Values, Faith and Perspective

To say that religion doesn’t play a role when voting for a candidate is simply not true.

It doesn’t matter if you are voting for a certain candidate based on your religious or moral beliefs, or because of your lack of those beliefs. The truth is that it does play a part in your decision. This is because in recent times we have publicly made elections about character and values. The fact that we sit and debate which candidate is more experienced is blatant proof of this fact. We are choosing a candidate based on their values, and how closely those values relate to ours.

We know that our religious faiths play a significant role on how we view the world. Therefore, when we vote we will be voting with a candidate that reflects those views.

It is important that we do not vote only on our ideals of morals, faith, and religion. In our country we are set up so that there is a division of church in state. This division is a great strength to our constitution. So when we vote we are voting on issues that are in no way related to our ideas of right and wrong, we have to be looking at the overall well being of our country.

We need to learn to look at how we choose a candidate from a different perspective.

It doesn’t matter if a candidate lives their life by the same “morals” that I do. It does however matter that they view our government’s role in this country in a similar way to me.

The difference is perspective.

It is important when listening to a candidate speak that we listen to see how they view the world, and if that view is similar to our own. Then we can be assured that not only do we agree with their policies, but hopefully they will make future decisions that we will favor.

Tags: Leah Valencia

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This entry was posted on Thursday, October 16th, 2008 at 1:22 pm and is filed under Citizen Journalists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “Values, Faith and Perspective”

1. Not so Religious, But keeping the faith Says:
   March 3rd, 2009 at 1:46 pm

   Dearest Leah,

   I have to be a little disappointed with your article. Though excited with how passionate and involved you are to keep “New Mexico in focus,” I have to question your research and whether or not your focus may be misunderstood.

   You state in this article that, “in recent times we have publicly made elections about character and values. The fact that we sit and debate which candidate is more experienced is blatant proof of this fact.” Has the issue of such character and values really been so recent? Many of our nation’s elected officials left a pulpit for political office, and such is true in the early days of NM history (just to keep things in focus). And does America (or New Mexico for that matter) really “sit and question” our candidate’s experience? Certainly not. In retrospect, we now see that New Mexico (on all levels of governing) cast their ballots for the younger, less experienced candidates (…with the exception of the whole Palin/Biden thing…). Even looking at our presidential candidates, regardless of who voted for whom, did not McCain have more experience than Obama? Did the story of a war-veteran who was captured during military service by the enemy, tortured and had his limbs broken, and then turned down an offer to return to the US because the rest of his troops wouldn’t be able to come with him not exude “character”, patriotism, and “value”? Not to say that Obama has no character or values. Passionate stories of how he was raised and hard work should instill such in one’s life. But… were those really the conversations people were having? I think not… perhaps conversations were about who is going to end unwanted war, restore jobs to a failing economy and fight global warming.

   With all that said, I must say yes, people vote for those whom they either agree with… or identify with. Again, post election, many studies show that there were a great number of voters (for both Barack, and Johnny McC) that had no clue about ANY of their policies, values, or hopes.

   You later state that “In our country we are set up so that there is a division of church in state. This division is a great strength to our constitution.” …Where is the separation of church and state in the constitution… because I can’t find it.

   That section is followed by your leading into a proposition of governmental policy rising above the importance of social morality. I get it. Props. But lets consider how morality currently weighs in. America, with all of its diversity, almost 250 years of evolution, Our country still puts some faith in some deity existing, somewhere. All varied religious faiths (judeo-christian, protestant, catholics, muslims and hindus) are best cultivated in governments that support a stronger local government where the individuals and groups can be in control/held accountable, have their say. However, the US has booted any idea of God out of most public places. Since the summer of love in 67′ and in the years leading up to such, there has been an uprising of not so much, an “anti-god”, mentality… rather a, “God is there but nothing really matters”. And who cares anymore? In reality, do christians still confine themselves to the four walls of a church and do all of their ranting and raving there? Do jews, muslims, and hindus step out and demand social change and political authority by the masses in the US, outside of their synagogues, mosques, and temples? No. They don’t. And the few that do are surrounded by those who think similarly, but they have not the power of the masses to support them. Thus, they too are insignificant politically.

   Faith has become a mentality in our nation, no longer a moral standard or belief. In regards to government, as long as the political candidate recognizes some sort of diety to exist, Americans say, “okay, put’m on the ballot.”

   The point of my comment is by no means to bring you down. I admire your continual work and find you one of NMIF’s best writers. I’d just suggest that you consider the magnitude of what you write, and the legitimacy of such. Your thoughts are much welcomed. Keep writing!

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