Basically, I have removed python and now the OS is unusable.I would like to reinstall Gnome but I am worried that all my documents on the boot partition will be lost. I don't care about the programs just for the data that I stored.
Would a reinstall keep my /home with all documents on the Desktop
debian;gnome;home
It's probably easier to repair the existing install, at least if the damage was caused by apt-get remove python or similar. But if you want to reinstall:FIRST. You really ought to take a backup. The easiest way (since you can't boot the system) is probably a Debian Live DVD/USB stick/etc. Copy all your important files to, e.g., a USB hard disk. The Live disc gives you a normal desktop environment, so you can do that with the familiar file manager interface.Do not proceed without a backup. It's far too easy to accidentally destroy your files.If you have /home on a separate partition  and make sure not to reformat /home when reinstalling, then your files will be preserved. Whether to format or not is an option in the installer.Note that if you're running packages that manage their own data (for example, a database like MySQL or PostgreSQL, a mail server, a web or FTP server, etc.), that data may be stored in /var or /srv. In addition, things like cron store your user crontab in /var. If everything is on one partition, then it's possible to tell the installer not to format itbut the install will fail, unless you've already cleaned up (e.g., via rm -Rf) all the system files. That'd basically be everything other than /home, and the exceptions mentioned above.