Obama embraces the ideals of America

Submitted by Atheist Australian (Australia), Aug 23, 2008 at 10:34

I am a white Australian and I am an atheist. And I think that people who are trying to discredit Obama from the Presidency are not using the color of his skin, which these days is very inappropriate and no critic of his would like to be labeled a racist, so instead they attempt to discredit him for his past/present religious beliefs.

If I had been born in the USA, would you vote for me for President given that I am an atheist even though I was raised a Catholic and went to Catholic school? Does it matter which God you believe in, or don't, isn't it more important that you cherish the way of life you live in?

I think that most white Americans feel uncomfortable with the prospect of having a Black man for President. Isn't it time that the people of the United States of America started to vote with respect of the wishes of the Founding Fathers and Mothers of the American Revolution? In that regardless of a candidate's religous background, color of skin, ethnic background or political party, if they have the qualifications and the support of their political party, and most important the support of the American People then he or she deserves to be President.

Obama has served his country as a Democrat for years, and he is also younger than McCain. Obama could serve three terms and still retire from the Presidency a comparatively younger man. I still recall the late Republican President Ronald Reagan falling asleep during State functions. What is needed is for a younger man with a fresh perspective on world problems to lead the United States in what is likely to be the most turbulent years ahead, with expected global interruptions in the oil supply due to growing demand from growing economies such as India's and China's.

The Western World needs to deal with the Middle East with peaceful diplomacy instead of at the point of a gun. Obama is a follower of the late President John F Kennedy in believing in the Peace Corps as an alternative to the military, for serving one's country.

I think that Obama is the best hope the United States of America has to bring a peaceful conclusion to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He possibly understands the Muslim way of thinking far better than any other presidential candidate and this quality will be an asset to the Office of President.

Obama clearly loves his country and will defend the American way of life that has given him an excellent education and a distinguished political career, and protects his right to practise whatever religion he wishes without fear of persecution. Like any other American, I have no doubt that Obama has a sore spot over 9/11, in which people of many faiths including Muslims died when the two World Trade Center Towers collapsed, and will not hesitate or flinch in using American military force to defend his country if threatened by any terrorist groups or foreign powers.

Perhaps it would be worth pointing out that in the American armed forces there are Muslim Americans who are fighting and dying side by side with their Christian American, Jewish American, Buddhist American and Atheist American brothers-in-arms to protect America against terrorism. They are defending the American way of life because even though they may be of the Muslim faith, they are also at heart Americans who respect the American Constitution they have sworn to uphold, that guarantees their religious rights, something few other countries have had the courage to put in writing.

And before anyone criticises Obama's lack of military service, remember the former Democrat President Bill Clinton; he never served in the military either. The current president George W. Bush may have served in the military, but he was exempt from serving in Vietnam, so he never did actually experience war.

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