My friend Rob Jones posted this on Facebook today, and I think people should be reading it. I've reprinted it below.
Please, remember to vote. And know why you vote.
"Into the Fire
Why are you voting for your candidate of choice?
This is an essential question to ask, and often... the answers range from shocking to depressing. Occasionally, I run into someone who has a well-thought, informed set of reasons for voting for a particular candidate. I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that even my own reasons might not be up to the standard I hope to set, mostly due to my cynicism and loss of idealism. But, I think the most important question to ask, particularly in this election is this: What do we need to do in this country for the next four years? I don't think I've seen a reporter, a journalist, a skeptic, and certainly not a politician, ask this question of a candidate yet. We've got plenty of time to ask candidates about the religious beliefs, and who they're friends with, and what moral values they hold, and why they think the other candidate is a douchebag.
Good God.
Speaking of God... God, in whatever form she/he/it exists, has never indicated to us a political party affiliation. God seems to take a stance of non-involvement, bordering on isolationism. America might do some good to learn from that, but I digress. My point is, there have always been, and currently are, many people who vote, legislate, and decide very serious national matters based on religious beliefs.
...?
Really? Is praying going to make the national debt go away? Will diligent prayer make a solution to the wars we're in fall from the sky? Will praying educate our citizens? Praying might lead us to use less of our natural resources, but that's because most people are stationary when they pray.
What do we need to do in this country for the next four years?
How are we gonna do it?
I'm sorry to say, but even in the bible it is stated that prayer without action is useless. We can't rely on faith alone to solve our problems. We need to DO something. My mom always used to tell me, "God helps those who help themselves," and I took her at her word. So, I would like to invite all of you, in these few hours left before you vote, not to vote based on your personal religious beliefs.
While we're talking about beliefs, why should one vote based on a moral issue? The answer is, one should not. A great deal of the time, we are not voting for morally upstanding people. Our political system has a penchant for attracting those who thrive on the accumulation of power. Also, remember the key question we need to ask: What do we need to do in this country for the next four years? Do we need to argue about gay marriage? Abortion? Stem cell research? Can one person really be responsible for the ethics of an entire country, especially one as diverse as this? I think it's foolish, honestly. We can't ask one human being to make the decision that would be right for every one of us. It's really too much to ask, but we ask anyway. So, in an attempt to make us more attentive to the social, economic, political and global issues facing our nation (and these issues are at our door, ready to kick it in,) I'd like to ask you not to vote based on a personal moral issue.
Assume for a moment that everyone in America does this. What will we accomplish? We will be so much closer to an honest and open discussion about who is truly fit to lead this country, and what that candidate plans on doing as president. What we need to do right now is put our personal ethics aside, and vote based on who will fix the problems facing our country.
I know we've all been harassed about voting in the last few weeks. But please vote. And please try, in the midst of all the chaos surrounding this election, to vote for a reason that will make this country more mature. Please vote for something other than your own morals; cast a vote with your fellow countrymen in mind. I know no one tracks your reasons when you mark your votes in the booth: I hope though, that enough of us will ask our politicians to focus on issues and not mudslinging, practicality and not morality. We're not electing an ethical leader, we're electing a national leader. And this country was not founded on the idea that the government should tell people what is and isn't ok to do with their lives: it was founded on the belief that all people, regardless of any quality or characteristic, should be able to enjoy their lives safely and without the intrusion of their government."
- Robert Allan Jones
This is an essential question to ask, and often... the answers range from shocking to depressing. Occasionally, I run into someone who has a well-thought, informed set of reasons for voting for a particular candidate. I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that even my own reasons might not be up to the standard I hope to set, mostly due to my cynicism and loss of idealism. But, I think the most important question to ask, particularly in this election is this: What do we need to do in this country for the next four years? I don't think I've seen a reporter, a journalist, a skeptic, and certainly not a politician, ask this question of a candidate yet. We've got plenty of time to ask candidates about the religious beliefs, and who they're friends with, and what moral values they hold, and why they think the other candidate is a douchebag.
Good God.
Speaking of God... God, in whatever form she/he/it exists, has never indicated to us a political party affiliation. God seems to take a stance of non-involvement, bordering on isolationism. America might do some good to learn from that, but I digress. My point is, there have always been, and currently are, many people who vote, legislate, and decide very serious national matters based on religious beliefs.
...?
Really? Is praying going to make the national debt go away? Will diligent prayer make a solution to the wars we're in fall from the sky? Will praying educate our citizens? Praying might lead us to use less of our natural resources, but that's because most people are stationary when they pray.
What do we need to do in this country for the next four years?
How are we gonna do it?
I'm sorry to say, but even in the bible it is stated that prayer without action is useless. We can't rely on faith alone to solve our problems. We need to DO something. My mom always used to tell me, "God helps those who help themselves," and I took her at her word. So, I would like to invite all of you, in these few hours left before you vote, not to vote based on your personal religious beliefs.
While we're talking about beliefs, why should one vote based on a moral issue? The answer is, one should not. A great deal of the time, we are not voting for morally upstanding people. Our political system has a penchant for attracting those who thrive on the accumulation of power. Also, remember the key question we need to ask: What do we need to do in this country for the next four years? Do we need to argue about gay marriage? Abortion? Stem cell research? Can one person really be responsible for the ethics of an entire country, especially one as diverse as this? I think it's foolish, honestly. We can't ask one human being to make the decision that would be right for every one of us. It's really too much to ask, but we ask anyway. So, in an attempt to make us more attentive to the social, economic, political and global issues facing our nation (and these issues are at our door, ready to kick it in,) I'd like to ask you not to vote based on a personal moral issue.
Assume for a moment that everyone in America does this. What will we accomplish? We will be so much closer to an honest and open discussion about who is truly fit to lead this country, and what that candidate plans on doing as president. What we need to do right now is put our personal ethics aside, and vote based on who will fix the problems facing our country.
I know we've all been harassed about voting in the last few weeks. But please vote. And please try, in the midst of all the chaos surrounding this election, to vote for a reason that will make this country more mature. Please vote for something other than your own morals; cast a vote with your fellow countrymen in mind. I know no one tracks your reasons when you mark your votes in the booth: I hope though, that enough of us will ask our politicians to focus on issues and not mudslinging, practicality and not morality. We're not electing an ethical leader, we're electing a national leader. And this country was not founded on the idea that the government should tell people what is and isn't ok to do with their lives: it was founded on the belief that all people, regardless of any quality or characteristic, should be able to enjoy their lives safely and without the intrusion of their government."
- Robert Allan Jones
Please, remember to vote. And know why you vote.
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