So far I have avoid actual political blogs. Partly because I do think that each of us must make those decisions for ourselves and our family.
Yet this political season is filled with such hate and anger that my heart weeps. That we have come to a place in our nation that we let our personal opinions on candidates dictate our friendships and hurt our families is awful. And yet I write those words with the compassion as one who struggles with choices family members are making.
At the beginning of this political season I hoped that the republican party would simply split and one of the more mainline people (a certain person from Ohio) would take the nomination. He had my vote in the primary. As the election went on and slowly but surely only two remained it became clear to me that this season isn't about the candidates that we have chosen to hate, it is instead about the society that is moving to fast.
For some of us progress is not only good and natural but it isn't new. Once I left the town I was born into and moved to Atlanta, GA my world was opened. I had a gay hairdresser that liked to dress in drag and I never knew which personality was going to cut my hair. I worked in an office that helped transgender people to look more like the gender they identified with. I went to a school that had diversity. I was't just told woman could do and be anything, I believed it. I knew I would be a leader one day. To me gay rights and marriage equality laws just make sense. To me, it was a social injustice that my friends didn't get medical information or inheritance or even insurance with those they loved.
But now I live in rural upstate NY. Where everyone is not only white but they are blond and blue eyed! (Ok that last part is only a small lie). Where not that many people come out of the closet and were my kind of theology is not only "pushing the limits" but is just plain "unChristian" in some eyes. Here men go to work and woman do whatever they can to help their families' end meet; some work, some do farm work, some stay-at-home. Some are open minded but those ones usually leave. In this America things have moved fast for them. In this America they are losing their jobs because factories are closing for bigger, better and more mechanical ones; clean energy is replacing nuclear plants and age is hurting buildings. Here most people are poor. And here, slowly the role of the "man" is being taken away. There are men who are staying at home with the children or working on the house or doing whatever while the woman goes out and makes the money. This role shift in a city might not seem like a "big deal" but for those who identity revolves around providing for their families, this is not a reversal that is taking ground. Men are losing their identity. And unlike little girls who we proclaim can be "anything they want to be." We are not providing that same message to our little boys. More women are getting higher education then men.
America is divided not just in the cities with the suburbs and the inner city, not just with the blacks and the whites; we are divided by the men and the women.
The paradox that this election has created with the over-the-top male vs. the typical step on any one to get to the top female needs to be discussed.
Were we ready 8 years ago for a black President? Some of us were for sure! But it has opened my eyes to the real racism that still exists today. And for sure has this election been an eye opener to the real problems in America - problems that are not being addressed.
Churches are full of these woman. And many churches are reaching out to those in the rural areas. But again, if we do not address the needs we cannot address the problems. We cannot make more jobs we don't have that kind of prayer power. But we can listen and we can create room for families, of all shapes, sizes and of course roles. We can help our children by instilling in them an identity of who they are as PEOPLE, as children of God. Instead of asking them "what do you want to be?" ask them "what kind of person do you want to be?"
Recently for a project I had to ask a few people a couple of questions, I thought I would get my daughters 6 year old opinion. When I asked her what she wanted her legacy to be, what she wanted people to remember most about her, she said "that I cared for them." This is a much better answer then when previously asked, by someone else, what she wanted to be when she grew up and responded "the first bunny officer" (referring to Zootopia).
When Nov 9th comes, no matter who is president, we have relationships that need to be mended. Recently the news reported that the election is causing anxiety, of course it is! The news won't stop talking about it, even when they are talking about the anxiety of it all. This has become a circus not an election. We live in America. We are suppose to be the examples of democracy to the world, a world in which we have for many decades been pushing our way of thinking and our elections on. We have shamed countries for their mis-use of the elections or their inability to accept defeat. Yet, here we are discussing these same problems within our own country.
Awhile ago heard an expert of some sort on the radio proclaim that democracy is an experiment that won't last. Eventually we will be ruled by some sort of dictator. This was well before this election but I can't help but feel that we have to be better then this. We have to be! We have to show the world that America is better then this. That we do uphold our values and that we are a true democracy not a mud-fight. That as Al Gore did in the 2000 election with Bush, realize when you have to fold them. He walked away, he showed how American leaders really can not only be great but act in the "better" of the common good.
I don't want to know who you vote for on November 8th, but I want to know that on November 9th, as Americas we will stand with our newly elected President ready to move forward. Ready to address the issues that really need to be addressed in this country. Ready to restore relationships and most importantly ready to work on the future. Let someone lose with dignity so that we can raise above this election season and show the world that although America can at times be at their worst, we also have our best! And let us show the world the identity of our diverse nation as one that stands together instead of one that lets leaders pull us apart!
