In Which I Choose Faith and Joy
This election cycle has been a tough one for me. See, I am a Mormon, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like Republican candidate for President Mitt Romney. I am also a registered Democrat, like President Barack Obama.
On the one hand, I couldn’t lose: If Romney won, then it would give people a chance to see me and my beliefs in a different way. For the first time in my life, my political leader would come closer to my religious beliefs than any leader before. And if Obama won (as happened), then I would have a leader who is aligned more closely with many of my personal political beliefs. I would have a president who didn’t want to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act.
On the other hand, I couldn’t win. If Romney won, then it was entirely likely that the AHA would be repealed (as that was a major part of his platform). My religion would most likely be cruelly and maliciously mocked without respect of any sort by those upset with a Republican win. If Obama won, then those who followed a more conservative policy would deem me immoral for having dared vote against a Republican. I would be bombarded by people calling me a traitor and my judgment would be questioned (which did, in fact, happen).
All of this by people whom I would otherwise call my friends.
Facebook, Twitter, and blogs have made uncivil discourse all too easy. People say things through the buffer of the internet that they would never say in person. And this election has allowed people to willfully ignore and disregard the very plain fact that mere disagreement is not an invitation for criticism, name calling, or vilifying.
I don’t mind dissent. It’s the discord and divisiveness I don’t like. It’s the absolute outrage that someone dare disagree with one’s own opinion that baffles me.
For me, I am aware that fully half of voters (I can’t say Americans, because not everyone could or did vote) disagree with the election of Barack Obama. I understand that this half of the population does not agree with many of Barack Obama’s policies. But I also understand this: At least half of the voters did vote for the president. Half of the voters looked at these two candidates and chose Barack Obama.
Does this mean we get to paint the Romney-voting population as right-wing superstitious nuts? Or the Obama-voting population as gun-hating communists? No.
What it means is that among our friends, half of them likely voted for someone we did not. It means that among our friends, we can find disagreement. It means that not all of our friends are direct clones of our beliefs.
It means that everyone deserves a little piece of our respect and consideration.
It means that we can’t paint with such a broad brush and call those who voted for the President (as I have apparently been called) traitors, godless, or haters of America. And we can’t call those who voted for Romney ignorant or backward.
What we need is a little more graciousness. No, you don’t have to agree. That is the beauty of our country. But a little more love and understanding would go a long way. How about we take some deep breaths, stop suggesting it’s the end of the world, and remember that one man in an elliptical office cannot dictate what you do in your own home, your church, or your beliefs?
How about we remember that we are Americans? How about we remember that we still have a freedom of religion? How about we remember that we have our rights guaranteed us by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? If we believe those rights have been infringed, then we have recourse through our judicial system. We have the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. We have the right to vote for other candidates and ballot measures.
But we should always remember that the people we disagree with are family, friends, and dear loved ones. Our anger and divisive statements only serve to separate us more.
As it states in this talk by Elder Quentin L. Cook, a leader in my church, “Live by faith, not fear.”
When we have faith, we have no need to fear. When we have faith, then we have no need to lash out in such fear and anger. Because, as Yoda would tell us, fear is the path to the Dark Side. Don’t go to the Dark Side. Don’t be angry.