Since Election Day has come and gone, let\u2019s talk. Honestly. Unassumingly. And as always here, respectfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now what?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/em> of that thinking \u2014 how willing we are to think the worst of another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And the behavior digresses sadly more\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many who claim <\/em>to be wise or upright people\/many who seem<\/em> to be wise or upright people, many who claim<\/em> to love their neighbor\/many who seem<\/em> to love their neighbor, many who claim<\/em> to promote integrity and virtue\/and many who seem<\/em> 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 \u2014 excuse my vulgarity for the point of this post \u2014 they care not if the other goes to hell. Worse yet, they seem to think they are somehow capable<\/em> of discerning eternal damnation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We justify saying the worst. We justify demonization. We justify sweeping, mass judgment. Not to mention the abundant fear mongering…<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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!! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If those people get into office, do you know what they\u2019ll do?!\u2026 Do you know the evil they\u2019ll cause?!\u2026 The hate they\u2019ll spew?!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And we say all this because our political bias has blinded us to wisdom, uprightness, love, integrity and virtue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u201cbut they <\/em>will<\/em><\/strong> cause evil!\u201d \u2026 \u201cthey <\/em>don\u2019t<\/em><\/strong> believe in democracy!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And just like that we justify the lesser once more. Let me boldly opine that we can\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what is good and right and true in our political perspectives, articulation and response?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I wish I knew how to solve; it\u2019s complex. But I think I can encourage where to start…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be honest.<\/em> 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 <\/em>good, upright people. Sometimes we hear a call out of them as the \u201ccrazies.\u201d Such isn\u2019t my favorite word, but let us be honest enough to admit that both parties have their share of \u201ccrazies.\u201d Be able to see it and admit it in both. Make excuses for neither.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be a good listener. <\/em>So many talk first and most. So many, too, immediately drown out dissent, as if dissent can\u2019t and shouldn\u2019t exist. That\u2019s 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\u2019s hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be humble and kind.<\/em> 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\u2019t think like me would want to interact with me if I\u2019m 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\u2019s be wiser. Always stay humble and kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enough for now. It\u2019s a little exhausting if I\u2019m honest. I\u2019m 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Since Election Day has come and gone, let\u2019s talk. Honestly. Unassumingly. And as always here, respectfully. Now what? Let\u2019s 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 … <\/p>\n