History repeating itself

It’s been 72 hours since the election. I am struggling big time. Appalled at the hate-filled comments I am reading and hearing every day on social media. Disappointed with the lack of respect for the political process. Disgusted at the lack of respect for each other.

I am perplexed at the comments about God controlling this election, or any election for that matter. We are a nation made up of multiple religions. To suggest that the Christians have cornered the market, and our God divinely intervened to ensure Donald Trump became our president again makes zero sense to me. Yes, as Christians we pray for change, we pray for hope, we pray for peace. But God gives us free will. And we use that free will to choose who to vote for. As Christian Americans, do we really think we’re that special?  And does my not believing in most of our elected officials because they are self-serving and manipulative on both sides of the aisle, mean I am not a good Christian? I don’t believe it does.

There has been conflict in this country since the beginning. The distressing thing is not just the polarizing way in which we discuss and debate the issues, but the way we seem to forget that we are all human beings. Every four years the righteous indignation grows. It’s at a fever pitch now.

Entire political parties including their constituents are lumped together, vilified for choosing the path that best represents their own beliefs. Don’t you realize the louder you scream that Donald Trump “took out the trash”, you are calling your neighbors trash? What happened to “love thy neighbor as thyself”?

I’m disgusted at the immature behavior exhibited by many I consider to be friends, many who are family. In my world I see everyone as equal. I believe we all deserve the same liberties, the same protections. I struggle every election to choose a candidate because no matter who I choose, someone else is going to be affected by that choice. There will never be a perfect candidate for either party. Perhaps we should try to figure out how to stop the never-ending cycle of voting in and voting out basic human rights? Perhaps we should stop choosing candidates that swing so far to the right or to the left that the opportunity to compromise on some issues can no longer present itself.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

My mom and dad both served in the United State Air Force. I believe we owe every soldier who has ever served, every soldier who has ever died, the honor of respecting the process and respecting each other in the process, no matter how vast or wide our differences are. We clearly have a long way to go.

Until then I’ll remain hopeful, love on my people, and try to look past all of the hate. My grandmother used to tell me that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I’m pretty sure a lot of y’all have been pickled, but I still love ya.