I guess it's my turn.......

After reading a couple of blogs in the past couple of days on politics, I feel the need to voice my opinion. I don't naturally voice my political views or like to get into debates, but after reading my friends' viewpoints, I want to jump on the bandwagon, too, and let all of you know what I'm thinking..

When you hear the word REPUBLICAN, you automatically think of enviromentalist hater, killer of animals, and most of all, Pro-Life.

I am a registered Republican, but prefer to be associated with the GOP party--a Reagan Conservatave, and I am not ashamed to say that I am very conservative on most topics, but I do NOT judge my friends if we do not agree on everything. I like to be open-minded and hear their viewpoints, because not one of us has the only correct view on politics.

So, here we go!

ABORTION: This is the biggest deciding factor for me in deciding who to vote for in all the races, not just Presidential. I believe in order to stop abortion altogether in the US, we need to get to the heart of the matter, not just protest in front of clinics, or kill the abortion doctors.

No, it starts at home. We as parents need to teach our kids that they are created in God's image and each one of us is precious to Him. I believe that growing up today in broken families, families without dads, or both parents working around the clock has attributed to the growing number of teen pregnancies, STD's, etc. (This is not the case in all single parent households as I have a friend who is doing an amazing job raising her 2 kids to LOVE Jesus and themselves). Girls are growing up without their daddies to tell them how important they are and to respect themselves, and as a result, many (sadly this tendency is much higher in lower income families) run to boys for love and affection. Boys, on the other hand, don't have their fathers to teach them how to respect girls and to encourage them it's okay not to sleep with girls left and right. They are looking for "high fives" and a pat on the back, and if their father's aren't in the picture (or another dominant male family figure), they look to their peers for approval.

Also, look around us--what does our society promote? Sex! Every time you turn on the tv or the internet, or open a magazine, you see girls dressed with low-cut shirts or skimpy skirts, and most teen and adult TV shows today are based on sleeping around or living together, affairs, and one-night stands. It is very hard today to shield your eyes from such immorality.

I believe if we get to the heart of the matter and give our children the attention they need, and teach them to find self-worth in Jesus (yes, I know many are not Christians, but abortion is very high in churches), we will see a change. Take kids under your wing and let them know how special they are, and to respect their bodies. Teach them abstinence at a young age.

Part of the problem is all around the world, including the US, have made it very difficult to adopt. If you have a heart for parentless children, the main obstacle is money. I am so encouraged that Antioch Adoptions here in Seattle has seen this as the main issue, and is pushing through the red tape for normal middle class Americans to be able to adopt without having astronomical fees. I can only pray that God would open the floodgates and AA can be in every state, and we can be saving more kids from the foster care system. If you don't have a desire to adopt, but know a family who does, contribute money towards their cause! There are many ways to save children.

No, we can't stop it worldwide, but lets look out our backdoor and turn to the young kids nearest to us. We can make a difference--not by picketing, blowing up abortion clinics, or killing abortion doctors--all of those have given us conservatives and Christians a bad name.

I cannot in my right mind vote for a leader of our country who says " I am going to teach them (meaning his kids) first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby." A baby is not a punishment. A baby is a gift from God, not matter what the reason. What if our parents thought it was bad timing to have us, or money was too tight, or they made a mistake, so they ran to the clinic to get rid of their "mistake/punishment"? I know in some countries abortions are forced; I am mainly talking about 1st world countries like the US.

I have respect for people who don't take the easy way out, but choose life for this child, just as their parents chose life for them. That being said, my heart goes out to all women who feel trapped and feel there is not other option, or who will be ridiculed and judged so harshly being a single parent, or who have already gone down that road and made the decision to abort their child. Instead of judging, I pray for them, and thank God that He spared me from having to make such a decision.

God commands us to "Love your neighbor as yourself".

If we elect a president who doesn't value the sanctity of life inside the womb, how do we know he'll go to bat for all the parentless and/or impoverished kids here or around the world?