The sting...

Just something I've been pondering since Obama became our President Elect.

The Ten Cannots

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

-- Rev. William John Henry Boetcker, 1873

Barack Obama has become the first African American to be elected President of the United States. I am proud to say that I now live in a country where the majority of people look past the color of one's skin. This is a proud day for America. Barack Obama has a long road ahead of him and I intend to support him with my prayers.

I feel elated to have experienced history and yet at the same time I am disappointed. Part of me feels like we took a step back today. We now have a House, Senate and Presidency all controlled by one party, the Democrats. I've never in my life voted for a Democrat, simply because I am against larger government and less freedom. I never planned on having my government take care of me. Not only do the Democrats have full control but the leaders Pelosi and Reid are some of the most liberal politicians in Washington, including that of Barack Obama. I am scared that many voices will go unheard during this term. Only time will tell how far across the aisle he is willing to reach and a big indicator will be who he chooses to surround him in his cabinet.

I honestly believe that some people lost site of what was important in this election and cast their vote for reasons other than qualifications. In my heart, I don't believe he is qualified for this job. I don't think he's been honest about his relationships with Ayers and Wright and as much as I would like to say those things don't matter, they do. It matters to me (and it is my vote afterall) that he sat in a church that is known (long before this election) for it's anti-American rhetoric. It matters more to me that he wasn't willing to admit that he heard the sermons and maybe agreed with them (maybe he didn't). Because after all, how does one attend a church for twenty years and have no idea what is being said? I don't think being a community organizer prepares you for foreign relations. I don't think being a senator for 2 years prepares you for the enormous task at hand (economy, taxes, healthcare, etc). I hope and pray I am wrong. I do not wish to be right in this because to be right means that we all lose. We lose as Americans. Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike, we lose.

I pray for President Elect Obama and as he stated in his victory speech, I hope he does earn my vote in the long run.