When the stakes are high

Republican vice-presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin proclaims that drilling, mining and shredding Mother Earth to the core in her home state of Alaska is “God’s will.” In the video referenced below, she states, “Our greatest natural resource, of course, is our people.” Victorian Puritanical mindsets have declared for centuries that the Earth was created for humankind, and that humankind has dominion over her. Gov. Palin says, “I think God’s will has to be done in getting that (natural-gas) pipeline,” then encourages the audience to pray for that to happen.

Palin references her duty to ensure that police have “their cop cars, uniforms and guns,” … continuing, “We can work together to make sure God’s will is being done here.” It’s amazing how so many professed Christians claim to know precisely what God’s will is for planet Earth and for all humans, plants and animals that cohabit here.

Palin is seeking the second-highest position in American government, and could be one crucial heartbeat away from the presidency. She promotes war as an act of God. … Is war truly the will of God?

The Republican nominee espouses government-mandated, abstinence-only programs to be taught in America’s public-educational system, even when that teaching hasn’t worked in her own home. She vetoed legislation to provide government aid for teenage mothers in Alaska. She takes a no-exceptions, prolife, antichoice stance including cases of rape, and proposes a constitutional amendment to make all abortions illegal. Yet Palin’s advisors have publicly stated that keeping and having a child is a private family matter that ultimately became her daughter Bristol’s choice.

I am a follower of Jesus and cannot find these types of beliefs and proclamations in any of his teachings.

This is indeed a presidential election where the stakes are very high. Will we continue down the same path with these types of divisive, extreme, fundamentalist mindsets from the officials we elect to serve us, or will we break the cycle and move forward to courageous change?

I encourage you to watch this video: link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1766638341.

— Jeffrey L. Ray
Arden

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