Mike's musings

The United States of America

Citizens of this country vote, as I'm sure you all know, for a new president of their country today. The United States of America is a great country, a noble country, an inspirational country. It is a powerful country, a dangerous country, and a broken country.

It is, like all countries, a reflection on the humanity of its citizens. It is not a perfect country. It is not a blessed country. It is not God's chosen country. This is true because God has chosen all of us. We are God's chosen people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood.

Every citizen of every country has a duty to their country, and, I would argue, to God - as expressed through their relationship with every fellow human whose life they touch. Which is every person on God's Earth.

We are all redeemed. And we have a responsibilities that accrue from that. One of those responsibilities is to vote: thoughtfully, prayerfully and hopefully.

I don't care who you vote for. But please vote.

Amen.

Labels: god, responsibility

No delight in death

They killed Saddam Hussein overnight. It was a legally and politically justified decision, I'm sure, but I can't take delight in it. I'm absolutely opposed to the death penalty, even when the guilt of the accused is without doubt, and the crimes are horrifying. But I struggle, struggle with the taking of a life - even in war, but yet more in situations such as this. I can't see that we have the right - I, at least, couldn't take it on myself, and I'm glad that our nation does not practice the death penalty, because as a citizen, I would be party to it.

Went to Digi's 2nd birthday party today: his parents are Tosha and Nik. Lots of people, and Jo had a good time, as did we. A really nasty drive back home - seriously bid rain and surface water on the road for much of it. Couldn't go above 35 for much of it. Money's not good at the moment. Heigh-ho. And I've got a nasty throat. If that's all we've got to complain about, though...

Labels: death, illness, money, party, responsibility