With the presidential election at our doorstep and the inability to develop a liking for either candidate I was forced to make a decision of whom I would cast my vote for. I have been a moderate conservative for most of my voting years. I have always supported our republican candidates steadfastly and never shuttered an eye at who I would vote for. Until this election year, everything changed, for the first time in American history we had a female, and African American and a war hero running for president. For this reason, I knew the decision would be a difficult one and I was torn; who would get my vote and why? After the democratic and republican conventions were over and the nominees were announced I began watching the news daily, listening to the issues, and scrutinizing each candidate in an effort to make my decision. I soon became frustrated by both candidates; with all of the rhetoric and waffling back and forth on the issues. Tax cuts for the rich, redistribution of the wealth, health care for all, health care for some, to drill or not to drill. Over the course of several months my frustration turned to disappointment and I couldn’t even bring myself to watch the news. Over the last few days however I realized that I must make a choice, a choice that I believed to be the best choice for the future of our nation. A choice that is most in line with my fundamental values. It was then that my thoughts led me straight to the issue of abortion. I am a mother of four and I have always opposed abortion. Rewind: Over the summer I had the opportunity to read some interesting material on the abuse of livestock in slaughter houses. You may be thinking, what does this have to do with abortion? Well, after hearing the kind of treatment that many animals suffer I decided that I could no longer eat beef or pork in good conscience. How could I sit and eat a steak when I knew of the abuses that it suffered leading up to its slaughter. If I am against this treatment and I still eat the meat, then I am not who I say I am. You can’t be against and for something at the same time. Now how can a person that refuses to eat meat due to mistreatment and exploitation of the animal be for the killing of an unborn child? Isn’t a child worth more than a mere cow? That is when I realized that I couldn’t cast my vote for Barrack Obama? Barrack Obama is a vegetarian, and has been quoted as saying “I invite all Americans to join me in a bright future free of cruelty and exploitation, free of the blood of innocents killed only for our pleasure. It is time to end the exploitation of farmed animals on American soil.”
Wow, I thought…such passion for a farm animal…by the way a passion which I share with Obama, but how can he or I stand for the rights of animals and ignore the rights of “innocent” human beings? Now we can argue the issue of abortion endlessly…Is a fetus living or not? You can get into the science of the whole issue, but I think that the issue is simple and the American people know in their heart that abortion is wrong. Look at it this way… FACT- a fetus develops a heart beat around 25 days of pregnancy. Now how many women out there knew they were pregnant at three weeks, and even if they did by the time they made the decision to have an abortion and then schedule an abortion they would be well beyond 25 days of pregnancy. Now I can’t tell you what to believe or think, but if something has a heartbeat I would say there is a good chance that it is alive!!
My point is not to argue abortion but to point out insanity that is going on in our nation. “I’m a vegan, I don’t eat meat, that might hurt the animals but it’s ok to harm an unborn child.” In America we shouldn’t have to deal with consequences of our actions, we can just kill them.” Are you kidding me??? How can we grow and learn from our mistakes if we never suffer any of the consequences from them? We have turned into a nation that is for everything and against nothing.
Now, you may think I’m insane for letting this issue be the deciding factor in who will receive my vote and that’s ok. I can’t tell you what to believe think or feel but if you are undecided you may need to sit down as I did and think about who you are and what you believe in before you fulfill your civil duty of voting. This isn’t a decision I take lightly nor should anyone. Ideally I thought it would be great to have an African American president, and unlike McCain who is a little dry and boring, Obama has charisma, but I can’t let charisma or the lack there of decide who will hold the reigns of our great nation. Before you go to the polls on Nov. 4th don’t leave your values at the door, think about who you are and what you truly believe in and then cast your vote with pride, knowing that your vote will be counted and it is in line with you inner most values and beliefs!