Who I will not be voting for this November

I have not been asked as yet, who I will be voting for this November.  However, I can answer by stating who I am not voting for and why.  Martin Luther King asked us to “judge a man by the quality of his character”.  Character is defined as moral or ethical strength or perhaps a description of a person's attributes, traits, or abilities. So, considering that character matters greatly in a president; here is how I formed my decision of who not to vote for.

I am not a one issue voter.  I am not an evangelical Christian.  I have never taken a stand on abortion – one way or the other and have actually kept my personal thoughts to myself regardless of my churches’ position.  I would however, consider myself a good, reasonable, open minded and compassionate man.

I have heard that one of the presidential candidates spoke against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, which protects babies who are born alive after a failed abortion.  In addition this presidential candidate quietly killed an identical bill in the state committee he chaired.

So, I come back to the issue of abortion, an issue that divides this country.  It is an issue where I can understand positions on each side.  It is an issue where I would not attempt to press my own personal beliefs.  I understand that when there is an abortion – a pregnancy is ended.  Some will say a life is ended.  Others will say only a pregnancy is ended.  Thus is stated the great divide on this issue.

But, what does a morale person do – when that abortion results in a fetus, a baby, who lives?  How can a person of moral or ethical strength do nothing?  Therefore – does a person who says, “Do Nothing” display their character?  What does doing nothing in this situation and letting a living being die say about that person’s attributes, traits or abilities?  I believe it speaks volumes.

As I was writing this, I had a dear friend stop by.  I asked her if she knew who she was not voting for in this next election.  She quickly said yes.  I never asked her who – I just asked her how she determined her decision.  She said, it was based on the answer to one key question – which was, “Who has the CHARACTER to be the next Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States?”       Wow, there is that word again.

PURPLE SAGE OF ARIZONA

June 4, 2008