The Difference Between Values and Change: Article from Local Newspaper
Thursday, October 30, 2008
I wrote this in April. Seems like ages ago. The topic resurfaces every time I see a political add. I was happy they printed it and now I will post it as the election draws near.
The Difference Between Values and Change
Change. It starts with C and ends with E, with the word "hang" in the middle.
I am hanging, hanging on to dying expectations. Change sounds intriguing, but I am not convinced of the ideologies of some of the candidates touting it.
What's a nice, middle-class conservative with strong religious ties to the evangelical world doing looking over the fence at the "other" party? The quest for something remarkable implores me to sneak behind my pastor's back and listen to the opposing party's conversation.
My old party, although nicely aligned with my belief system on paper, presently leaves me unfulfilled. I find myself enticed, eerily similar to the scene in a famous Garden thousands of years ago.
"Don't eat of this tree," cries the small voice in my head. "Think of the principles you hold near and dear," whispers my conscience.
Everywhere I see the word "change" trumpeted. But what makes that word more fashionable this year than the word "values" four years ago? Do my personal politics need the same remedy as my wardrobe, a visit from the TLC network's Stacy and Clinton (not the one running for the White House)?
Which has changed, tastes or tolerance? From freedom of speech to erotica during prime time TV, the old precepts no longer prevail. Since the rules of conduct differ from street corner to street corner, how will a country consisting of 300 million people ever agree on acceptable levels of debt, let alone the right to kill a fetus?
If I use the ability to affect change as my litmus test this November, which candidate will produce the real deal and which will employ the proverbial smoke and mirrors?
Currently my vote hangs somewhere between hope and fear. Hope that the country will embrace values over change and fear that no one knows the difference.
Peace,
Caroline
The Difference Between Values and Change
Change. It starts with C and ends with E, with the word "hang" in the middle.
I am hanging, hanging on to dying expectations. Change sounds intriguing, but I am not convinced of the ideologies of some of the candidates touting it.
What's a nice, middle-class conservative with strong religious ties to the evangelical world doing looking over the fence at the "other" party? The quest for something remarkable implores me to sneak behind my pastor's back and listen to the opposing party's conversation.
My old party, although nicely aligned with my belief system on paper, presently leaves me unfulfilled. I find myself enticed, eerily similar to the scene in a famous Garden thousands of years ago.
"Don't eat of this tree," cries the small voice in my head. "Think of the principles you hold near and dear," whispers my conscience.
Everywhere I see the word "change" trumpeted. But what makes that word more fashionable this year than the word "values" four years ago? Do my personal politics need the same remedy as my wardrobe, a visit from the TLC network's Stacy and Clinton (not the one running for the White House)?
Which has changed, tastes or tolerance? From freedom of speech to erotica during prime time TV, the old precepts no longer prevail. Since the rules of conduct differ from street corner to street corner, how will a country consisting of 300 million people ever agree on acceptable levels of debt, let alone the right to kill a fetus?
If I use the ability to affect change as my litmus test this November, which candidate will produce the real deal and which will employ the proverbial smoke and mirrors?
Currently my vote hangs somewhere between hope and fear. Hope that the country will embrace values over change and fear that no one knows the difference.
Peace,
Caroline
