2-15-16<\/p>\n
This crazy political season is notable for several things. First\u2026 its craziness. Second, its politics; that is, we have a virtual saturation of political arguments, political bitterness, political warfare. Like never before.<\/p>\n
I am a political junkie. Politics is my second-favorite spectator sport after baseball; and, as a sometime cartoonist and columnist, politics is also among my favorite team sports.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, in America today, politics virtually has become a contact sport too; a blood sport.<\/p>\n
I was reminded of that fact this week when I listened to two people arguing over issues, using the most abusive and foul language, personal attacks and insults, dirty words and exaggerated claims. And that was just two grandmothers at a local McDonald\u2019s. OK, not really, but nearly the case across the fruity plain. <\/p>\n
The problem is that politics permeates every aspect of our lives these days. You cannot think of an issue that has not been politicized, from children\u2019s playground activities to workplace conversations, the size of soda containers to opinions on movie awards. Notice I do not address partisanship<\/em> \u2013 I do not mean Democrat vs Republicans; nor even liberals vs conservatives.<\/p>\n The Political Tendency is a virus that is, rather, an aspect of our busy-body culture, basically a totalitarian impulse. We have been persuaded that it is our duty to persuade. Or cudgel. People must agree with us. Every idea is merely the first half of a debate\u2026 that must be won. People who disagree with you are not only wrong or even deluded, but morally reprehensible.<\/p>\n When I maintain that this imperative has infected all of society, I cannot exclude religion. It is within our faith life, as a nation, in fact, where this new ethos runs most rampant. It doesn\u2019t merely run; it sprints; gallops. <\/p>\n One of the distillates of this cultural fermentation is being served up in the current presidential campaign. I have come to the point of gagging every time I hear the term \u201cEvangelical\u201d in the news, in speeches, in analyses.<\/p>\n Are you an Evangelical? There is no denomination simply called Evangelical (in Germany the Lutheran Church, though, is formally called Evangelische) although it survives in a couple adjectives. The word and its root is associated with evangelizing\u2026 and only a small percentage of \u201cEvangelical\u201d voters are those who approach strangers or ring neighbors\u2019 doorbells to convert people to belief in Christ.<\/p>\n No, the word \u201cevangelical,\u201d to paraphrase Peter (who referred to love), covers a multitude of sins. That is, under the umbrella can be found Fundamentalists and Pentecostals and Born-Again believers and Orthodox and traditionalists. Uneasy allies like Primitives and Catholics, meeting in anti-abortion battles. Socially conservative Seekers and socially liberal Emergents. Old-school worshipers and Post-Modern innovators. Black, White, Hispanic. Mennonites, Quakers, and the Urban Churches.<\/p>\n We have differences, but common interests. We might not be unified, necessarily, but we are united on many, many issues. We all believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and our hearts bleed for His Kingdom. And, by the way, also among us, according to surveys about attitudes among people of faith, are conservative and Orthodox Jews; Mormons and other traditions; and I am sure certain conservative Muslims who also care about patriotism and safety, morality and security.<\/p>\n Memo, then, to politicians and the media: stop lumping us all as \u201cEvangelicals\u201d and taking us for granted until election day. You display your ignorance, and your contempt. Let me explain it this way \u2013 not exactly a verse from scripture, but you will get the gist: Shut up. Stop pretending that you know us (or are one of us!)\u2026 learn who we are\u2026 share our concerns, or don\u2019t; but get to know us.<\/p>\n This political junkie, offered the distilled spirits from the political still this year, is ready to take the pledge. To “swear off.”<\/p>\n Ever since I was a child in chronological terms, I have heard people claim they were resigned to voting for the \u201clesser of two evils.\u201d I have said so myself, scarcely acknowledging that the lesser of two evils is still, by definition, evil. I used to say, \u201cI don\u2019t vote for any of the politicians; it only encouragers them.\u201d<\/p>\n This year, for me, there are more candidates than usual who I can tolerate, or even admire. But the campaigns, in both parties, have devolved to infantile food fights. Insults. Petty \u201cgotchas.\u201d Wild claims. Personality clashes. Name-calling. \u201cDid too \/ did not\u201d spitting matches. And not, this time, old birds in McDonald\u2019s, or even my young grandchildren. But, among them, leaders of the greatest country on earth, ready to sit for portraits to be displayed next to Washington, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. <\/p>\n It is demoralizing. The insults really are suffered by us, the voters. I think I will cast my vote for the first candidate who says, \u201cI don\u2019t care what you say about me. I am going to talk about what I propose to do as president.\u201d Even if that is somehow uttered by a candidate\u2019s dog. <\/p>\n But as a Christian, especially, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of candidates who talk down to me\u2026 who take my vote for granted\u2026 who stereotype us\u2026 who pander to our supposed views, which are precious and basic and essential; views that are not for sale at any price. <\/p>\n Politicians and candidates should learn-and-earn. If they thirst for our votes, let us require them to recognize our standards and values, not our clich\u00e9d labels. We are patriotic citizens of faith who care about our nation, its heritage, and our common future. We have shadows of difference, as significant as, yes, the things that unite us as a bloc. Learn what they are! It is not difficult. Then<\/em> talk to us.<\/p>\n Stop insulting each other; stop insulting us; and, for once in your careers, all of you\u2026 remember us between elections. <\/p>\n + + +<\/p>\n