Personal Credo

This morning my freshman class shared with each other their own personal credo. Instructors spent a full week discussing values, beliefs, and diversity of thought.  This morning they shared aloud with each other. I believe they enjoyed this assignment. Some of them put a lot of thought into this. I learned quite a bit from them this morning.
I informed them a couple of weeks ago that I would be participating in this exercise with them.
Here's what I brought to the table:

I believe that women have the right to their bodies and control over their reproductive choices.

I believe that our government has a responsibility to its poorest citizens.

I don’t advocate for the use of the death penalty. Peacemaking and rehabilitation is a better use of our criminal justice dollars than putting people to death.

I believe that our country should be a haven for those seeking a better life. Most of us are not more than two generations past Ellis Island. We are a nation of immigrants.  I am an advocate for amnesty for those who are currently living illegally in our country.

I believe that current drug laws should be changed and there should be a legalization of many recreational drugs. Tax it and sell it, this takes away the black market incentive.

I believe that same sex couples should be allowed to legally marry within our country. Love is love is love. This is a civil rights issue.

I do not believe that sex is evil. It is a pleasurable form of communication and should be embraced.

I believe in the freedom for people to practice their religious faith, and for me, freedom of religion means ALL religions. Your religious practices are to be encouraged, unless however, your practices infringe upon my rights and pursuits.

I believe that tax free statuses of religious institutions and organizations should be abolished. This levels the playing field, that is, if religious leaders are going to participate and influence in the political arena, this is price they must pay. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.

I believe that education is a means towards resolving poverty.

I believe that healthcare is a human right and should be accessible, available, and affordable for all.

I do not believe that technology is the answer to everything.

The earth is our only home and more emphasis, money and research should be given so that we can achieve some sort of equilibrium with our environment and do things for the best interest of our survival and for our other distant evolutionary kin. We are not above the web of life, we are part of it.

I believe in the concept of evolutionary change.