I have been thinking a lot about politics and this country that I live in (big shocker since today is election day). It makes me sad that most people do not realize what a blessing it is. Elections have become so ridiculous, and are more about attacking the other candidate than they are about stating what one actually believes in. I told David that if I were registered to vote in Virginia, I would not be voting for local candidates because I do not understand what either of them believe in because all of their commercials and websites are aimed at attacking the other candidate (which everyone knows is mostly lies anyway). I believe this is mostly due to an uneducated America. Not uneducated in the sense that they need to attend more school, but uneducated in the sense that they do not understand the policies of the country that they live in, and do not have any beliefs of their own. I blame this on the bipartisan voting that America has set up. It makes it so people feel they do not have to study the issues. They don't believe they have to seek answers in prayer. Why would you, when people can vote for someone just because he/she wears red or blue or has a greater love for elephants than for donkeys. It makes it so people vote for someone based off the color of his skin or his religious preference and not for the person who most closely supports your personal beliefs or even for the one who actually has the greatest vision for America. So instead of stating issues that a particular party supports they just try to convince you that the other guy is wrong. Because uneducated people are more easily swayed that way.
America is amazing. We are given the opportunity to vote and it is our responsibility to do so, but only after studying out the issues and the people we are voting for. It is awful to see this amazing place so downgraded that we attack each other over our political preferences instead of celebrating the fact that it is okay for us to think differently! I happen to live in a house which is divided, and while frustrations do arise (mostly during election season, thank goodness it is almost over) we understand how amazing it is that we live in a place where we may believe different things and then exercise our freedom and our beliefs in voting for candidates we each believe will best support our idea of what America should be. I often feel bad for our founding fathers, who would surely be appalled at how much division there is, at how we have completely forgotten our blessings and can no longer work together. Instead of seeing Americans, we see Democrats or Republicans.
Voting is a privilege. It is a blessing. It is a right of all Americans. But that doesn't mean we take it lightly, it doesn't mean we see it as an opportunity to be unkind or selfish or rude, and it doesn't mean that just because there are two sides (which we have probably already chosen) that we have an excuse to not study the issues and think carefully about our choices in government. We place far too much responsibility on those who serve, and also far too much blame. It is every American's responsibility to take care of this land. It is every American's responsibility to own up to their mistakes and work hard to fix them (and not always expect to be saved as a mother would do for an accident prone toddler). It is every American's responsibility to ensure that this land will still be free and beautiful for our children and for their children and for their children after that. And part of this is voting for a person who we believe will best support future freedom and happiness, and for me, a person who will more closely support the original God ordained vision of America set forth at it's founding by God fearing men in a beautiful document that has firmly stood the test of time.
Our house may be divided on vision for America, but we still pray to the same Heavenly Father. We still believe in the same Heaven. We both still stand in reverent awe at the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Both of our hands still raise in support of President Monson, a leader which we will never disagree on, and a leader who has greater responsibility and more far reaching affect than even the President of the United States. And we still love each other (though some days our political frustration leads to not liking each other...but only for a minute he he).
So study the issues and go vote today! And hopefully tomorrow we can go back to being Americans, and not Democrats or Republicans.
America is amazing. We are given the opportunity to vote and it is our responsibility to do so, but only after studying out the issues and the people we are voting for. It is awful to see this amazing place so downgraded that we attack each other over our political preferences instead of celebrating the fact that it is okay for us to think differently! I happen to live in a house which is divided, and while frustrations do arise (mostly during election season, thank goodness it is almost over) we understand how amazing it is that we live in a place where we may believe different things and then exercise our freedom and our beliefs in voting for candidates we each believe will best support our idea of what America should be. I often feel bad for our founding fathers, who would surely be appalled at how much division there is, at how we have completely forgotten our blessings and can no longer work together. Instead of seeing Americans, we see Democrats or Republicans.
Voting is a privilege. It is a blessing. It is a right of all Americans. But that doesn't mean we take it lightly, it doesn't mean we see it as an opportunity to be unkind or selfish or rude, and it doesn't mean that just because there are two sides (which we have probably already chosen) that we have an excuse to not study the issues and think carefully about our choices in government. We place far too much responsibility on those who serve, and also far too much blame. It is every American's responsibility to take care of this land. It is every American's responsibility to own up to their mistakes and work hard to fix them (and not always expect to be saved as a mother would do for an accident prone toddler). It is every American's responsibility to ensure that this land will still be free and beautiful for our children and for their children and for their children after that. And part of this is voting for a person who we believe will best support future freedom and happiness, and for me, a person who will more closely support the original God ordained vision of America set forth at it's founding by God fearing men in a beautiful document that has firmly stood the test of time.
Our house may be divided on vision for America, but we still pray to the same Heavenly Father. We still believe in the same Heaven. We both still stand in reverent awe at the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Both of our hands still raise in support of President Monson, a leader which we will never disagree on, and a leader who has greater responsibility and more far reaching affect than even the President of the United States. And we still love each other (though some days our political frustration leads to not liking each other...but only for a minute he he).
So study the issues and go vote today! And hopefully tomorrow we can go back to being Americans, and not Democrats or Republicans.
Great post! Love your passion and insightfulness!
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