I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Hello Conservatives,


I don’t talk much here about my personal life, as a matter of fact I don’t think I ever have but I was compelled to make this exception.

On Monday my beautiful wife of 20 years and I flew to Phoenix to spend a few days. On Tuesday night, along with about 70,000 other people we attended the U2 concert at the University Of Phoenix Stadium, the same stadium the BSU Broncos won the Fiesta Bowl a few years back. The show was awesome but what compelled me to write this posting was something Bono (the singer) said during the show.

He introduced a sports legend in the audience, the fighter, Muhammad Ali. He then recognized Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain who was also in the house. Bono said, paraphrasing, he wanted to thank John McCain and President Obama for not using Africa as a political issue during the election. He said McCain and Obama have been supportive of his various charities to help make them a success. He said, you Americans do so much good around the world when you can agree on an issue. Americans have sent, our government and in personal donations, millions of dollars in relief to Africa. Millions of Africans are getting Aids medication and thousands of African children are going to school because of America.

Now Bono is clearly no conservative but he is right. When we come together, we as Country, State, County, or City we can do so much good. I am not saying we should abandon our beliefs and give up our passion on issues and compromise more with the other side. It’s my view that BECAUSE we are able to disagree so passionately with our leaders and each other in this country that we have such success when we unite on an issue. Not just in Africa, there are examples of how generous Americans are everywhere and not just on a national level, right here in our own communities. I bet like my family many of you were on the phone soon after 9/11/01 making a donation to help, or donate blood annually, work at the local food bank during the holidays. I know firsthand of local High School students who volunteer to mentor elementary kids or go to retirement homes to visit the elderly. These examples don’t exclude anyone because of their political affiliation. We do it as Americans because like Bono said, we are capable of such good when we find an issue we agree on. But let’s not forget, our ability to disagree makes us unique and strong as a nation. All I hope is that we can learn how to disagree more respectfully.

I received some emails asking why I dedicated an entire posting the other day to city council candidate TJ Thomson after I had already endorsed his opponent. My answer is because I am not afraid to listen to opposing points of view. My Q&A with Thomson was informative for me as to who Thomson is. It did not change my mind on supporting Dave Litster but I hope because I took the time to listen to Thomson and develop a respectful relationship, when an issue comes up in the future that we agree on because of that foundation already built, we will have a smashing success. And in the long run isn’t that what it’s all about?

So my friends continue to disagree with passion, stand up and be heard, give it all you have because you can. Will we fall short, stumble sometimes and let the passion overtake our better judgment? Sure, it happens to the best of us but when it happens to me I will try harder next time.

I close this posting with some of the words from my liberal friend Bono and Rock on Edge,(He’s the guitar player if you didn’t know)

I have climbed highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you

I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I'm still running

You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Oh my shame
You know I believe it

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for




ICB