Vote for “All of the Above”

Vote for “All of the Above” February 5, 2016

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In this political primary season, as much is revealed about the voters as about the candidates: I have seen photo collages of Clinton’s face showing every filling in her teeth; every grimace and angry glance; every pre-sneeze contortion; every petulant pose. I have seen anti-Semitic cartoons and captions of Sanders depicted as a mentally ill Jewish socialist and how a vote for him means there will never again be a Christmas parade. I have seen countless depictions of Trump’s hair and split-screen depictions (with ominous soundtrack) equating Trump’s political rallies with those of Hitler.

I have been told that everyone hates Cruz and I should too because he is a panderer who will do anything, including destroying nations, in order to gain the rural vote in Iowa. Bush, lest we forget, is a mommy’s boy. Rubio wears elevator shoes and if he is insecure about his height, he will be insecure about foreign and domestic policy. Huckabee and Santorum are religious fanatics who will demolish the separation of church and state. Rand Paul is a libertarian who will outlaw fire departments and foreign aid. Christie cares more about donuts than about people. I know there are other candidates, but I don’t have all day. Oh… let us not forget that the President of the United States is a Muslim.

And let us also not forget that there are wealthy, developed countries where women still have no legal right to drive a car ~ let alone run for President. There are large countries with global trade agreements that have never had an election (or at least an election that is not rigged, or with more than one candidate). There are countries where the transition of power from one government to another has never been peaceful. There are countries where religion is outlawed and persons of faith gather in secret, fearing arrest or death.

Democracy, it seems, is still in an exploratory stage. The “vote” is still out on whether it is a viable form of government in many parts of the world ~ including, perhaps, here. There are many measures of viability and success, of course, including what Jesus referred to as “the least of these” ~ our treatment of the poor, oppressed, marginalized and vulnerable in our midst.

Another measure of success is our civility, or lack of it. When we use a political candidate as a screen upon which to project our own hatred, fear and angst ~ we stumble. When we fail to see the look in our eye as we decry the look in the eye of another ~ we become blind to ourselves and to them. When we objectify, vilify and demonize people with whom we disagree ~ we become vulnerable to despotism and tyranny.

I heartily endorse all candidates. I love it that I live in a land of choices. I am proud that there is a Muslim in the U.S. Congress and that we have a socialist, a Jew and two women running for President. I love the fire of the campaign season! I even love the hot air. And I proudly look forward to the day when ~ whether I get my way or not ~ the next President of the United State will be inaugurated in a peaceful transition of power. And I will wave my flag once again, in hope and prayer that we may some day truly be, “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.”

Dwight Lee Wolter is the author of many books and the pastor of the Congregational Church pf Patchogue on Long Island, New York. He blogs at dwightleewolter.com


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