Kerry, Edwards deserve a chance to lead the nation

EDITOR:
With the upcoming Nov. 2 presidential election, there are some issues I hope all of us will consider with the utmost sincerity. Before I write another word and false assumptions are made of my motivation or interest in taking the time to make my thoughts public, let me lay me cards on the table. I am a 17-year teacher/coach in our county schools with a wife and 4-year old son. As an active member of the Mennonite church, I teach the senior adult Sunday school class at my congregation. Though I am a registered Democrat, I actively look for candidates on a nonpartisan basis who will best serve my family's interests. While I do identify more closely with Democratic Party principles in most areas, I do not agree with every position they hold.
First, since so much time has been devoted to the war in Iraq, something must be clarified. Disagreeing with the war in Iraq is not to say we should not be fighting a war on terror or standing tough against the terrorists responsible for crimes against our people. In search of Osama bin Laden and the Al-Qaida who took credit for the Sept. 11 attacks, we went to the Middle East. We are told we went to Iraq because they might have weapons of mass destruction, they could be harboring terrorists, and they desire to be liberated from a ruthless leader. None of these reasons turned out to be a fact. If the measuring stick the Bush administration used for invading Iraq is applied worldwide, are we prepared to pay with money and American lives to go to North Korea, the Sudan, Iran and five or more other places that meet this criteria at a higher level? Our actions in the world cannot be one of "Do what I say, not what I do" in regard to military action, weapons development and diplomacy.
Here at home there are three areas that we need to talk more about as they more directly affect our families and everyday lives: the economy, education and environment.
While the Bush administration should not be held responsible for any economic struggles as a result of Sept. 11, its policies on taxes, health care and corporate trade have directly impacted the record swing from surplus to deficit. In regard to education, no caring person disagrees with the basic principles of No Child Left Behind. However, the increased accountability and standards cannot be coupled with cuts in funding from the federal government that shift the tax burden to the public, which has experienced losses of jobs and incomes that are not even keeping up with the cost of living. Finally, the environmental record of the Bush administration is very clear. Almost 30 years of progress in environmental practices have been cast aside to accommodate the interests of big gas and oil mining companies. We have certainly not maintained an attitude of stewardship of the Earth that the Bible itself calls for.
In closing, I want to say I do not think that John Kerry, John Edwards and the people they will appoint are political saviors who will fix all of these problems. I do not believe they are without flaws, nor do I agree with every position they hold. However, there are ultimate truths and rights and wrongs, and they seem to understand that not everything is as black and white as George W. Bush's narrow views suggest. I for one am ready to give someone else four years to improve our nation.
HERMAN MILLER
Columbiana