Quit Whining

I did a lot of personal research on the candidates for this presidential election. I tried to be unbiased, but no matter what people say about the media, every author or speaker has his/her own opinion and it flavors the report. Personally, I didn't care for Obama or McCain. So to make my decision, I had to track their history of voting and stances on the things that are important to our family.

I'm proud to have been given my chance to vote, and I'm proud that I took that chance to make my voice heard. Regardless of who I voted for, the winner or the loser, I made my choice. So if I'm unhappy with how things turned out, I could grumble. If I'm happy about the results, I could throw a party. But what good would either of these things do? Neither a party nor a grumble shows any respect to the office of the President.

I have heard some McCain supporters say things like "Well, it's not my choice, but that's OK. I hope Obama does well." This is my personal stance. I had resolved, prior to voting, that whomever "wins" or "loses" would have my respect as the leader of my country, and I wished him well. I liked the McCain quote, where he said "I cannot wish my opponent luck, but I do wish him well." That's just it, you don't give luck to the guy you want to surpass, but certainly people should respect the hard work and energy that it took to get to even participate in the Presidential elections as a candidate.

I am making this post because I am so saddened to hear so many McCain supporters whining about the results and McCain's concession. I want to scream, because half of them didn't bother to make their voice heard at the polls, and the other half are acting all gloom and doom over this. I want to put them in a corner and tell them what I tell my toddler: "Quit whining. It will be over soon enough." If a person feels it so absolutely necessary to think that Barack Obama as President is a punishment, just wait 4 years and make your voice heard again. At worst, he will only be there for 8 years. 8 years sounds like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not so bad.

Honestly, to those that complain and those that say with absolute fear and dread in their hearts, "It's in God's hands now" or some similar statement, I say it has always been in God's hands. We may not be pleased with some of the political decisions he makes, but until he tries to burn Christians at the stake, we are not really in a bad place.

Consider: This country has had a rotation of presidents from day one. Liberals, conservatives, liberals, conservatives. It was about time for a liberal to have a turn trying to run the country. We've always bounced "back" from things in the past. Whether you agree with this side or that side, we will see another conservative in office soon enough. It scares me to hear the extremists on both sides talk, as if the first thing to happen will be assassination attempts regardless of who won.

I'm not upset by the outcome. I'm not pleased by the outcome. But I will respect the office of the President and I will respect Senator Obama as my president. All I am asking is that everyone else do the same. It will make for a more peaceful 4 years, in my opinion.

I am trying to teach this standard of respect to my kids. That a debate or a difference of opinion can go so far, but to watch how they speak. Whatever happened to the Golden Rule? Would some of my friends who speak so disdainfully of the candidate opposite of their choise want someone else to spread the same filth about them? I seriously doubt it. And I put that question to the candidates who chose to run smear campaigns instead of smart campaigns as well.

As for me and mine, we will serve the Lord. Above all else, we will serve the Lord and trust that he knows how to keep us afloat as a nation. Why is it so hard to find that trust in the Lord when things are going your way, but when things are harder or not coming out like you want them to, you turn to the Lord in prayers of dismay and dissapointment? Trust that HE WILL GUIDE US, always.

And now I shall jump off my soapbox and return to my typical amusing posties tomorrow. :)