A Voter's Struggle

Yesterday, I really wanted to be an educated voter. I've voted before. But this time I really tried to know the issues, know the candidates, and pick the best choice for what I believe and what's important to me. So I perused www.vote-smart.org, and got to know my candidates.

And frankly, I don't call myself a democrat or republican. But yesterday I weighed the issues, and I voted mostly democrat. I don't agree with them on every stance, but on most stances, I do. Especially on guns, war, healthcare, immigrants, foreign policy, the death penalty, and how to spend my tax dollars.

And here's the thing. I felt guilty. I felt I had to hide. And to me, that's so silly, because Christian DOES NOT EQUAL Republican.

So the day before elections I had made my choice.

And then a funny thing happened. Yesterday,the day of elections, my choice walked into the coffee shop where I was studying, and sat down next to me to drink a cup of coffee.

Yep, that's right, the man who I had picked to vote into Congress, ended up right next to me in Caribou Coffee.

And I am not sure what I thought candidates did on election day, but it sure wasn't having coffee next to me.

And frankly, that sealed the deal. A congressman who can hang with young people in a coffee shop, is the congressman for me. And he chose Caribou, NOT Starbucks. He was off the charts on my "Cool" rating.

And so his crew gave me a sticker when I told them I had already decided to vote for him, and I sort of hid it under my coat, in case I saw anyone from my church. And they invited me to their after-party. But no go there, in case the news captured footage of a Christian at a democratic candidate's party.

And all this goes back to trauma in college, when I got shunned, for even QUESTIONING Bush as president, or Christians as republicans.

I value life, I value marriage as between a man and a woman. But I am not going to pretend that's all there is to choosing legislators. I'd rather volunteer at a pregnancy care center that helps assist women in crisis pregnancies, and give them the resources they need to avoid terminating pregnancy, than to vote Republican because of this one issue. I am not going to stick my head in the sand and pretend that abortion is a one-dimensional issue regarding legality. If you are really passionate about this issue and you vote Republican because of it, please ask yourself, "What am I doing to actually help women handle crisis pregnancies?" "What am I doing beyond voting Republican, and holding up signs calling women murderers?" AND, abortion isn't the only issue about valuing life. What about guns, war, and the death penalty?

I told myself I wouldn't preach. Too late.

So I am coming out of the closet. Although I still refuse to give my allegiance to a particular party, I may vote democrat if I see fit. And gosh darn it, that's okay.

I'm okay.