Vote Here

We made it back to Anchorage in time to vote today. But ever since they moved our polling place from the Fire Station to the church across the street, I always feel a little funny voting. The first time I voted at the church, you walked into the building and the inside doors to the sanctuary were open and you looked right at Jesus Christ. For Christians, that might be reassuring, for non-Christians, at least for me, it is disconcerting to have Jesus and voting so closely linked. What about people from religions that don't allow them to go into other houses of worship? I know some Christians might be scratching their heads and saying, "What's with this guy? He's really sensitive." But I think about all the letters to the editors from "Christians" who complain that they are under attack, so maybe they can understand how it feels, even if they can't understand why I feel that way. I can't understand their complaint either. From my perspective, every President of the United States has, at least nominally, been a Christian. Our current President has been strongly advocated for Christian values and giving government funds to Christian churches for various programs. All the pillars of power in the US - the military, business, elected officials - are heavily dominated by Christians. So, if Christians can feel persecuted in that environment, imagine how Jews or Moslems or Buddhists feel when they have to vote in a church.

Any way, we're back after a long trip. There was frost on the car in Seattle this morning. And the temperature here in Anchorage wasn't much different from when we left February 10 (low 30s). But, according to the cab driver today (as well as emails while we were away) it's been very cold since we left, and it only got back above freezing the other day. The Canada geese are due around April 6 or 7. I wonder if they've been reading the weather reports.