better and thus he shouldn't have to honor the current terms. Or what about coaches who get fired in the middle of their contract? Most times the team has to pay the salary of the coach for all future years even though he is no longer the coach in order to fulfill his contract. But currently the New York Knicks are in court to try to get out of paying Larry Brown the rest of his contract because they wanted to fire him.
Then look at society. The best example is marriage. Marriages are failing at a rate of 50% or better because of the lack of commitment by one or both of the partners. All of us who are married signed a marriage contract to be committed to our spouse for better or worse until death. So why do 50% of marriages break the commitment. Was marriage harder than they thought it would be? Maybe. Did they not find true love in the marriage? Maybe. Did they just get tired of the other person? Maybe. Did it involve too much personal sacrifice? Maybe.
Can you see where I am going with this. Regardless of why we as a country went into Iraq, we have made a commitment to the innocent civilians of Iraq to protect them until they can protect themselves. Even if I were to agree with the Democrats (which I don't) that the war was a mistake, that we didn't find WMDs, and that there is no link to Al Queda, it doesn't matter at this point. We are there now. There are now floods of terrorists coming into Iraq to get a shot at the great USA to see if they can break our will. If we leave Iraq now, the terrorist may follow us home and they may not. But they will definitely stay in Iraq and the innocent citizens of that country will become the biggest casualties of this war and only we will be to blame.
We now have an obligation to those people to finish what we started. It's what America does. It's what we stand for. We have a moral obligation to fulfill the commitment that we made to the Iraqi people to protect them until they can protect themselves. We now must show the world that we do what we say. We believe as Americans that our commitment is our bond. Don't we? So if you want to vote for a Democrat this year, come up with a better reason than because the war was a mistake. Vote for them because they're going to raise taxes or support more abortions. At least those are issues that they can change when they get to DC.
3 comments:
Let me start by addressing the Iraq issue. First, WE made the decision and commitment to go over there and fight without even asking them. We forced ourselves on them. They did not ask for our help. We bullied our way in. Second, they are demanding that we leave. Why don't we adhere to their wishes? As far as the terrorists following us home, is it fair to the Iraqi people to wage "our" war in "their" country simply to protect our citizens? Why do we have the right to endanger their people to keep the war from coming to our soil? We don't! When Bush first announced they had WMD's and we were going in, I was behind him. Now that I know he was outright lying and misled the entire country, he deserves to be impeached. He is also not literate enough to run our country. I'll send you some clips of him that prove this if you want.
Next, you talk about contracts being a form of commitment and moral obligations. I budget is a moral document that we should make a commitment to, making sure that we pay our debts (rather than raising the debt ceiling repeatedly) as the Bible clearly instructs us to do. As for your jabbed comment about Dem's raising taxes, just another Republican ploy to miss the "real" issue: that the Republicans gave tax breaks to the ultra rich (also a Biblical violation. The Bible says to whom much is given, much will be demanded...not asked, DEMANDED!) Dems would simply be restoring the tax bracket where it originally was, so in fact, it is NOT a tax hike, but a return to fairness that the Republicans changed to line their own pockets.
I have plenty more to say on this subject but am out of time.
Lynn...I am open to hear what you are saying. Really. But you have to back up what you are saying because I don't believe you. If you can convince me that what you are saying is true I may change my mind. First question, who in Iraq is asking us to leave? I need you to provide me with an Iraqi poll, quotes from the Iraqi leaders, or something to back up what you are saying. I don't care why or how we got to Iraq, but I do care that we stay and finish the job. If they want us to leave, tell me who and give me a source.
Second question, give me something to believe you that President Bush lied about WMDs. You say that you know he was lying. You have to back this fact up with something. Has he admitted to lying? Do you have any cabinet leaks saying he purposefully mislead everyone? Did all the Congressional Democrats lie too when they said we had WMDs? Give me something to believe you.
Third question, why do you accuse our President of being less than literate? Do you know that President Bush graduated from Yale with a cumulative score of 77? Do you also know that John Kerry graduated from Yale with a cumulative score of 76? Granted, both of those scores would equal a letter grade of "C" which is not a stellar score. But since these two men were the only choices in the last election, on what basis do you judge literacy?
Fourth question, how can you criticize my statement that "Democrats will raise taxes" and calling it a "jabbed comment" by acknowledging that they will "restore" the tax bracket where it originally was? You're not disputing that they are going to raise taxes because you know that they will. And tell me, what is your definition of original? Do you know that the Federal Government couldn't and didn't collect any taxes until the 16th Amendment was passed in 1913? Do you know what the lowest tax rate imposed in 1913 was after the amendment was ratified by 36 states? One percent! Do you know what the ultra rich (incomes over $500,000) top tax rate was in 1913? Seven percent! So for almost the first 150 years of our country, there was no federal taxes. And after that they were extremely low taxes. So to answer my question, could you please tell me what you mean by "original" when you speak of the tax bracket.
Last question, what are your thoughts on Democrats and Christian issues such as Freedom of Religion and Abortion? Why do Democrats consistently, as a party, vote against the right to life and against Christians freely expressing our faith in public? And why should any Christian put them in office since they are so hostile to issues that we hold dear? Lynn, you are a good friend and a strong Christian advocate but you're just wrong politically. I don't think in every circumstance a vote for a Republican is a vote for Christian values, but generally that is the case.
I have forwarded you several links proving the Iraqis want us out (71%). There is no question, considering the numerous polls you asked for that prove me right.
I also sent you numerous links concerning the WMD's. I didn't have time to find the ones from Christians that I had once saved.
I am also looking for more of the illiteracy of Bush. You can type in Bush Illiterate yourself and get plenty! I also found info about Bill Clinton being a Rhodes Scholar, one of only 63 in our nation to receive such a prestigious honor for his intellect.
As for the tax issue, I clearly remember a story my father once told me. While sparing you the entire story, he said that at one time the government could take 90% of your income for taxes. I'll also spare you the details of how a millionaire relative of mine pays less taxes (dollar wise and percent wise) because of all the loopholes he can take advantage of thanks to the Republicans. Did you know that if a person spends $90,000 or more on a boat, they do not have to pay taxes on it? Yet it someone like myself (I have) bought a boat for a couple grand, I had to pay my fair share of taxes. Excuse me, but if you can afford to spend 90 grand on a boat, you can afford to pay your taxes just like me...another loophole for the rich. Yet you still ignore my comment that the Bible demands more from those who have more.
Under Clinton, we had budget surpluses that also allowed us to pay down our national debt. The national debt ceiling has repeated been raised since Bush took over. Look it up for yourself...also anti Biblical. Again, you choose not to address these truths.
And "I" am a democrat. Where is your proof that we are against freedom of religion? I am against my own freedom? Show me your polls as you have asked me to do.
And as for abortion, I have personally written letters, financially supported, and rallied against abortion. So don't lump us all together unfairly. There are even (several) Christian Democratic organizations. God is not a Republican. And while I am at it, Clinton, in his great wisdom, told the American people that he would sign an abortion bill if it included the line to save a womans life because without it, it was unconstitutional, which is why he vetoed it. The exact bill came before Bush, he signed it, and low and behold it got struck down as unconstitutional! Had we listened to Clinton, there would be many less abortions today. Granted, not a perfect solution, but a much better one than we are still currently dealing with.
And what issues do you consider that we hold dear? As a Christian, there are way more than the 2 wedge issues that the Republicans lead you to believe as the only issues Christians need to look at. Bull!!! Go to Sojourners website.
I can give you a very long spiel about how Jesus does not force himself upon us. But with a changed heart, we can seek him. Do we really want to cram our beliefs down peoples throats through laws and chase them further away from Christ, or do we want to show them our love and change their hearts where abortion laws make no difference? That is what changed my mind on the issue.
Too many times people like Bush want to use God to further his agenda rather than be used by God to further God's agenda. Just because someone claims to be a Christian, does not mean they are one. I can also give you numerous examples of Bushs' very unfavorable unChristlike filthy mouth. And just because someone claims to be a Christian, does not make them the best candidate for the job.
Post a Comment