A Generation of Change

I wrote this on my facebook, and I figured I might as well go ahead and post it on blogspot. So here it is...

With all of the events going on in the upcoming election, the subject of change has been a major conversation topic. Most people are looking for a president who will make many changes and alterations in our nation so, naturally, that's what our candidates are offering. Particularly in Barack Obama's campaign, we see the constant emphasis put on this idea of change. If you drive five minutes down the road you will see at least one sign or bumper sticker that says something along the lines of Change: Obama 2008. If you turn on the tv and watch one of his speeches you will constantly hear the term change thrown around. McCain also offers a form a change, but does not really model his campaign after it as much as Obama. I am in agreance with the fact that change is a major thing our country needs, but is any change necesarily a good change?

If you look throughout history, you will see how things are going one particular way for a while until suddenly something goes wrong. Then the people either get angry or get bored with the way things are going so they want something new. Every time, somebody comes along claiming that they can offer this change, and so everyone bends over to let this person step right in. Sadly, through this, we get people like Hitler and Stalin in charge. Its strange and kinda sad to think about the fact that Hitler was ELECTED into office, but its true. People are constantly misguided and are really only told what they want to hear. I'm not saying this because I believe that any of our political candidates are going to be like Hilter, I'm just saying it to point out the incredible dangers any time someone is put in office.

Sometimes I think that people forget we are a mixed government, and entirely too often I think people dont realize that because we are a mixed government our president only has one third of the power. Through our three different branches of government, there a checks and balances to keep all of the powers in line. The President of the United States doesn't even have the right to wage or declare war, yet when we are in a war which people feel are illegitimate, he is the one blamed. Because the president doesn't have unlimited power, half the things our candidates are promising to do are next to impossible. So now back to my original point: this idea of change. I whole-heartily believe that change is a great thing as long as the right changes are made. I have this terrible feeling that we are headed down the road to socialism. Our candidates would never use the term, but when you are trying to put government programs into everything, that's what's going to happen. This is not the kind of change we need. The change we need is to take a few steps back, or maybe more than a few. We need to take it back to the way it was supposed to be, when our Independence was declared and our Constitution was originally written. THAT is the change that I believe is needed.

And you may say that back then people didn't care about the poor and needy because we didn't have any government aid that, to put it bluntly, robs from the rich to give to the poor. Well, this is where the real change comes in. YOU can be the change, not your government. YOU can help the poor and needy, not your government. YOU can reach out to those in need in ways that your government cannot. YOU can give love and affection that no government system can or ever will be able to give. The government can raise taxes on the wealthy and give that money to the poor, but where is the love? It's non-existant. Somehow, I have this strange feeling that God really doesn't care much about works without love. I think I may have read that somewhere...I don't know...maybe the Bible? Yes, I believe that was it. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." I've used this verse as a reference to this very issue before because I think it fits so perfectly. Why can't we just stand up and be the change? Why do we have to rely on government funds that, in the end, are meaningless?

I hate using those cliche' sayings that everyone has listed under their favorite quotes on facebook, but I think the best way to sum it up is by saying "Be the change you want to see in the world". My point in all of this is that if you want to see change, then you can get out there and do something about it. The truth is we are living in a era of change, and I don't know about you but I want it to be the right kind of change. I want it to be an affective change, and one that lasts. I don't want this great change to be our nation going even more millions of dollars into debt, I want it to be a change of outreach, a change of care and of compassion. Sadly, I think we're heading opposite of this. And unfortunatly, I don't think we're ever going to get back to the basics. We are too divided, and everyone is headed in a million different directions with a million different hopes and dreams. But, maybe, if we can at least come together with the midset of helping others then we may get somewhere someday. But either way, I do believe we are living in a generation of change, and whether that is a good change or a bad change is up to us. So maybe the change we need doesn't lie in the hands of John McCain or Barack Obama. Maybe it lies upon us, the citizens of the United States of America. What will you do to make things right?

Any thoughts or comments?

~*Elizabeth