I am a Christian, an American and a Republican—in that order. It is through this progression that I determine how to vote.
As a Christian, I follow the Proverb that says “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” As an American, I value the rule of law and the beauty of the United States Constitution.
As a Republican, it all comes down to this great line when President Lincoln referred to the United States as “…a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Therefore, I celebrate that over time, women and people of color have gotten the right to vote.
In pondering the issue of racism, I think of when Morgan Freeman was asked about how to end it and he said “Stop talking about it. I’m going to stop calling you a white man. And I’m going to ask you to stop calling me a black man.” I have always been taught the immense value of other people, regardless of their skin tone, and having been active in the Party for over a year now, I believe that a vast majority of the Republicans I know would share that sentiment.
As a candidate for local office, I was endorsed by the GOP among many other men, women, people of many races and even some of other religions. The Republican party is made up of many unique and amazing people.
Secondly, under that same proposition, I believe that every child has the right to live. I believe it is no different than the blood on our hands from the institution of slavery to sit around while 60,000,000 children have been aborted since Roe v. Wade was ruled.
Why this is an issue for me is that taxpayers in part have been forced to fund this horrendous enterprise. Imagine the government collecting taxes, giving it to slave owners and then saying “Oh, we want to ensure that the plantations are cleaner and healthier.” You wouldn’t believe that for a second. This isn’t a matter of the lesser of two evils—as a Christian I believe abortion must end.
And just in case we think that people who are against it are uncompassionate, consider what side effects the American Pregnancy Association warns of: “Regret, Anger, Guilt, Shame, Sense of loneliness or isolation, Loss of self confidence, Insomnia or nightmares, Relationship issues, Suicidal thoughts and feelings, Eating disorders, Depression, Anxiety” I hope we can get past this rhetoric that pro-lifers somehow want to subjugate women. I never want a woman, as a daughter of the King, to have to experience the horrors associated with this.
Lastly, I believe that living out our National Motto “In God We Trust” should be something that we are unashamed of, and if we truly trust in God, our country would turnaround overnight.
By: Kyle Hermann is a senior history major.
Grace Gaines