Today was election day. A major day in the United States to be sure, but this one was different from many in years past. This year was a presidential year. These only come every four years (though you'd never know it with how early everyone starts campaigning). I have mixed feelings about the day.
On the one hand I am proud. Proud to live in a country where I am free to have my own opinions and express my will for the country along with all of my fellow citizens. I am grateful for the many men and women who have fought abroad and on home soil so that each and every one of us has that right. Many have sacrificed personal desires, freedoms, and often life for such a privilege. Whether it was a family trekking across the Atlantic with next to nothing for the freedom this country promised, a slave instilling a sense of self-worth into his child and a knowledge that he was not a lesser being because of his skin color, or a woman enduring scorn and ridicule because she had the audacity to think her voice mattered. These ordinary people endured extraordinary hardships so that we could have all of the amazing freedoms that we so easily take for granted every single day.
On the other hand, I am disgusted. I am disgusted with the politicians, but more so with the people around me. I expected to be disgusted by the politicians. I hate the bickering back and forth, the petty tattle tale ad campaigns, and the sliminess of it all. I didn't expect to be so repulsed by the attitudes, and positions of so many of my friends and family. I found the nastiness of otherwise kind and loving people depressing. I have seriously questioned my high opinions of people based on how disrespectfully they have been willing to be over politics. Yes each and every one of us has the right to an opinion, but if you are going to be so disrespectful to those with whom you disagree with then you might as well live in a dictatorship because that's the only way you'll get everyone to 'agree'.
Speaking of dictatorships, we don't live in one. Thought I'd throw that out there, since everyone seems to think that the presidential race is the be all end all of American politics. Did no one take any history classes in school? The founding fathers came from a strong monarchy, and were determined to have a different form of government. While the role of government involvement in the everyday lives of it's people has shifted back and forth over the years, and one could debate that topic at length, the political system still remains in tact. We have a president who is one of many people in the executive branch of the government. That branch has a system of checks and balances with the house of representatives. Both are required to follow the law as determined by the judicial branch. No one branch has all of the power, and there is no way that the people of this country would ever allow all of the power to rest in the hands of one man.
I have been upset by the misunderstanding of those both with similar religious positions as myself, and those who have very opposing religious views. Many hurtful things have been said about both candidates, and none of it has been very Christ like, as we Christians claim to be. The misunderstandings are not limited to those opposing the views of another. I feel sick every time I hear someone refer to Governor Romney as Brother Romney, or who feel that it is appropriate to try and make his religion a part of Sunday worship. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not endorse any candidate, member or not. The church encourages members to read over the issues, and then to choose candidates who they feel most closely reflect their personal opinions, and they do not state what one's opinion should be. No one should ever select a candidate based on their religious affiliations.
So this morning I sat at my computer as I ate breakfast, and I read over the candidates. I have spent months praying about, and deciding on my own personal opinions regarding politics. I looked at each candidate and tried to forget about my biases against each and every one of them based on their horrible ads, and instead tried to see which ones most closely matched my feelings of good government, and who I felt could be the most effective in that position. I tried mightily to ignore the many terribly unfounded and unabashedly biased comments posted on social media, and selected my choices. I went to the polls on my way to work, and performed my civic duty. I will not disclose who I voted for, but I will say that I did not vote a straight party ticket, and that some of my choices won, and some lost.
I am saddened by the hate and pessimism I am seeing all around me, but despite it all I am grateful for the opportunity to vote. I am grateful to do my part to honor those great men and women who have made it possible for me to do so. I am grateful that no matter who is president, or is elected to congress, I will still be able to go to work tomorrow morning and earn a living. I will still be able to go to the grocery store and buy the food I choose. I will still be able to attend church on Sunday and worship as I see fit. My college degree will still be valid, and I will still be able to route for my team come game time. I will still have books on my shelf of my choosing, and access to the media I choose. I am proud to be a woman. I am proud to be a Mormon. I am proud to be an American.
