If you know me on Facebook, then you know I'm political. Extremely political. Maybe politically posting to the point of personal annoyance. Mia culpa to you if you feel that way. I won't however, apologize for my viewpoints.
But that's not what this post is about. At least, not exactly.
First things first: If you are age eligible to vote, I hope you are doing so. Get your behind to the polls because folks, this might be the most important election you will vote on in your lifetime. If you feel strongly about your candidate, you better be casting your vote. Put your vote where your mouth is! And if you don't well, you will just have to live with whatever the rest of us decide- and you therefore forfeit the right to complain.
I think the biggest disappointment for me as an American citizen, is the complete and utter nastiness that has occured over this election, and over the last four years of President Obama's first term and also by extension, to those of us who proudly elected him into office. I have been called a sheeple, a liberal extremist, accused of having no common sense, of blindly following the "liberal media", of being laughable, without fact based arguments. And that's just the nice things. I have seen this on both sides of the arguments so if you are a democrat and your'e reading this? Don't get all up on your high horse either. We know we are just as good at slinging mud as the GOP supporters, and for some of them they might say we are better at it. Once when I vehemently disagreed with protests by Occupy MN in regards to housing, and I voiced my opposing opinion. Well they not only deleted my comments but they also banned me from commenting on their facebook page. That was eye opening to say the least! I have conservative friends who have actually lost friends over their political leanings and opinions. I don't think anyone has a get out of jail free card on the political rhetoric being less than kind. I also don't think the answer is deleting people from your friend list, or telling them off if you don't agree with them. If you do that you're missing out on the opportunity for spirited debate, which is what our country was founded upon.
And then there is all of this nonsense going on at the polls (thankfully though, not at my polling place). People who in the name of protecting our voting system from supposed voter fraud, harrassing citizens and intimidating them from exercising their right to have their vote counted. I am 38 years old so I've been eligible to vote in this country for 20 years. In all my time as a registered voter, never have I seen such utter nonsense and disregard for the democratic process. It's a sad day in this country when people stop trusting one another to do their civic duty responsibly. I have grandparents who were Democrats and Republicans. I don't believe they conducted themselves in this manner. They kept their word on a handshake. We need to return to that kind of integrity in America.
Watching, commenting, and participating in political discussions as a Christian Catholic, has also been very interesting. Perhaps the saddest thing I have witnessed in this election year, is the attack on the poor, the disenfranchised, the least of our nation. When a picture of a tweet from Tim Tebow is circulated on Facebook with the sentiments that Obama will be ahead in the polls...until 5pm when the (working) Republicans go vote- and people are laughing about that? That's just sad. It might not have been something that Tebow ACTUALLY tweeted, but the idea that the poster child in professional football, famous for his knee-bending homage to the Lord would say such a thing...well that's more than troubling to me as a follower of Jesus. I don't care what side of politics you sit on- if you're a Christian, quite frankly if you have a heart at all- then it should really bother you too. Because Jesus Christ welcomed all to the table- and he didn't ask how long you'd been collecting food stamps, or whether or not you were worthy of his love. He loved everyone without condition. We Christians need to take a step back and start making common decency our first priority, not an afterthought or something to be carefully doled out to only those we deem worthy of it.
I walked to my polling place this morning, with two toddlers in tow, and a well packed purse with juice boxes and snacks for my littlest companions. On the way I ran into the elderly couple who live across the street from me. I noticed they were wearing their "I Voted" stickers so I made some conversation and wished them well, asked them how the lines were, that sort of thing. These are two of the nicest people you will meet. They have lived on my block for many years, raised their now grown children here. To the delight of my children every Christmas, they put up a massive light extravaganza in their yard, visible from the upstairs windows. They are also Republicans. And they probably voted for Romney today. Not once have they ever had anything but a smile and a kind word for me or my family.
When all the dust settles, when elections are decided at the national, the state, and the local levels- we are going to have to do some soul searching. We are going to have to, no matter who ends up in office, begin the groundwork of burying the hatchet politically. I would like to think that this will be something that happens in Congress, in our representatives, in Washington. But I just don't know that will be the case unless we, the voting public, take a stand that is greater than our political opinions and rhetoric. Some of the reconciliation has to be done by individuals- we the people. And then, we the people need to be getting on the phone and letting those representatives know if we think they aren't representing us well. Our individual vote is the beginning of that process, but we should not stop there. Make a phone call. Write an email. Hold those elected accountable for setting the tone. Ask them- in fact, demand- that those elected promote common decency above all else. And if you profess to be Christian, for Heaven's sake be a force primarily for the teachings of Christ, above all else- and if you don't think that is the government's calling, you should be making it your business- by your own actions- that it's your personal one.
Finally, the next time you have the opportunity to talk to someone who doesn't agree with your political views, remember that the person might be a hard worker. They might be down on their luck and trying to get a job. They might be struggling to make ends meet every month. They might be a parent with children to care for, a grandparent, an Aunt or Uncle. They hopefully are a person who pays their taxes and tries their best to be a good citizen. They might be a member of your own family, or a friend from your childhood. They live, laugh, love, breathe the same air that we all do. Hopefully, they want what's best for America. They, like you, are doing the best that they can every day. This is what I choose to believe about Americans, like my neighbors. I refuse to allow cynicism to dictate how I see this country. For the sake of America going forward, you shouldn't either.
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