God's Mandate to America

In light of President Bush's reelection, what should be the real focus of America's vision? What can we learn from the message God sent to Israel and Judah through the prophets? The message, or mandate, is radically different from what anyone really wants to consider.

by Darris McNeely

Two days after U.S. President George W. Bush won his second term, journalist Tom Friedman wrote in his New York Times column what many were already saying. "Meanwhile, there is a lot of talk that Mr. Bush has a mandate for his far right policies. Yes, he does have a mandate, but he also has a date—a date with history" (Nov. 4, 2004).

Time will tell whether President Bush has a date with history. There is little doubt the president will use his victory and spend the "political capital" he claims to have from the American electorate. The question is whether the president is listening to the right voice.

Campaign issues

Americans seemed to be voting on three major issues this season. The first was the issue of security. Within this are the war on terror against Al-Qaeda and the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The president is now free to pursue his goals. Within days of the election, Marines began an all-out offensive against the rebel stronghold in the city of Fallujah, Iraq. If Iraq is to be stabilized to the point that democratic elections can be held, the rebel insurgents will have to be neutralized. Iraq is a test case for President Bush's desire to democratize the region. Failure here would be a major setback.

Look for the majority of troops to withdraw as soon as the "mission is accomplished," leaving a peacekeeping force in place, either in Iraq or some other country such as Kuwait. American troop presence in the Middle East will likely remain for some time.

Values were a second issue on the minds of Americans. Gay marriage, abortion and stem cell research are hot button items for those with traditional religious values. There remains a culture war within the nation.

According to a Pew Research Center report, 80 percent of Americans believe in God and 60 percent agree that "religion plays an important part in my life." While people differ on how they express their faith, and to what depth, there is still a large well of "God-fearers" in America. Many look nostalgically back on the world that was, while at the same time they fearfully look forward to an uncertain future.

Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0412/index.htm

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