I am writing this on Monday morning, so I have no idea what happened in the election. (I have an idea, but I have been wrong –way wrong- in the past.) But one thing is absolutely certain: our country is quite divided. And not only do we have differing views on various issues, it seems politics has become a bit of a blood sport.
“Take no prisoners!” Either you are for us ALL THE WAY, or you are our MORTAL ENEMY.
I reject this notion. In a word, it’s un-American.
I recently listened to a podcast about how to talk about politics with your family. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and, in the past, that has been a tense time for some. The podcast revealed something that I have been thinking about for a long time. The two sides of the political di- vide have more in common than they think they do.
1.) They are both passionate about their points of view.
2.) They both view the other side with contempt and condescension.
3.) They both try (in vain, I might add) to proselytize the other side.
I have nothing against passion and proselytizing, but I do have a problem with contempt and condescension. The next statement is a total opin- ion. I could be wrong. . (I have been wrong –way wrong- in the past.) Nevertheless, I think that the last election might have been lost when a candidate called a large portion of the electorate “deplorables” Why talk down to and denigrate possible voters? Why alienate a substantial number of people, many of whom you may not have even considered to be “in the basket?”
Instead of seeing one another as fellow citizens who have different perspectives, we see each other as evil, backward, repulsive and brainless. I suppose that is where politics is in the 21st centu- ry, but that does not mean that I have to like it.
We all want good things for our families.
We all want justice and the freedom to succeed in life.
We all want an end to violence, oppression and injustice, especially against the most vulnerable.
We all want an end to this pandemic.
And, whether we like it or not, we are all citizens of the United States of America.
May God Bless our land with peace and understanding.
May God Bless America.
Father Kevin