POLITICS (poop sauce) - A word that describes anything that is void of Honesty or Integrity!

Okay, I admit it. I used to love politics. I actually would watch the Fox News channel for at least 3 hours a day. I knew all the issues. You might say I was a freedom fighter for the Republican party. Defending the Right with whatever hurtful, personal cuts and slams I could think of to crush the bleeding hearts into oblivion. Trust me, I was well armed with all the evidence (or as some may call it "propaganda") to fight against the liberal way of thinking. But then something happened. I can't quite explain it. Maybe it was divine intervention or possibly just a granola bar and apple I had to snack on for a change. Whatever it was, it opened my eyes to what politics was really all about. I continue to change as I grow older and with that has come a different perspective on politics. That perspective is.... IT SUCKS!! I used to believe that everything Republicans stood for was what Jesus was all about. Liberals were sent to do Satan's work and Republicans were sent to do the mighty work of the Lord. Boy, was I wrong. Somewhere, God opened my eyes to lies I had been told. I became concerned with things like honesty and love. How to live as Christ lived. To love our enemies and care for those who persecute us. Since these things became important to me, I couldn't help but notice how disgusting politics are. Suddenly, everyone I saw on TV were hypocrites, saying whatever needed to be said to gain the votes of the public. I realized that what I had thought to be important was actually just a game in which two people deceive as many people as possible and the one with the most followers, wins. Where was the honesty, the integrity? I guess it is much easier to fool the masses than one person who knows who you are.

I think what hurt the most was that nobody cares. Politicians are only concerned about themselves, their agendas, their families, their issues, their financial stability, their religion, their lives. Why is it that we spend so much time, energy, and money on arguing over Space, war, terrorism, gay marriage, immigration control, when we could be helping so many people who need love and care here in our country and overseas. I think it is because we are fueled by hate. The issues that we fight about, the greed that we covet. Everything we find to be important is based on hatred, whether it is toward an ideal or a person. Like the cartoon above, hatred is everywhere and it causes us to be blinded to the opportunities to love those around us regardless of political views. Michael Moore is a good example. Instead of helping those less fortunate with his money and time, he spends it on bashing others with opposing views and spreading hatred against individuals. This is why I am determined to steer clear of political banter. It only fuels hatred. On the other side, Bono, the lead singer of U2, is spending his time and money with the hurting people of Africa who are suffering from starvation and Aids. He is striving to make this aware to the public and bring this concern to Congress. Though it may not do any good on a political level, I feel hope again by what Bono is doing. He realizes the need to love others and show Christ to the world. His concern is not who is the president of the U.S., or whether conservative views are being pushed on us, or how to stop liberal views from spreading through our schools to our children. His concern is how can he love those who not only need financial help, but need to see that someone out there cares about them and wants to be in their lives and help them. My prayer is that we all stop next time it seems easy to get caught up in a political discussion that turns out to be so meaningless. But that our concern would be for individuals and their hearts. I hope that we would be motivated to live as Christ lived and show compassion to the hurting and lost. Were all going to die one day. Christ is the only thing that matters. The rest of this shit is going to burn.