[Oe List ...] Additional Election Concerns

[Isobel & Jim Bishop]

FW: my american prayerHello Margaret,
We are a long way off down here geographically, and yet we are so close in spirit...... so, yes, I will keep lighting my candles for you all-  as Frank Bremner says, it was an amazing happening to move away from our very conservative 11 year Government, and some people are still in shock-  where I notice it is in the far reaching new directions in our Immigration policy. I visit the ghastly Detention Centre weekly here in Sydney, and I can notice subtle changes being made-  which are happening very carefully; so that the "red necks"do not take fright, and try and overturn it back to the previous wretched conditions. 
Our elder daughter  Rebecca is an American citizen, and will once more be voting.
Dear Margaret, one step at a time.... or Rome was not built in a day ( one of Jim's favourites.) Thank you for keeping the flag flying.
In peace,
Isobel Bishop.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Margaret Helen Aiseayew 
  To: Order Ecumenical Community 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 7:56 AM
  Subject: [Oe List ...] Additional Election Concerns


  Thanks Pat and Marsha for coming to Iowa.  I have had an Obama sign (I used to have two) in my yard (on Highway 175) since before the primaries.  What a pain, slip sliding over the ice to get out and shovel around it all winter and now mowing around it all summer.

  Last week another pastor was passing through Story City and wanted to meet with me at the McDonalds on the interstate corner.  Even though it is an establishment I do not frequent,  I agreed and we had just sat at the table and a woman I know only as the secretary in an office in town came up to attack me.  How could I as a minister and claiming to be a Christian (I don't really think I have ever done that.  It is an assumption people make because I pastor a Methodist Church.) have an Obama sign in my yard.  It is even worse that I have eight in my picture window which is likely to get broken one of these days.  It is irresponsible for me to be supporting a BLACK Muslim that intends to destroy the country.  etc.

  I was so shocked I backed away and the minister friend with whom I was meeting took her on a bit.  She walked away from our table and sat down with two other people shouting her outrage and the name of my church and how awful a person I must really be.

  It was the first time that I have contemplated the possibility (in spite of the whiteness of the Republican convention) that we may still be too prejudice, too racist, too parochial to actually elect Obama.  I know I am warped (and I think it is mostly good) by my experience, but the primary battle here in Iowa was so energizing and electrifying, so full of juice, that anything seemed possible.  Now we are considered a swing state.  I had been uner the illusion that all the people we had registered for the primary and all those we had gotten to cross over had already swung us into a new reality.

  If there is no other way for you to participate, I am asking you to pray.  Some may think that is a lesser form of participation, but from where I stand, no matter where you live, we need all the help we can get.  Even if it is hoping that some of those with the most bluster are so confident of their position that they don't bother to get out and vote.

  Loving the Old Testament named candidate,
  Margaret


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