Red Herrings

Along with almost everyone else in the U.S., (actually, probably everyone in developed countries around the world), I am sick of the political frenzy we've been hearing, seeing, eating, and sleeping for the past several months. It really seems that the closer the election gets, the more frantic anything surrounding the elections becomes. And the more I turn off the T.V., toss the newspaper without even a glance, and put my fingers in my ears and sing when I hear anything political coming. If you are like me in this respect, then I suggest skipping this post...scroll down a few and enjoy something else. However, if you want to hear what I have to say, then keep reading.

This election year, more than any other, I feel that we've seen countless "red herrings" tossed into the political arena. For those who may not remember 9th grade English, according to Wikipedia, "a red herring is a narrative element intended to distract the reader from a more important event in the plot." Meaning that there are many media-focused issues which, in my opinion, are completely non-issues. Red herrings include topics such as how much a candidates clothing cost and where the clothes came from, previous voting records, lack of experience, and too much experience. Race, gender, and even various environmental, fiscal, and tax policies are also red herrings in my opinion. I realize many people won't agree with me on this idea, but that's the beauty of being able to state your own opinion on your own blog.

The election comes down to only two issues for me this year. First of all, I know that one particular candidate supports partial-birth abortion. This stance is in direct conflict with the doctrine of the LDS Church, which doctrine I fully support and know to be true. I cannot support a candidate whose views about the sanctity of life are so opposite what my core beliefs are. Along these same lines, this same candidate is also in favor of same-sex marriage. Never in the history of the LDS Church have the leaders come out so strongly opposed to any issue on the ballot. The LDS Church throughout my life has consistently stated their political neutrality and encourages members of their church to both be informed and participate in the political process. Because of their historical neutrality, taking a firm stand on the issue of same-sex marriage is a major deal. This is the second reason I cannot vote for this particular candidate--once again, it is completely against my core beliefs.

These two issues often seem to be buried under all the red herrings being tossed around--and to me, these are the most important issues because they are directly doctrinally based. Granted, the other issues can, in some cases, be linked to the religious doctrines I espouse. However, no other issues are so black and white when you connect the stated doctrine with the professed policies.