Since Election Day has come and gone, let’s talk. Honestly. Unassumingly. And as always here, respectfully.
Now what?
Let’s start with arguably the most glaring slant of the season; our politics is bringing out the worst in us. Allow me to gently but unequivocally explain.
Our politics is bringing out the worst in us because we are using it to justify thinking the worst of other people. In fact, one of the things that bothers me most on this planet is the ease of that thinking — how willing we are to think the worst of another.
And the behavior digresses sadly more…
Many who claim to be wise or upright people/many who seem to be wise or upright people, many who claim to love their neighbor/many who seem to love their neighbor, many who claim to promote integrity and virtue/and many who seem to promote integrity and virtue, totally throw all that out the nearest, convenient window during election season. In that so-called wisdom, uprightness, love, integrity and virtue they treat at least one third of the American population with an attitude that seems to care not if they would be silenced, disappear or — excuse my vulgarity for the point of this post — they care not if the other goes to hell. Worse yet, they seem to think they are somehow capable of discerning eternal damnation.
We justify saying the worst. We justify demonization. We justify sweeping, mass judgment. Not to mention the abundant fear mongering…
This is the most important election of our time! Only one of us is really a patriot! Only one of us believes in democracy! And those people?! Don’t get me started!!
If those people get into office, do you know what they’ll do?!… Do you know the evil they’ll cause?!… The hate they’ll spew?!
And we say all this because our political bias has blinded us to wisdom, uprightness, love, integrity and virtue.
Friends, I appreciate you much. I am also acutely aware that some read the above words and still mutter a definitive retort back to the screen saying “but they will cause evil!” … “they don’t believe in democracy!”
And just like that we justify the lesser once more. Let me boldly opine that we can’t denigrate, demonize and divide and then still claim to be acting consistently with any of the above. We have allowed our disagreement to blind us to what is good and right and true.
So what is good and right and true in our political perspectives, articulation and response?
I wish I knew how to solve; it’s complex. But I think I can encourage where to start…
Be honest. In regard to both dominant American political parties, both have leaders and voices within who are good, upright people. Both also have leaders and voices within who are not good, upright people. Sometimes we hear a call out of them as the “crazies.” Such isn’t my favorite word, but let us be honest enough to admit that both parties have their share of “crazies.” Be able to see it and admit it in both. Make excuses for neither.
Be a good listener. So many talk first and most. So many, too, immediately drown out dissent, as if dissent can’t and shouldn’t exist. That’s pretty hubristic, albeit perhaps, unknowingly so. But the wisest people I know always listen to the different. They know they have more to learn, and often, listening to the different broadens or sharpens perspective. Be willing to listen, even when it’s hard.
Be humble and kind. One of the reasons I think this particular election had some closer contests than expected is that I think too many people led with pride instead of humility. Who that doesn’t think like me would want to interact with me if I’m not humble and kind on the receiving end? My guess is none. My sense is many were quieter about their perspective, their wants, needs, and voting priorities, because shared opinion met with pride can be an explosive interaction. Hence, let’s be wiser. Always stay humble and kind.
Enough for now. It’s a little exhausting if I’m honest. I’m grateful for the soon-to-be, hopefully election season break. I’m grateful, too, to grow in the practice of what is good and right and true.
Respectfully…
AR