SENTINEL WATCH February 9, 2009 Issue

BETTER GOVERNMENT FROM GOD'S GOVERNANCE

KEVIN G. GRAUNKE

MY VENUE FOR WATCHING the historic US presidential election results last year was a lively pizza restaurant thousands of miles from home. Several large–screen TVs had the major news channels going, and it was remarkable how conversation at many tables stopped as the final numbers came in state by state.

Watching the media analysis and discussion in my hotel room later that same evening, I couldn't help being grateful for this orderly political transition, as well as for other recent peaceful changes in government administrations around the world, including France's 2007 presidential election and Canada's 2008 parliamentary election. However, news since then from other parts of the globe has presented a much different picture—opposing viewpoints sinking into violent conflict, instead of moving toward peaceful compromise. For example:

India's prime minister has formally accused Pakistan of involvement in the deadly attacks in Mumbai last November, escalating tension between the two nations.