both political and non-political ramblings.

so i have never been interested in politics before in my entire life. i remember the first time i voted, i voted for bush... and i don't even remember what year it was. why did i vote for bush? i honestly couldn't tell you. i knew nothing about his values and i didn't even know that he was the son of a former president! i still don't know anything about him, except for that i helped put him in office - and, now i obviously do know that he was the son of a former president. nonetheless, i'm pretty sure the only incentive i had for voting for him is because my parents did and because all of my friends did.
now, i know everyone is aware that is NOT a valid reason. it's a ridiculous reason.
looking back on my teenage years, i honestly do not think i had one original belief. all of my beliefs were based on others' views. how silly is that? but, in my defense, i didn't know any better. that's what i thought life was all about. that's what i thought made me who i was... other people defined me because other people knew better than i did. is that true? maybe, at the time.
going AWAY to college could not have been a better decision. I emphasize the word "away" because when i was at home going to college, everything stayed the same. the person i am today is because i left home. i'm not saying that all of my beliefs changed when i left home. in fact, many of them stayed the same. but i now i know why i believe.
at first, being away scared me. going to classes and being around a church atmosphere that i was not used to made me feel overwhelmed. i struggled to hold on to my [and by my, i mean others'] former point of view. it was confusing sometimes to hear other side of issues that i thought i was so grounded in. i wont lie, at one point i was even questioning God's existence [YES! at a CHRISTIAN school!]. but don't be worried for me. i did not question it long. i learned that it can be a good thing to question your faith. at least, it was good for me. i remember having long conversations with jed [whom i love SO MUCH because he gave me such great insight] and also with my mom [who encouraged me to find out things for myself]. i studied the bible about beliefs i had but couldn't back up or explain. and i found answers. sometimes i didn't though, and i got extremely frustrated. even now, there are some things that are so unexplainable i can't even think about it without wanting to throw something. but then i have to realize: is it worth it? does it even matter why i can't understand why God did some things in the bible? it doesn't change who God is. He is still God and will always be there. Jesus still came to earth - it's a historical fact. and He still died for me and rose from the grave 3 days later. and that's what's important.
but anyhow. back to politics.
this year, i still didn't care about who became our president. i can't tell you why i didn't care.
but now... all of a sudden, i do. i started to learn a little more. people kept asking me who i was voting for, and being at LU, i of course would cause a stink if i even hesitated before answering "MCCAIN!"
i actually told a lot of people i wasn't going to vote because i couldn't make an informed decision. which i think it actually wise. i want to be able to know what i'm voting for, and i didn't care to do the research; hence, no vote. to my LU peers: shocking.
but as thus election is getting closer, and at the urging of jerry jr., i began to get a little more curious about the candidates.
there are way too many aspects to consider when picking someone to run a country.
i'll give my view on a couple things:

education - i want my kid to be smart! and in no way will i be able to provide them with that luxury without sending them to a good school. but in palatka? puh-lease. :)
but wait. i'm NOT going to homeschool? nope. not unless i feel my child is in extreme danger by going to a public school. i think kids are going to do what they're going to do.
for example, take a look at my life:
my parents homeschooled me and my brother.
i was the good kid (not always, but most of the time), my brother was the bad kid (and i think he would agree).
we were both raised the same way, and we both turned out differently.
i understand that by homeschooling my children i can protect them from A LOT of things, but i cannot shelter them forever. i can only give my child a firm foundation and hope to God they will build upon it.
so anyway, from what i understand, education is a bigger issue with the democrats than the republicans. and while i think it is really important, i don't think it's something i value more than... oh, i don't know... a HUMAN BEING. which brings me to my next topic:

abortion - life begins at conception. i have no doubt about it. that a mother would even consider killing her baby because "she's not ready" is pure selfishness. own up to what you did and face the consequences, you idiot. sheesh.
i understand there are other aspects. pregnancy from rape. i totally understand that. it's really traumatizing. and i wouldn't blame a girl for wanting to get rid of that reminder. but guess what. she's never going to forget about it, even if she gets rid of the baby inside of her. getting rid of the baby isn't getting rid of the memory. it's still a person, and it still has every right to live as we do.
abortion is something i am very much against. and even though i know that whichever candidate becomes president, it's still going to exist - whether legally or illegally, i would still find that a lot more important than improving our education.

taxes - i really don't care. i pay it, everyone does, and it STINKS. and plus i think people who work for the government get paid way too much anyway. SAVE SOME OF THAT MONEY. do they really need all of it? [patoowy] [that was me spitting].

i think i had a lot of other issues i wanted to cover, but i really an getting tired of typing. maybe i'll continue this another day.
but wait, who am i voting for?
mccain.
why?
because i like his attitude and some of our values line up - the ones i consider the most important at least. even though he CHEATED on his first wife... the doofus.
obama is a good public speaker. and he would probably make a good president. but i'm not voting for him.
why?
because i think he's a little snotty. and i saw this video that made me REALLY not like him.
and these things may not be the best reasons... but they are mine. and i feel they are valid.

THE END.