The world is not as it ought to be.
I’ve never brought politics into my blogging world, and that’s not really my intention today. But with my topic focused on waking up and thinking for yourself, I can’t help but look at the election and the choices before all of us Americans.
How did we get to this place?
It appears people are willing to make a choice they don’t believe in because it’s all they have. They close their eyes and hope for the best.
“…it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts.”
Patrick Henry said that. He implored the people to see that their waiting-to-see-what-will-happen attitude wasn’t justified by anything they’d seen in their past.
“I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been … to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves”
Aren’t we there too?
Smart people, people who understand the ins and outs of politics, people I trust have implored me to ignore the past and overlook our candidates’ character flaws, crimes, and failures. They say this year’s election isn’t about choosing the right person, it’s about stopping the wrong one.
Really?
Shouldn’t it always be about choosing the right person?
Despite how this sounds, I’m not talking about the politics. I’m talking about compromising because we’re out of options.
We always have a choice.
Slavery, Hitler, killing the weak.
Those things didn’t happen all at once. They happened while good people rationalized making a choice they didn’t want to make because they thought there was nothing else they could do. They settled for what was presented to them instead of demanding more. They shut their eyes to their own integrity and beliefs—they stayed silent.
They did what they were told and exchanged what was true for what could be managed. And we all paid for it.
We can do better.
As disturbing as our choices are right now in this election, what I struggle with even more is the resignation of people to make a choice they don’t really want to make because someone’s rhetoric has told them it’s the only choice they have.
Whoever becomes our President will not change the fact that God is still in control. But if we’re not careful the selection of our next leader just might affect the complexion of who we are.
Wake up, Warrior
The very least we can do is not betray our own consciences to make something count. Maybe your vote won’t make a difference to the world. But it will make a difference in you, and perhaps that’s where the real change starts.
One person uncompromised expecting more from his country—from himself.
I’m not saying who to vote for. I’m saying whoever you vote for, you better stand behind them. The choice is yours. Take the responsibility seriously and you might make more of difference than you thought you could.
