I am a born-again Christian and a conservative Republican, yet I am committed to honoring and respecting the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama.

On Election Day, I voted for John McCain, but my candidate did not win.

I refuse to take the pig-headed view of a bumper sticker I saw during President Bush’s administration that read, “He’s not my President.”

Barack Obama is everyone’s president in America, whether we agree with all of his policies or not.

It was wrong for die-hard Democrats to describe Bush’s administration as a regime, and it is equally wrong for die-hard Republicans to draw ridiculous conclusions about Obama’s presidency before giving him a chance.

I am disturbed when people such as Jamilla El-Shafei of Kennebunkport think they are accomplishing something by throwing shoes as an insult to President Bush. When I see that kind of disgrace shown for the highest office in the country, I choose to take the high road.

I recently bought a life-size cardboard cutout of President Obama and placed it in the sanctuary of the Jesus Party Chapel. I am encouraging inner-city children to pray for his term in office.

Before we throw our shoes, perhaps it would do us well to imagine what it would be like to walk in the president’s shoes for one day.

The Rev. Douglas Taylor, Lewiston