Seasons

If spring is the easiest time to fall in love, it’s likely because winter is the hardest to weather alone.

Vote For Reason

Please approach the following musings and questions with a gentle, thoughtful, and open mind.  I’m not a politician.  I’m not an economist.  I’m not a philosopher.  I’m not a theologian.  I simply wanted to process and sift through some thoughts wandering through my head, and would love to hear your honest, intelligent perspectives.

Let me begin by saying that I in no way intend to argue against or undermine the Republican Party or its supporters that adhere to the Christian faith.  I write from the following perspective for this reason alone:  I haven’t yet had one person tell me that if I’m a true Christian I must vote Democrat.  But every week, I hear endless argument as to why I’m not following my faith unless I vote Republican.  I know a lot of fallible, imperfect, beautiful Christians that vote Republican and Democrat and Libertarian and Green and Constitutionalist.  Their vote does not determine their identity in Christ.  There is no Jesus Party.

To effectively discuss politics with me, there are three topics you must approach with great care, or preferably avoid entirely: abortion, the War on Terror, and gay marriage:

I believe that abortion is murder.  It breaks my heart that a fourth of our nation’s children are killed before they ever get a chance to breathe and live and love.  But I also believe that our “War On Terror” has resulted in equally atrocious acts of torture and murder against civilians.  I love and support our soldiers and their service.  But that does not mean I support this war on an abstract idea that justifies any actions we deem “right”.  We cannot defeat Terror any more than we can defeat Fear or Hate or Apathy.  We might as well deploy our troops to fight a War On The Seven Deadly Sins.

I believe that homosexuality is immoral.  I also believe that “heterosexuality” is equally immoral outside of the sacrament of marriage.   But my religion is completely separate from the laws of this nation, and just as the church’s declaration of a marriage or annulment has no impact on a couple’s legal standing, nor should their legal standing impact the church.

I give those examples not to lessen their importance in the upcoming election, but to emphasize that the same debates rehashed over and over accomplish little.  You and I might agree on the basic moral tenets of your argument and yet come no closer to an answer than before.  As we draw nearer to this dismal circus commonly know as Election Day, I’m supposed to make an educated decision based on truth and wisdom and what I believe to be right and good.  But what should we do when our beliefs make you want to vote for both parties, or worse, none at all?  Half of the Democrat’s policies are identical to the Republican’s, with minor phrasing differences to make them look a world apart.  And the remaining half leave me torn – I strongly disagree with some ideas, and yet completely agree with others.

I believe it is the role of the church to take care of “widows and orphans in their distress” and that we have been horribly lax in our calling; but in the meantime, millions of children and elderly still need access to health care, food, and shelter.  When attempting to serve those in need, I don’t think the roles of the church and the state are exclusive.  And I certainly won’t decide my vote because “welfare is bad”: If I vote for the Republicans I vote for welfare for the economy.  If I vote for the Democrats I vote for welfare for the poor.

I believe that parents should have the option to choose their children’s education, whether public, private, or home school, and regardless of their choice have access to the same resources to fund and support that education.  Beyond requiring a minimum standard of education, the government should not dictate what curriculums are appropriate, and parents should be able to determine the values with which they will raise their children.  If I vote for the Republicans I vote for school vouchers and more freedom for parents.  If I vote for the Democrats I vote for a unified school system with a common standard.

I believe that we should spend less time worrying about illegal immigrants and instead focus on streamlining the path to citizenship.  I have a friend that is here illegally, but his little sister was born in America.  As her primary support, and the closest thing to a father she knows, he has two options.  He can stay in America illegally with limited job opportunities, no ability to obtain financial aid to pursue an education, and a consistent risk of being deported.  Or he can go back to his country and spend years attempting to apply and reenter the country legally, which would require either interrupting his sister’s schooling and taking her back with him, or leaving her alone in America.  In short, he has no options.  If I vote for the Republicans I vote for a policy upholding our need for national security.  If I vote for the Democrats I vote for my friend to find a home in America.

I believe we should teach abstinence in sex education courses.  I also believe that we are naive and foolish to assume that will be enough.  Abstinence should be part of a holistic approach to sex education that includes information on STDs, safe sex practices, and provision of birth control for sexually active teens, teaching students that abstinence is the only 100% effective form of birth control without expecting them to subscribe to a particular value system.  If I vote for the Republicans I vote for the values I believe in.  If I vote for the Democrats I vote for sexual education that works in the presence or absence of religion, thereby reducing the number of teen pregnancies.

Perhaps you see my problem.  How do you put a label and a vote on the convictions of the heart?  There is no “right answer.”  But what is yours?

As you respond, please keep in mind two frustrations I commonly encounter when attempting a reasonable and fair dialogue about controversial political topics:

1) Don’t try to argue with my personal beliefs:  “Abortion is murder, but war isn’t.”  I believe what I believe and that shouldn’t and won’t change.  Tell me how to vote in light of my beliefs, not despite them.

2) Don’t try to make my political choice a religious issue as well: “All Christians must rally together against the evil of the Democrats, as they seek to undermine the foundations of our Christian nation and deliver us into Satan’s hands.”  I believe that neither presidential candidate is a “tool of the Devil” and that each is genuinely working for the good of our nation as best they see it.

So, I ask you, Republicans and Democrats alike:  Can anyone give me a practical answer as to why I should vote for your party of choice?  I’d love to hear some thoughts about economics, or the Constitution, or the role of federal versus state governments, or the environment, or anything else you might have to offer.