Folks,

 

I recently had a discussion with my neighbors going over a variety of issues. One neighbor was a very vocal left leaning democrat, and my neighbor opposite is a very right leaning conservative republican. As you might imagine our discussion ran through current events. Did Obama bow? Is the stimulus package viable? Is Obama rebuilding a tarnished American image, or is he an apologist? We also touched on ideas of where did the Republican party go wrong? It is the last comment I wish to discuss, but first a little background...

     As for myself I am a conservative republican, and I think the problem we experienced a few months back while resulting from a plethora of issues is that we lack a common voice. It works against us, and it will continue to do so until we wake up! Wake up as a party, wake up as American's. The number one damaging issue in our party is faith. Faith has become the equivalent of a four letter word in some circles, and in other's a presumed joke. Now before I am assaulted for my comments let me continue. I consider myself a person of faith, I attend church, and I pray daily. The difference between my "voice" and the "apparent voice" of the party is this. My faith is personal, the perception of faith coming from our party is not. My faith I carry with me. When I'm asked about it, I will speak about it. That is not the image we present to the media. Often we are shown as dogmatic slaves of forgotten ideas. We know better...Why not act like it?? My faith is not so pale a thing as to shrink before oppossing ideas. My faith is like that of the father of the prodigal son. When his son ran wild, and acted against the beliefs of his father did he punish him? Was he rebuked? No. He was given his freedom of choice. The outcome as everyone knows is that the son relaizes through experience and self examination that he has erred and comes back to the father with repentance, and wisdom. Upon his return the child was not molested or corrected. There were no "I told you so's". The question we need to ask ourselves is are we the Father, or are we the Older Brother who stays faithful, but is so caught up in resentment that he misses the message, and the return of his brother.

     I hold the Constitution of the United States as something precious. Ideas, and words given form and substance that have carried this nation through war, peace, upside economics, and downside. Let us remain faithful, but also let us embrace this document as the social compact that allows a multitude of voices to speak as one. No one voice better than another. Let us demonstrate our faith by example, not as petulant children not getting their way. Let us have an open dialogue on all issues, and let's demostrate our strengths as a party and not be pigeon-holed by the opposition for this single issue. I know even now as I type this, many people feel the reflex move to attack, and defend their current position. I understand and as I've said OPEN DIALOGUE. Please however reflect on my ideas. There will be plenty of time and issues to debate in the days ahead..

 

Closing note: My neighbors got into a rather heated discussion, and it was a cookout, and of course there were some beverages being consumed. The talk got loud, it got fevered, and it passed as any stormy topic does. Both sides felt that they had made their point. As I hope I have made a point here.

 

Have a great day!