I Want To Be A Republican

I Want To Be A Republican.

I want fiscal responsibility to be an important part of American politics. I want small government that focuses on protecting and encouraging growth for all citizens. I want to be a Republican.

When Abraham Lincoln saw the hypocrisy of a nation who's founding principles included the equality of all men he decided to stand up for what we all should believe in. I want to be a Repulican.

When Richard Nixon saw the evil of fighting an un-winnable ideology war and that the means did not justify the ends, he ran as an anti-war candidate. I want to be a Republican.

Where is the Republican who will stand up against the evil war that is taking place in Iraq right now? Where is the Republican who will say that this war is a lie based upon a lie? There weren't any terrorists with WMD willing to act against the U.S. in Iraq. There ARE in other countries but not Iraq. What happened to Republican prudence? Needless violence is the reason why I can't be a Republican.

I am an American Buddhist and a recovering catholic and there is no way I can support any politician who condones capital punishment. Many old testament Christians, who like to forget about the legacy and teachings of Jesus Christ, believe that capital punishment is justified in the Bible. The irony is that Jesus Christ was capitally punished to death by the Romans and the Jews. Jesus specifically and numerously spoke against capital punishment and only the blind Christians like Pat Robertson forget it. Capital punishment kills innocent and usually poor black and white people. It only causes more problems for society to deal with: the dead father, mother, son, brother, and friend. I can't be a Republican.

Many American Christians find it easy to justify war. The act of war is the closest humans can come to evil and Satan himself. War only begets more and more violence and it has never solved any problems, it has only created more. Yet American Christians still think war in Iraq is the right thing to do mostly because they don't fully understand who they've sent our poor off to fight. War destroys human relationship and penalizes the poor and the hungry on both sides. The war in Iraq has not solved one problem it has only created 101,200 more problems for the father and mother, brother and sister, friend and family member of those who have been killed, injured and maimed. I can't be a Republican.

George W. Bush's win in 2004 was not the beginning of the end for Democrats, it was the beginning of the end for Republicans. George W. Bush won by the smallest majority of any President in the history of the United States. That is not a mandate and it is not indicative of the need by Democrats to radically alter their image so that it appears like they represent values. The democratic party has always been the party of values and principle.

Why won't those in the Republican party understand that the battle that is taking place today is one against extremism and fundamentalism and you don't have to be a Muslim to be guilty of it.

I want fiscal responsibility. I want equality for all men. I want prudence and I want peace. I want to be a Republican.

"My concern is not whether God is on our side, but whether we are on God's side."