Changing my tune....

So, today I have spent the day doing something that many of you (if there is still a "you") may find odd -- I canvassed my town for a candidate in the Democratic primary being voted on tomorrow. Not only did I do this, but I have actually already voted (in Indiana we have "early voting") ahead of the primary tomorrow.

Many of you will find this incredibly odd since I have previously posted that I did not vote. If you read why I said I would not vote, you'll see that I took this view because I thought the political system in the U.S. was fundamentally flawed -- that certain people were excluded from conversation just because they did not fit the right profile. (Contrary to what some respondents to the post said, it was not for theological reasons that I said this). Now, I still think that the system is flawed, but I think that with the current election we can see a fundamental difference in the campaign. This is most obvious with the fact that two of the candidates are from traditionally oppressed groups - women and African-Americans, not to mention that the African-American has a name that rhymes with "Osama".

Now, I voted for Barack Obama. I have canvassed for him. I have done this because in what I have read about him, what I have heard from his lips, and from what my wife told me in meeting him (yes, my wife met him at an invitation only event - I was invited but was unfortunately out of town when I got the invite), he actually stands for change. I can also say this because I have paid attention to him since his time in the Senate when I was an Illinois citizen. He has not taken money from lobbyists, has pushed for being ethical, and hasn't capitulated to some of the "crap" that necessarily comes with politics -- primarily, right now being his stand against doing away with the gas tax.

So, I voted for Obama. I didn't do it because I'm a Christian (although I'd argue that he is the candidate that falls "most" in line with my Christianity), but because I actually want to see something change in America. Other candidates have not actually looked for this. So, not only do I hope Obama wins, I actually voted for him and worked to ensure he wins.

Peace.