I’m not one who often discusses politics with others. It’s just not my thing. I like to be informed, I read, I reflect upon the topic. The process intrigues me, but it’s just not an area I often engage, or at least not directly. Indirectly I do, and sometimes with intent. I don’t embrace any one political party, but rather consider myself a Lyle. I am registered to a party, but only to have a say in the primaries of my state. I’m not sure when I first checked that box just before I turned 18 why I check the one I did, but looking back it is the major party that has candidates that appeal to me more often than the other, but I vote for people of various parties. As many people know today here in the US is what is known as Super Tuesday. Many states of the union are holding their primaries which will lead to delegates being assigned to various political figures who wish to be President of the union.
I have been following the process a bit, but have never engaged myself fully into it. I’ve been keeping informed, but not getting attached to any particular candidate for one primary reason. The state where I vote isn’t going to the drop boxes and mail boxes till May; (I live in the one sate of the union with no polling places, we stopped using them prior to my first time voting). In that time candidates can and often do drop out. So why get attached when he or she might not be on my ballot? Perhaps that is why I skirted the issue, along with the fact that I always skirt the issue, when a friend asked me about it two or three weeks ago. Since that time though I have been a bit engaged by at least one campaign and hope that candidate stays in the race. If so then I may just vote for that person in the primary, maybe not. However the message I am hearing is one I like. I disagree with some policy points and like others, and so it will be probably with anyone. I’m not sure I’ve felt this excitement at possibility with any previous primary campaign. It is a good feeling thinking that there’s someone out there that seems close enough, is presenting a positive vision for the future. A vision that at least to some degree seems to echo mine, even if the reasoning behind the visions is different. (Mine comes from my sense of calling, encounter of faith in and with community, or communal calling as a people…. read all my past post you might get an idea of that vision and what’s behind it). I know that no matter who is elected there will be challenges before them, they will have to deal with many others both elected, un elected, both in this union and with other nations. But if the vision, the dream is there then the possibility for a better, healed and restored world is there as well. It won’t happen in 4 years, or 8. But that can be the start. It won’t happen because of one person, but because of the responses of all. Perhaps that’s part of the message that intrigues me, a sense of “We” in it and not just “I will.” A sense of a desire to get people to care once more and feel empowered to some degree.
So for everyone registered to vote in a state voting Today or in the future. I encourage you to read, reflect, study and VOTE. As you do think of things like:
- What is the candidate’s vision?
- Is it compatible with my own?
- support true justice that leads to reconciliation and healing for all?
- healing of a pained creation? (environment, war…)
- Have I thought them through myself, and truly own them, or am I using someone else’s who forced/pushed or allowed me to grab theirs without thinking?
- Are they compatible with this candidate, why and why not?
I think if we truly engage these questions and vote for those we truly think will lead to that better world, even if we disagree who that is, we will be much better off. If we start to care as a people about the outcome, feel that yes we have the ability to make a change, then we will be one step closer.
Peace
— Lyle II