Salt Lake Oil Spill

I know we should be moving right now, but instead we had a different moving experience this morning. We had a first-hand experience with the Salt Lake oil spill that took place this morning. The Red Butte stream flows just behind our ward house (the Garden Park ward). As soon as we walked on the premise we smelled the toxic odor of oil. As we stood on the bridge above the stream we saw fish after fish jumping out of the water. Micah and I retrieved a net from home and got six fish from the stream to the pond, where the water was still clean (our bishop closed off the flow to keep the pond clean). Unfortunately, the last one, and biggest, that we pulled out had died too soon to save him.

I know the music may be a little sappy, but it really was a sobering experience. Seeing the way it affected that one little part of the water really put into perspective how it will affect the valley, not to mention the catastrophic effect of the Gulf spill.



We must be better stewards of His creation. It was Adam's first command to " dress and take care" of the Garden, and I think it resides as one of our most important duties.

Elder Maxwell put it best: “The instructions to Adam and Eve about the garden earth … have not been rescinded. They were, and we are, to dress it-not destroy it. They were to take good care of it instead of abusing it. Our increasing interdependence on this planet makes some forms of individual selfishness the equivalent of a runaway personal bulldozer."

Neal A. Maxwell, That Ye May Believe (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1992), 75.

“True disciples … would be consistent environmentalists – caring both about maintaining the spiritual health of a marriage and preserving a rain forest; caring about preserving the nutrient capacity of a family as well as providing a healthy supply of air and water…. Adam and Eve were to “dress the garden,” not exploit it. Like them, we are to keep the commandments, so that we can enjoy all the resources God has given us, resources described as “enough and to spare” (D&C 104:17), if we use and husband them wisely."

Neal A. Maxwell, A Wonderful Flood of Light (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1990), 103.

Illegal Immigration

From Joseph Smith’s “Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States,” which summarized his political position when he was running for president:

“As to the contiguous territories to the United States, wisdom would direct no tangling alliance. . . and if Texas petitions Congress to be adopted among the sons of liberty, give her the right hand of fellowship, and refuse not the same friendly grip to Canada and Mexico . . . And when a neighboring realm petitioned to join the union of liberty's sons, my voice would be, Come--yea, come, Texas; come Mexico, come Canada; and come, all the world: let us be brethren, let us be one great family, and let there be a universal peace” (HC 6:206, 208-09, emphasis added).

A few years back, I was driving a friend of mine, an undocumented immigrant, home from a church activity. We were talking about immigration. He said, “Marshall, you’re lucky you’re white.” He’s right. I am lucky I’m white, and I’m lucky I’m American. But it shouldn’t be that way. I don’t know why I am entitled to so much more than someone born across the dotted line as determined by the prenatal lottery, or the “accident of one’s birth or race,” as Booker T. Washington called it. I don’t see why I’m entitled to more than those born into a country that is currently being ravaged by drug lords, gangs, kingpins and weapons dealers; who furthermore, may be unable to wade through the mountain of paperwork, have the finances or lack the education to pass an equivalency exam established by the American bureaucracy explicitly to make it extraordinarily difficult for one to gain "legal" entry into America.

I know quite a number of undocumented immigrants. I know them as hard-working, determined, grateful, loving, faithful people. I have heard them talk about their time walking through the steaming hot and icy cold Arizona desert with a prayer in their heart and guided by the Spirit. I have seen doctors and lawyers from Latin America working as house cleaners and painters in the United States in order to give their children a better education and a safer future.

These people bring us a rich culture. I have come to love their language, traditions, cuisine, and values. They value family, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.

And I have seen these families torn apart by hateful laws. Laws like Utah’s SB81 and Arizona’s SB1070 (not to mention other policies Arizona is implementing). For the purposes of this post, I will focus on SB1070. And as a disclaimer, I do realize that illegal immigration is a real issue that needs real answers. I simply don't think that this kind of bill is the right kind of solution.

I think this law hurts the Church, has no gospel foundation, tears apart families, and I disagree with many specific elements in the bill, as illustrated below.

The Church. This law will impede missionary work. It will give the Church negative associations because of the LDS legislator (Russell Pearce, R-Mesa) who sponsored the bill, and attempted to support it with his faith. The Church, under direction of the First Presidency, has addressed this issue, and they clearly are against such radical legislation. Considering the thousands of members here without legal status—including missionaries, branch presidents, bishops, and stake presidents—it is no surprise the Church takes the stand it does. How can anyone (to say nothing of a Mormon) feel that tearing a father away from his family is anything but reprehensible? We have a great deal of that in our own Mormon history, another reason it shocks me that this issue is so divisive. Sadly, this Mormon Arizona senator doesn't want to stop there.

The Gospel. Pearce sought to support his bill with Church doctrine, but I argue that Church doctrine does much more to defy the bill than support it. First of all, I've often found the "law of the land" corollary particularly weak. There was a time not so long ago when a Western country's leadership made it illegal to shelter a Jew. Closer to home we have our friend, Jim Crow. And closer still, in the 1830s there was a law enacted in Missouri making it legal to kill a Mormon (only repealed in 1978). The law can be a terrible agent for injustice when wielded by the wrong hands. It all depends on which side of it you happen to fall.

It is against our theology to turn away anyone for any reason. We can begin by looking at the God’s most basic law, the Law of Moses, that commands the Israelites to provide for strangers (in a time when boundaries, land, and laws were just as important as they are now) (Deuteronomy 24:19-21). The Lord also commands the Israelites to “love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19). And, incidentally, some translations, such as the NIV’s refer to these “strangers” as “foreigners.” The parallels between Americans and the Israels are clear. Christ’s higher teachings remind us that He is the stranger that needs peace and prosperity: “I was a stranger and ye took me in . . . inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:35, 40). He warns the Nephites that He will be a “swift witness . . . against those that . . . turn aside the stranger” (3 Nephi 24:5). Shortly after Alma established the Church, Mormon notes that “in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any . . . having no respect of persons as to those who stood in need” (Alma 1:30, emphasis added). And the Anti-Nephi-Lehites were commanded of the Lord to cross boundaries, enjoy the resources of their former enemies, and receive protection from them (Alma 27:12, 23). Nowhere in scripture does it talk about throwing them out of the country or tearing their families apart because of man made laws. Where much is given much is required (D&C 82:3). And we, as Americans, have been given much. We are only meant to have riches and abundance if we can bless others with them (Jacob 2:19).

While on that note, it is important to remember the role immigrants play in the last days. The Savior talked about this not once, but three times to the Nephites before leaving them (3 Nephi 16:13-15, 20:16-22, 21:12-24). I don’t know exactly how the remnant of the Jacob (the people of Latin America) will “tread down” and “tear to pieces” the Gentiles, but I know that I want to be on their side, because they are on the Lord’s side and they will build the New Jerusalem (3 Nephi 21:23-25). We will be blessed to be in their company and should learn to get along with them here and now.

The Bill. The following addresses specific parts of the bill with which I disagree.

Federal vs. State Authority. This is a federal issue. Lines 40-45 on page 1 of the bill give rights to police officers and federal agents to exchange information. This will keep the role of the police from fulfilling their duties. It will heighten fear and crime among immigrant populations and even those associated with immigrants. Ironically, the bill refers to law enforcement officers as “peace officers.” Breaking families apart, racial profiling, making people afraid to report crime and scaring people into hiding sounds like anything but peaceful to me, and certainly is not promoting the “universal peace” Joseph Smith sought. It’s no wonder some police officers are refusing to adhere to it, and others are speaking out against it.

Racial Profiling. One of the worst parts about this bill is the risk of the aforementioned racial profiling. Police officers have the authority to apprehend anyone “where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States” (Page 1, Lines 20-26). A friend passed onto me a message that he received from a friend who lives in Arizona. This SB1070 supporter has said to have had undocumented immigrant neighbors who have too many people living in their home and stay up all night partying. She also saw some purported undocumented immigrants in front of her in a grocery store, speaking Spanish and using food stamps. This person, while arguing on behalf of SB1070, gave evidence of the very concern the bill’s opposition continues to address: racial profiling. Like my friend astutely noted, I’m lucky I’m white. Even if I were here illegally, running an underground drugring, and made a habit of stealing identities and benefits from the American people, I would be safer than a brown man working his life out to provide for his family. There is certainly cause to believe the profiling that will accompany this law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Undocumented Criminals. Now the bill does talk about deporting those who have broken state or local law (Page 1, Lines 27-31). This is reasonable, mostly. If they are dangerous to our society, it makes sense to deport them. I would argue that the SB1070 should stipulate what crimes are cause for deportation. It’s one thing to speed and another to commit murder.

Undocumented Employees. The bill cracks down on undocumented immigrants who even “apply for work” (Page 5, Lines 14-17). It goes on to talk about what happens to employers, a process that is much more lenient and much more complicated. It’s do-and-die for the immigrant, but the employer has second chances. If anyone should be penalized, it should be the employers.

Transporting Undocumented Immigrants. The bill (along with SB81) puts any at risk who “transport or move or attempt to move an alien . . . who has entered or remains in the United States in violation of the law” (Page 5, Lines 29-34). That would be me. Many times. When I served as the Young Men’s President of a Hispanic ward in Salt Lake, I drove undocumented immigrants to and from activities at least weekly. I would take them to service activities, campouts, counseling with LDS Family Services, etc. So beware, any serving or working with the Latino population, including nonprofit volunteers, church leaders, and employers. I would owe Arizona thousands of dollars for those youth activities.

Civil Rights. I found it amusing that the end of the bill states that it will be implemented “in a manner consistent with federal regulating immigration, protecting the civil rights of all persons” (Page 16, Lines 22-24). I suppose that means those excluded from the “persons” category include undocumented people, and Hispanic people in general (at least those not “lucky” enough to be white). Sad.

The majority of the American people seem to be in favor of this bill, thereby losing sight of the core ideological foundation on which America was built. Huddled masses, there is no room at the inn.

Richard Marshall contributed to this post.

Obama at 100 Days

I figured as an amateur journalist/blogger I would give my perspective on President Obama's first 100 days. This assessment will not be comprehensive. I will attempt to share a few things that have stood out to me the most, focusing on the good, but not disregarding the disappointing. I will ignore the “soap bubbles” of his presidency, such as the hubbub that has gone on over Obama’s dog or the gifts he has given to foreign politicians. This post will focus on transparency, vision, and equity, followed by a few things he may have done better.

Transparency. From Day 1 Obama has not just shed a new light on the government, he has turned the spotlights on it. A few examples: disclosing the torture memos that authorized CIA agents to torture terrorist suspects, closing Guantanamo Bay, freezing salaries of overpaid White House officials, holding an online town hall meeting where anyone could submit and vote on questions for him to answer, and holding 10 major press conferences. There is a genuine integrity that he has brought to the government. This is so very different than the last eight years where politicians had dark meetings in dark corners about which Geneva Convention treaties they could violate, how they could confuse the American public into thinking we were warring terror when we were warring for their agendas, etc. etc. Transparency is key to a strong democracy, and Obama knows that. The man himself is transparent. He is not afraid to say he made a mistake (which he admitted after appointing Tom Daschle), something difficult for any politician to do. He is not afraid to meet with his constituents in town halls, late night talk shows, or online. He’s one of us, and he’s for us.

Vision. I admire the fact that Obama has not refrained from addressing the environment, immigration (I’ve been stewing over that recently, a possible post is on the way), healthcare, and foreign policy in the midst of a major financial crisis. He has addressed these issues (keeping many more promises than he has broken, according to politifact, which is impressive considering the state of the economy. It is clear he means action—as long as he and Congress can agree. He has called for a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq by August 2010. He has addressed the Muslim community tactfully and cordially, telling them that we are not their enemies. He has had a host of other positive encounters with American antagonists (Chavez among them), and encounters where he has rightly apologized on behalf of the country to American allies. He has hosted a healthcare summit, made it easier for people to sue for pay discrimination (his first bill), and launched an effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Equity. He is a thoughtful person, as I've said before. I recommend you read “Dreams From My Father”; I read it over the last months and it shows what deep person we have in the oval office. And he wrote it just after law school, way before he thought or knew he would be the president (Disclaimer: it does have some of what I consider inappropriate language from conversations he had in teenage years). He wants to hear the voice of the people (as seen with the online town hall meetings), he reads ten letters a day from constituents, and he has Republicans and former democratic opponents (at least the ones that could handle being on a team of rivals) in his Cabinet.

Disappointments. In other words, I think we’re on the right track. Now, for a few disappointments (inevitable since we don’t have identical political philosophies). I’m disappointed in him providing federal funding for NGOs to perform and provide information on abortions (though the FOCA act that many people are concerned about does not exist). I am also skeptical of his $3.6 trillion budget proposal for 2010, though he understands much better than I about why the government would need that money. I have mixed feelings on his interaction with the auto industry which many think was too meddlesome. I do think something needed to be done to control the mess the auto industry, the bankers, and corporate executives are in and quell their greedy behavior. Finally, I did not agree with Obama signing a spending bill with earmarks, though I recognize the need to get the government through 2009.

He’s through 100 days. Here’s hoping that he keeps bringing the right changes to Washington, the U.S., and the world in the next four years.

I could have packed this post with links, but to be honest, I got a little lazy. If you want them, let me know and I'll stick them in. More Abe footage coming soon, which I know is what everyone really wants to see.

Happy Earth Day!

What a beautiful earth we have! My very favorite thing is to be outside with the people I love. I wish every day were earth day. If you don’t think right now is a good time to buy a Prius or change your roof to solar panels, here are some easy ways to help take care of this beautiful earth. The following post offers an ecclesiastical endorsement for those interested.
-Re-use plastic bags, even sturdy baggies
-Better yet- buy reusable shopping bags
-Use 1/2 dryer sheets and 1/2 paper towels
-Use cloth napkins
-Use fluorescent light bulbs
-Buy in bulk
-Buy on sale
-Don't waste food odds and ends
-Turn off lights you’re not using
-Unplug appliances when not in use (even when they’re off they still use a little electricity)
-Be sensitive about your water use—don’t have the faucet or shower on full power
-Don’t take short-cuts—stay on sidewalks and marked trails
-Go through your closet and donate clothes and shoes you’re not using (check out freecycle for a way to donate)
-Use second-hand items when possible
-Repair what you can (like shoes)
-Eat vegetarian one day a week, or when you can
-Plant a garden- even some herbs in a planter box if you don’t have space for more
-Buy local or organic
-Recycle
-Organize your schedule so you can do all your errands at once
-Turn down heat and AC
-Whenever possible, walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation
-Turn off the computer and play outside!
There are lots of great websites to checkout-This one has tips for sustainable living, this one shows you how your diet can effect the environment, and this one shows how many earths it would take if everyone lived like you. I don't know how they could really calculate that, but it's interesting to see which habits have the biggest effect on the environment.
Feel free to share any of your own ideas for how to take care of this beautiful earth!

Yes We Can and the Inaugural Ball

Can you avoid feeling patriotic? Can you help but feel fired up for the American Flag? It seems that optimism, hope, and patriotism have permeated the American air. And we're part of it!

The Inauguration of President Barack Obama moved me to a greater enthusiasm for the future. He played the realist yesterday, an unusual approach for someone celebrating the greatest victory of his life--not to mention for someone often accused of being an idealist. It's true that "the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many." But hearing him call us to "pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America" stirred within me a belief that, "Yes, we can."

He's a good man, a tireless worker, an open-minded, thoughtful, composed, family-oriented, civil servant. But as he frequently says, "I'm not making history, you are." He is depending on us for support, both those who voted for him and those who didn't.

Now is a time to trust him. We need politicians to maintain the Constitution and democracy. It is a great blessing to live in a time when the Commander-in-Chief is someone we can trust. As Mom Galli eloquently put it, "I know that we have trouble ahead in our country and around the world, but I believe that, at least for now, we have a president who understands what sort of work, sacrifice, virtue and unity we need. And I believe that he is sincere, and wise. While wickedness will increase before the Millennium, light will also grow brighter. Regardless of what comes, today I saw with spiritual eyes the potential beauty of all the Lord's children united without enmity."

He has much to prove, but he cannot do it without us (though he has already started). He can blaze the trail through policies, initiatives, bills, and firecracker speeches, but we ought to take up the banner behind him and help "restore the vital trust between a people and their government."

"Yes, we can heal this nation," not just he can. Let us support our newly elected president in his call for energy conservation, frugality, hard work, and acceptance of diversity.

Yes we can.

Here are some pictures of the Utah County Inaugural Ball, organized by the dean of the BYU Law School. Live Jazz Band, open art gallery, Obama's speeches read to a jazz combo, and my first time in a limo! Thanks for the invitation Tyler!

All quotes come from President Obama's speeches, with the exception of the Mom Galli one, though he would do well to quote her.

Obama '08!

At the risk of losing friends, I write in defense and in advocacy of who I hope to be the next President of the United States: Barack Obama. My desire to see him in the Oval Office continues to increase, to the point that I am not content to simply vote for him myself. I want everyone to vote for him. Someone recently accused me of drinking the "Obama Kool-aid." Sure, he’s a pretty hip guy who plays basketball early in the morning with staffers and gets Grammy Awards for the readings of his books, but there is much more to him than that. Without sounding trite, I submit to you that he offers change we can believe in. In this post I will address what I feel to be the most critical issues due to our current situation. I will also address the character of the two candidates, something I feel is an important contributing element to the race. I will not be addressing trivial matters, such as the Ayers issue. For other false smears, click here. Voters should evaluate issues such as foreign policy, the economy, healthcare, and the environment before voting November 4.

This race isn't about conservatives and liberals. It's about putting long-time loyalties aside and looking for the person who will make the difference on the issues that matter most right here and right now. A good friend and colleague of mine, Andrew Gleaves, said yesterday: “I realized that I don't hold anything against him personally, and I really like much of what he represents. I think it comes down to this- I don't like McCain because of the person, and I don't like Obama because of the party . . . Fortunately our system tends to 'center' candidates regardless of party” I'm not saying become a registered democrat, or shift left in all of your views. I think if we looked at all of the issues, most of us would find ourselves as moderates. I'm conservatively swayed on the issues of abortion and gay marriage; but those are not the critical issues of this race. The Obama/Biden ticket is not substantively different on the gay marriage issue than McCain/Palin based on statements in the VP debate. Were I a California resident, I would vote yes for Proposition 8. And with respect to abortion, I, along with the Church, take a more moderate approach to it. Like prohibition, people will still find a way to have abortions if it's banned, and there are very rare times when it's a choice we need available. Let's teach abstinence and contraception, keeping everyone happy. That said, the trend seems to show state governments legislating on these issues, and I am much more likely to vote conservative locally. I'm not going to vote for McCain because of those two issues and let the environment, the economy, and our worldwide reputation suffer. You can be a Mormon family man and lean left.

I see foreign policy as a critical issue in the current campaign. One of the major divides between Obama and McCain is what to do with the Iraq war. I think I share the general American sentiment in saying that I am opposed to it, and have been for some time. We're wasting money, we're wasting time, and most importantly, we're wasting lives and have followed torture policies that have tarnished the moral authority this country once commanded as a world human rights leader. Bush’s pre-emptive war doctrine also has violated well established principles of international war. To McCain’s credit, he has opposed Bush’s torture policies, but not the Bush doctrine. There are clearly ulterior motives behind the movement to provide Iraq with a democracy, or why wouldn't we act so altruistically in other countries that have far worse governments than Iraq (Darfur)? History has shown that forcing governments onto the shoulders of others, especially with the accompanying Western ideologies, rarely succeeds (see "The Future of Governing" by Guy Peters, Chapter 6). Isn't forcing democracy on a country a little counterintuitive? There are other places we should focus our money and military might . . . like Afghanistan, where a real threat lies. That's what Obama wants to do. He wants to talk about things with leaders around the world, diplomatically, not fight them and force them to accept and implement American ideals. Maybe talking with leaders won't always work, but isn't it the best place to start? He wants to collaborate more with established allies in the U.N. He would better our international reputation, which, as anyone who paid attention to the U.N. Conference two weeks ago knows, is in critical condition. This leads me to my next issue: the economy.

Obama's economic plan is feasible and more equitable. I'm alright to pay more taxes, if it means bettering society as a whole. It seems that "spreading the wealth" is a Christian way of living. That said, I, and most I know, will not have tax increases. We'll have tax cuts, along with anyone else making less than $250,000 a year. I trust Obama to put balance into our chaotic economy. McCain's economic plan appears based on the same old “trickle down” theory in which giving the wealthiest 5% of the population is suppose to benefit the middle and lower class. Yet the disparity between the rich and working poor in this country has only grown during the last eight years at the same time that CEOs (including from the now defunct Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers) walked away with hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation. Of course, McCain himself, having had Cindy's father bail him out when he was broke at 41 years old, has had little recent experience with the financial challenges many Americans suffer.

I think Obama's healthcare plan defines the man himself: visionary. Obama's healthcare plan would save lives and dollars. The mandate is for children, which, having a son, makes so much sense. It would mean my friend Danton Barrios wouldn't have to return to his home country of Uruguay to die because he couldn't afford healthcare here for a heart surgery. Even when provided by an employer, it costs thousands of dollars to pay for, as I'm sure you know. And the Obama plan lets you keep your provider if you so desire. Universal Healthcare works in many other parts of the world, increasing quality of life and life expectancy.

And I don't want to neglect the environment. McCain says, "drill, baby, drill." Where is that going to get us? Just deeper into the environmental and financial hole! Obama focuses more on energy conservation and renewable energy sources, that will provide jobs to millions and save the earth. Two birds with one stone.

I also want to address the character and background of the two men, forgive me for slinging a little mud here. People may think I'm being nitpicky in addressing the character of these men, but I feel that as potential Presidents of the United States, we need to scrutinize them, and see them inside and out. Obama represents the family. He has two children and has been married only once. He clearly loves his family and spends time with them. He works hard, which is how he came from a difficult, single parent background, and is now the nominee for the President of the United States. He's smart, with degrees from Ivy League schools and experience as an educator, an attorney, and a politician. He's Christian and practices his faith. He doesn't hide from the media, as opposed to President Bush, who has had fewer press conferences than any president in recent history. We need someone who's not afraid to talk to us through the media, since that's how we know what's going on. His oratorical skills are extraordinary. He delivers when speaking (he writes his own speeches) and when writing (he writes his own books). He writes and speaks with leadership, something we desparately need right now. I first heard him speak about a year ago and it marked the first time in my young life that I heard a president or presidential candidate sound, for lack of a better word, presidential. He's authentic, he's genuine, he's real. He's black and knows that there is still an intolerable amount of social injustice in our society. He would bridge gaps between minorities and majorities everywhere. He symbolizes a major shift in the infrastructure of American life: the turning of the tide from an era of white, male domination and elitism to a heterogeneous future featuring an increased tolerance of diversity and equality and a decreased tolerance of bigotry, and white oppression.

McCain, conversely, doesn't have the best record. He was unfaithful to his first wife, and married Cindy just weeks after his first divorce. Nothing mars a man's character more than infidelity to his spouse, and I don't feel kindly toward Bill Clinton for the same reason. There are few things that disgust me more. If Obama had dated strippers, he would be bashed by the religious right with faithful Christian republicans leading the charge. Yet, in McCain’s introduction during the Republican Convention, Fred Thompson bragged about McCain’s bravado having driven around in a flamboyant corvette and dated a stripper named “Marie the Flame of Florida.” Where is the moral outrage from the party of “family values”?

Then there is the question of whether McCain carries himself with the dignity of somebody we want as president. McCain is condescending and mean-spirited, and his temper is legendary. An Arizona Legislator, Dennis DeConcini said, “In my eight years with him, I learned that John just hates it when you disagree with him. If you press it, he just falls back on his patriotism. And then he blows up.” Do we want someone in the presidency who “blows up?” Don’t disagreements deepen the pool of meaning and create productive dialogue, leading to productive decisions? Calling Obama "that one," and treating him like a child through every debate has been too much for me, (while I feel Biden was very respectful of his less-experienced opponent). McCain is reckless and compulsive; asking Palin to be his running mate, suspending his campaign, and wanting to delay the debate because of the financial crisis, to name a couple examples. He shifts his positions according to the people, keeping their vote in mind rather than their welfare. Oh, and he doesn't use email.

Finally, there is McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as running mate. Don’t take my word for how under qualified she is to be VP or successor to the presidency. Take it from conservative republican columnists like George Will and David Brooks, and Secretary of State Collin Powell. An Alaska Legislature Investigation recently found her guilty of breaking the executive code of ethics. And some of her ideas are not just ignorant, they're downright dangerous.

Palin was highlighting college basketball games for a local news station at the same time Obama was teaching constitutional law at Chicago University. She attended five universities to receive her undergraduate degree, and stopped there. McCain finished 894th out of 899 students at the United States Naval Academy. Obama is a Columbia/Harvard Grad, Magna Cum Laude, and served as editor of the Harvard Law Review. Biden received his law degree from Syracuse University. I know, education isn’t everything, but, from an LDS perspective, it certainly is something.

Sarah Palin couldn't name one newspaper or magazine, and couldn't cite a single supreme court decision when Katie Couric put it to her. How will she be able to interact with world leaders? I have no real problem with her personally, but she is spectacularly unqualified to be President of the United States and to have nuclear codes, which is the VP's job on day 1.

The difference between Obama's agenda and McCain's is that Obama's will help the disenfranchised and the poor; he will improve America's low standing in an increasingly global community. Obama is the future.

So there's my pitch for Barack Obama. He can heal our country—economically, physically, environmentally, racially, and internationally. He has the determination, the understanding, the intelligence, and the moral values to make the U.S. of A. the greatest country in the world again.

Let me add that whether you vote for Obama or not, go vote! Apathy erodes democracy. I much prefer an educated McCain supporter to an uneducated Obama supporter.