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next year’s elections
Published by bryan | Filed under journal entries
15 Jan 07
I wonder if the coming Presidential campaign season will divide the church. I am hoping it doesn’t, but as more Christians find themselves “homeless” in regards to a political party, I thought it would be good to prepare myself to not be taken by emotions. What I mean is I don’t want to defend political parties or affiliations without objectively being able to articulate why.
So here are some initial guidelines I hope to live by.
1. I don’t want to think in black and white. Black and white thinking stems from media methodologies that attempt to create as much tension as possible during a news segment. To do this talking heads present only two sides of an issue, and the opinions are considered binary opposites and conclusive. This, unfortunately, has taught Americans to believe the illogical assertion that issues are limited to two sides. The truth is every issue has many sides. I find when I think in black and white it is because I am too lethargic to do complex thinking. My motive is not to find truth, but to pick a side, associate that opinion with my ego, and then defend it out of personal insecurities. I will have to consider many angles on each issue, and on more than a few realize there is no easy solution.
2. I will not demonize candidates. There will be no monsters and no angels running for President. Most politicians probably enjoy serving and the spotlight and people and power. And that makes them human. When I was young I believed there were a handful of awful people who wanted to ruin America, and I regret having believed such a thing. There are certainly people who lack character, but the kinds of attacks launched from both sides of the isle have been unfortunate and childish. I hope to turn away when that kind of talk begins.
3. I will get involved. As fashionable as it is to play the cynic, I haven’t seen cynicism accomplish anything. I want to research candidates even at the primary level, find one I believe in, and serve locally in his/her campaign.
4. I want to consider the Kingdom of God during this election cycle. By that I mean I want to consider how this election will affect people around the world. I want to better understand trade, disease, war, and overseas production of goods. I also want to consider the kind of role model and symbol the next President will be, knowing that billions in the world consider the leader of America to be the archetypal Christian.
5. I want to help soften the tone. When people get heated, I want to share with them my resolutions and ask them to join me and keep me accountable.
I am sure this list will grow, but this seems like a good start. There are a lot of good people gearing up to run for President. I’ve found three that I like so far, two within one political party and one from another, and still another candidate from a smaller party who continues to impress.
Don
January 18th, 2007 at 2:51 am
i love this and wonder what it would be like to create a blog for this sole purpose: to discuss and ask questions about the issues and the candidates. because i know, for myself, every election year i think that i am going to be more informed than last time and the reality is, is that my being informed is about the extent of the american populations knowledge of the variety of girl scout cookies that are available this year. so sad in such a deep way. i think as more and more global issues are being presented to me, and the weight that we have globally is unbelievable, so my sense of responsibility to be really “in” this next election bears more weight than i feel equipped to handle.
good musings don. the weight feels heavy for me — and my blog gets about 1/17462 hits as yours does (per minute or so). i hope to hear good questions and ruminatings from you as you journey along this way and if i can, i will fire some back via comments.
January 30th, 2007 at 4:50 am
I’d be interested to know which candidates you’re talking about! And also, what makes them someone you would support. Thanks!
January 30th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
I agree. The elections always seem to make people so angry. I can’t stand that. What do you think of the current article (1/29) on BWC that talks about the so-called American superiority complex?
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
The Church needs to be building the kingdom of God. Not our next President. We view Government as a saviour. Hence the U2/Green Day video of the “Saints Are Coming” with the military delivering relief supplies to New Orleans. Talk about short-term superficial solutions. As long as we think Govt. is the answer we won’t be building the kingdom block by block in neighborhoods through the Church.
It really doesn’t matter who is President if the Church isn’t doing what she’s called to.
February 3rd, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Politics and Government are two powerful examples of how badly people can make a mess of things.I’m afraid our political process is damaged beyond repair due to the extreme divide over issues in our country.We have two political parties with such a lust for power and control that it matters little what the issues are or what the American people want or need.Our nation has a multitude of media outlets fueling partianship and disdain for the others opponent and will stop at nothing to break a story whether it’s true or not.The news media I believe would be the worst criminal here if it weren’t for the gullibility of the american people.The political process has taught people to act and lie in ways not thought of before as peoples passions allow them to be drawn into the fray.Isn’t the shame of it all that no matter what any candidate says they do what they want anyway? Doesn’t that make it all pretty futile? I can think of better ways to spend my time.
February 12th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
wait so who are you voting for again? After going over to Israel and feeling the heat of some of the eastern hatred, it became very real to me. I wanted to eat my words where i spoke out against some political agenda. I realized seeing a country that has been a site for many battles of political, religious, and just real estate disagreements. The issue is real, the issue is not simple. God has made us see people with a certain value that other societies don’t embrace. We are not a “Christian” nation as a whole. We are a strong nation, and with that we can rebuild broken societies, offer freedom to the imprisoned, and bring food to the poor. I spoke out against some political agenda that I realized is out for everyones best interest. Our men are dying for this cause, but we are American’s, we are blessed beyond what we even imagine, as a wealthy powerful country we are obligated by the God given conscious to go in and give others that hope. Not only that but we are preventing a future situation for our offspring that will be out of control if we don’t limit nations who have too much influence with little to no value to human life that differs from their belief. As much as I loved Israel and loved the one on one conversations with many locals there, it is a country of fear, a country of anger and hatred. We should be proud to be a land where freedom is valued, freedom is encouraged, and life is priceless. We are sacrificing some of our men now for generations to come. As Christ followers we are to fight for peace, we are to fight for freedom of the unjustly oppressed. For some of us that means supporting organizations, some of us actually going and making a difference in other nations ahead of time. Either way the events in Iraq are a result of us avoiding a conflict for too long. I am not saying the war is the answer, but I am saying God is using our Governement to fulfill his purpose, we have to trust that we can be his peace advocates and support our country fight for freedom and fight for the defenseless.
Dana
February 13th, 2007 at 12:01 am
when i asked who you were voting for I was totally kidding…… sacrasm is not very clear in my speedy comments. oooops.