My column in today's Ledger & Times ...
People tend to elect people they think will meet their needs.
Teachers support politicians who push education. Union workers rally behind people who aid their cause. Conservatives look to those who share their family values.
The amount of money given to a certain program may vary from administration to administration. The emphasis may change with each inauguration.
But, thing is, our democracy isn’t threatened. We watch partisan ballots overshadow legitimate needs constantly in Washington and Frankfort. But in the end, democracy still wins.
While listening to former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto speak Tuesday evening, I kept thinking about how our country’s partisan bickering and even wars of words within either party is so senseless.
She talked about how without democracy people in her native country worry about their children being educated, their families having clean water, their cities being safe and their bodies being cared for. She has been jailed, been separated from her husband while he was in prison, and lived in exile because Pakistan’s other government said hers was corrupt.
Meanwhile, Al Gore lost his presidential bid after much debating and recounting and went on to win an Oscar for a documentary on global warming while his family lived a comfortable life.
So John Edwards waited four years to run for the Democratic presidential nomination again. So Mitt Romney is a Mormon and not a Christian like many conservatives hope for in a Republican presidential candidate. So Gov. Ernie Fletcher has some competition from his own party. So Lt. Gov. Steve Pence called Fletcher names and threw his support to former U.S. Congresswoman Anne Northup. So Kentucky Democrats have so many choices of who they want in the governor’s mansion.
So what. Really.
These people put themselves out there to run for public office — something someone like me never would want to do. Sure, they have their agendas and causes and issues and friends. Sure, they want to win and probably even want to do some good.
But if they lose, they move on. They tour the country speaking or find another office for which to run. They don’t have to move to other countries for their safety or because the person now in charge told them to.
I can only assume how Bhutto feels about abortion and civil rights. You can look at her resume and see how she feels about education.
Despite the sacrifice that went with being the first female leader of a modern Muslim nation, Bhutto raised three kids and her marriage survived the drama of politics we’ll never grasp. That’s family values.
So we may disagree with the judges she wants appointed or the programs she chooses to support most, but she is lobbying for a free democracy more than anything specific.
We have opponents here in our political races, but nothing like Bhutto’s opponent, which she describes as a military dictatorship that turns its head to terrorists.
Forget our partisan squabbles and just vote. Vote in the primary races this May. (Yes, even Republicans get a chance to do that this time.) Then vote in November’s general election. And do it all again next year.
Become informed before you vote. Talk to your friends. Talk to your opponents. Read newspapers. Ask questions. Write your representatives. Follow issues.
Do it all for the sake of our country. But more importantly do it for the sake of the democracy that allows us to make these choices.
I agree that we should be thankful for the relative freedom we have in this country, but I think we should always be aware (but not fearful) that within a couple months, this country could easily be turned over to Satan and profound government corruption. Our country is made up of sinful humans just like every other. The only reason we aren't horribly oppressed right now is because of God's merciful and sovereign hand, praise His Name.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind, though, that where there is an environment of severe trials and tragedies, people are actually more likely to turn to the Lord and devote themselves to Him. Yes, America has "freedom" - but we often let freedom become the bondage that enslaves us. Our luxury (and all of us live in luxury compared to most of the world) is what makes us spiritually lazy, becoming like this description:
"Now then, listen, you wanton creature, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, 'I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children [live in poverty, be ruled by dictators, etc.].'" Isaiah 47:8
Let us also not forget that obvious corruption is sometimes easier to deal with than corruption disguised as humanitarianism. Research the candidates and vote, yes, but more importantly, PRAY!!! Pray for our leaders, pray for wisdom and discernment, pray for God's will to be done, pray for His glory to be shown, and whatever the circumstances, thank Him that He loves His own and is with us no matter what our government does/says/is.
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king." Daniel 2:20-23
I don't know if anyone will see my response to this post, but I thought I would respond none-the-less.
ReplyDeleteWe need to all remember that this country is based on a tolerance for all the religious and non-religious.
I agree with Laura that we should be thankful for the relative freedom and that within a few short months things can go very badly by a few important people making very selfish, corrupt or just plain stupid decisions. I disagree with the statement that we (americans) are 1) spiritually lazy and 2) that this is due to freedom to make choices.
I won't be quoting the bible to support my opinion here because the bible is not the same thing to me as it is for Laura and it would be completely hypocritical of me to use it in such a way.
First of all, just because someone doesn't believe in God does not make them spiritually lazy. The word Spiritual has many meanings that do not always lead back to religion or God. I find it odd that being spiritual in a way other than God-loving somehow means that someone isn't good (as implied by that quote about being a "wanton creature") or is malicious in their lifestyle with regard to those around them.
Secondly, the freedom that gives us the availability to make our own choices regarding spirituality is what makes this country different from places like Soviet Russia where all religions were consistently persecuted or the former Afghanistan (and parts of it again today) where the Taliban forced religion on those who didn't believe it. Isn't religion supposed to be something you CHOOSE to believe in? Isn't it a little strange to envision that freedom somehow makes us less spiritual or lazy in our spirituality? I would think just the opposite.
Finally, obvious corruption vs corruption disguised as humanitarianism. This statement can go in so many directions. I agree with it in principle. It often seems that politicians are consistently trying to hide true motives within this chimera of humanitarianism. It can get depressing at times. But, as mentioned in Kristin's blog, we still have it better than most in the world and should be appreciative of the fact that our government is still at the mercy of the electorate. The system is far from perfect (elections of 2000 and 2004 are recent proof) but is averages out pretty well and as long as the American people stay informed and active about expressing their regional and national opinions by voting, we'll always be better off than many areas of the world.
And let good people, regardless of where their particular spirituality lay, be good people. Some of us may not use God as our reason for being good, but try hard none-the-less to be good to our neighbors and our world. Let peace and tolerance rule the world.
Thanks for listening to this agnostic.
I must say, you two girls are some of the smartest people I know. You're both thinkers. And you're as different as can be! I love that my column provoked both of you to think.
ReplyDeleteListening to Benazir Bhutto speak the other night was like that for me. I thought about religion some. I thought about God some. I thought about how I have no real idea of what sacrifice and suffering is. And mostly I thought about freedom in a political sense.
We have it so much better than other parts of the world, and what we choose to do with that goodness is up to us. And I choose to believe in God and his grace and his freedom.
But even people who don't believe in God the way I do have the freedom to vote. They have the freedom to contribute to society. And my column intended to encourage all people to play their role in the democratic process.