“She is so going to talk about religion in her blog!”

After recently getting connected with Benchmarks, a local fund raising organization, I started thinking more about my beliefs, my pro-choice stance and my thoughts on religion.

You see, I have not practiced any religion since, um, turning 6.  Hmmm, let’s see, that’s about 29 years ago, and that also coincides with our move to America.  I’m going to take a wild stab at it and say that any religious influence we had in our lives while living in Scotland was brought to us via the grandparents.  My parents did not continue any kind of religious tradition once away from their parents, although from time to time, we were invited by friends to partake in several Jewish celebrations, and we almost always went.

I think if I were forced at gunpoint to had to pick a religion, I would align myself with Judaism.  And I would do so for several reasons:

1. I have many ancestors who are Jewish!
2. Both my Mother and Father are Jewish!
3. I participated in more Jewish celebrations than anything else, unless of course you count Christmas, but I don’t!
4. The Jews are The Chosen People, and come on, how fucking cool is that?
5. I feel ferocious when I think about the Holocaust and what was done to the Jews, knowing that quite possibly one or more of my relatives was greatly affected by this  horrific event.
6. I am more willing to believe that we have not yet seen the coming of “the savior” rather than thinking that Jesus Christ was it.  [And just for the record, in this instance I am WAY more agnostic than anything else...I heard someone use the term "reverent agnostic" once, and frankly that shoe fits really damn well!]
7. The food!
8. They have great hair!
9. I keep (in the loosest sense of the word) Kosher simply because I’m a vegetarian…I don’t eat pork, and I don’t do meat and dairy together, I don’t eat crab, lobster, octopus, clam, swordfish, sturgeon…you see where I’m going with this…I’m Kosher by default!
10. And last but not least, have you seen my nose?!?!?

But seriously, the issue of religion is overwhelming and intriguing all at the same time.  I respect and welcome all definitions of “God” into the conversation.  What I can’t stand is when one religion is held up over all others.  What I can’t stand is when religion is used to infringe upon the safety and well-being of others.

It’s OK in my book to talk about religion.  Shit, it’s OK in my book to talk about anything you damn well want to talk about.  And I am proud of that.  I encourage that and I welcome that.

We can even throw around a few words about abortion and politics.

Yes We Can

I feel proud to be an American today. Twenty eight years ago my mother and father brought us to this country so that we could become better people and have the opportunities they feel they did not have in Scotland.

I truly believe my parents chose wisely. My sister and I have sought opportunities that have contributed to our betterment in this country. We are both happy, well-adjusted immigrants who have made a home for ourselves in this amazing country.

There have been occasions, in the past, when I felt a sense of disappointment at the choices we have made as a country. But yesterday, (my mother’s birthday) the Americans who elected Barack Obama, did something wonderful. We recognized the need for change and we embraced it. We heard of the promise of hope and the promise of change. That assurance of a better way came in the form of the first African American man to be elected to the highest position of government in our country.

I am beaming with pride. Mr. Obama is the quintessential definition of opportunity. He has just begun to show us how we can be better and do better. I trust that he will lead by example, as he has done so already. And I believe that we, as a united America, can learn to be better people.

Yes, I’m Really Gonna Go There

Politics has not really been a strong area for me, although I desperately want to be more in the know. And I’m realizing that I have something to say!   So…

…it is with trepidation that I write this post. I am fearful to appear ignorant, or uneducated, or just plain old stooopid. But I cannot deny what is happening around me, and to me. And at this point, I frankly don’t give a shit what others think of my political (or lack of) knowledge.

My interest in the current election is very high. There is a lot at stake this time around, not that there isn’t always a lot at stake for our country and our people. This has always been important stuff. But this time seems different.

But how in the hell do we shut out the “noise” and truly make a decision based on fact and not on what the “slanted media” or the “right wing fanatics” concoct.

Here’s my theory, which will be applied directly in November 2008:

I am essentially a one-issue voter when it comes to who I will support. I am extremely pro-choice and believe whole-heartedly that a woman’s right to choose is representative of an even bigger picture. If we support women and their right to choose then we are saying that we trust women to make decisions about their OWN bodies. And why the hell shouldn’t we? But please know that because I am pro-choice, this does not mean that I want women to have abortions. It simply means that each woman can choose for herself.

Abortion is a PERSONAL choice, but sexual education is a public responsibility. If we do not educate our youth appropriately and satisfactorily, then we will continue to contribute to the number of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. In a perfect world, women could make informed decisions about safe sex and never have to worry about having to make the choice.

So, being a one-issue voter leads me to support the Democrats, hands down. Does that mean I think the other side does not make a fair argument? No. Does that mean I think McCain doesn’t have some valuable insight into national security? No. We are all, Democrats and Republicans, responsible for the mess our country is in. No one man or woman did this by him or herself. We, as the American public, are also to blame. We have been complacent, uninterested, confused, uninformed…blah blah blah. But it is our duty to dig through the crap to be able to make a decision about our country.

If I vote for Obama, which I will, McCain will not disappear into thin air. His insights and experience will still exist and he will still maintain his Senate responsibilities. I trust that he will continue to voice his opinion if he believes the president is making a a stupid decision. Just as I believe Congress and the Cabinet and the Advisers and the People will contribute to the governing of this country, as we all should!

Obama, when elected, will not save the country single-handedly, nor will he ruin this country single-handedly. We will help. Either way, we will help. We the people, need to wake the fuck up and do something…on the state level or on the national level. And if a vote for the next president is how you will choose to make your voice be heard, or to change the country, then damn it, VOTE!

Do not feel weak, or less than, or inferior because you might not know as much about the current political situation as the next guy. You can either learn more or remain unknowing.

But at least learn enough:

• to pick a candidate,
• feel strongly about your choice,
• and remind yourself, that no man or woman governs alone.

We, the people can govern too. And we should!!!

A Friendly Political Gesture

Did you watch his speech?

clipped from pol.moveon.org

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