I have observed over these last 7+ years during the Bush presidency, a level of vitriol and hatred for the man who holds the highest office that must surely be unprecedented. Of course, there are times when I have questioned his judgment in certain areas. There have been times that I have wondered if he's got it right. And there are times I'm pretty sure that he messed up. But amidst it all, I have felt SO perplexed when I have seen how much democratic pundits and others hate this man with all their might. They are so vicious in their personal attacks and mockery, and I have never been able to identify with it or to get it at all. Even during the Bill Clinton years, when I hung my head in shame at the defiling of the Oval Office, I still held a certain respect for said office. And I could watch and/or listen to Mr. Clinton speak at times, and I say to myself, "yeah, I totally get why some folks would love this guy." I saw the charisma. I saw the appeal to a certain degree. And after Katrina, when Clinton and Bush41 teamed up to appeal for help, I felt pride in our system.
After one of the debates, early on in this Primary season, I remember they had the Republicans debate first, and then there was a break before all the Democratic candidates came out. (Remember, this was back when there were like 740 people running for President! ha!) During that break, whichever network was hosting (don't remember) asked that all the candidates from both parties come out and greet one another. Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit this, but I watched that scene of them all shaking hands so cordially with each other.....political "enemies" as it were....and I actually shed a few tears. In that moment, I felt proud of our system. It didn't matter that I identified so much more strongly with one party than the other. I just thought how awesome it is that we change hands in our government and there is no bloodshed. There is no civil war. There is no rioting in the streets. That makes me proud to be an American.
I've done a lot of rambling up to this point, I know. I'm trying to work this to a cohesive conclusion, I promise. I've said all of this to say that I am afraid of what I feel when I consider that Barack Obama could really be our next President. I hear talk of the "pride" that all Americans should feel that we reached this "milestone" by having a black nominee. What's wrong with me? I feel no pride whatsoever. Give me a nominee worthy of the office, and I'll cheer regardless if he (or she) is purple, blue or green. My gut reaction when I hear this man speak is so intensely negative that I wonder if I would be able to hold the same respect for the "office in spite of the man" that I've always believed in. Will I be like one of those that I have judged in such perplexity? Will I be so blinded by my dislike of him that I can't support him at all? Will I be able to pray for him daily as I do our current President with the same ease and sentiment? Yes, I hope I never have to find out the answer to these questions! But I worry about these things.
And yes, I know I'm not supposed to worry. That's why I need reminded: "We Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God."
Some trust in chariots
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
Some trust in horses
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
Chorus: We trust in the name of the Lord our God
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
His love never fails His name will always prevail
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
Some trust in the works they do
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
'Cause by His grace all the work is through
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
Chorus Oh glory to the name The name of our salvation
Oh glory to the name above all names
The name of the Lord our God
Some trust in the wealth of things
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
The name worth more than anything
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
Chorus We trust in the name of the Lord our God
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
His love never fails His name will always prevail
We trust in the name of the Lord our
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
We trust in the name of the Lord our God
NOTE: I always thought of this as a Steve Green song, but as I searched the lyrics to share, I found this one is also written by Steven Curtis Chapman. SCC strikes again!
