Thanks, 2007

And so another year comes to an end and I'm forced to wax pensive before I head out for New Year's festivities with my parents, James and some friends.

I'll keep it short: 2007 was very good to me. And 08 will be even better. To sum it all up, the picture on the left is of James and me in Santorini this summer. We braved 2 weeks at sea with both sets of parents and my younger brother, and though I felt like I went through Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome upon our return, I look at the pictures from the journey and I'm overwhelmed with gratitude.

And that was the highlight of my year.

Those who know me know that I'm prone to pulling a Naomi when things don't go my way. This year, however, the lesson I finally learned was that we're all vested with the power of choice. We can choose how to react to situations -- we can walk away in peace, or stay in rage. I've chosen, when faced with issues that are bigger than me, to just walk away in peace. And I'm all the better for it. Because no one fell into the Mediterranean on many a fateful day in mid-August.

But this blog isn't about my travels or the Sex and the City movie. It's about politics and the way I, as a gay man of faith (in both God and the power of democracy) process the events of the day.

So where does this peace and love nonsense fit into 08?

As we enter the last leg of the presidential race let's remember that most Americans are fed up with the smoke and mirrors of hate and finer pointing that have become the stock and trade of this current administration. Eight years of propaganda and twisting of words like faith, family values and democracy have gotten us into an unnecessary war and have pit Americans against each other over nonsense issues.

So let's go back to basics. We all love America. The vast majority of voters love this country and the values it represents: freedom, hard work, justice. Let's elect the candidate that embodies these ideals to the fullest and can promise to tackle the enemy -- both within and outside our borders.