We can all breathe a huge sigh of relief now that most hectic election season in America's history is over. However, there is very little satisfaction over the outcome of the Presidential portion of the election. I completely understand the temptation to become complacent, but now, more than ever, Americans need to remain politically involved. We need to be vigilant in holding our government leaders responsible. We need to be working to change the political attitude in our country. These are a few areas to begin that change:
1. Thou Shalt Not Blame
The election is over, and for better or worse Donald Trump will be the President of the United States. The blessed thing about living in the United States is that we each have the opportunity to insert our will into how our government is run. While representative democracy has its flaws, we know that when we go to the polls, our voices can be heard just as well as the person in the polling station next to us. You may not be happy with this result of this election, but just as you had the right to express your opinion, so do the people who think differently than you. It is not okay to hate someone for voting differently than you, and it is not okay to hold them responsible for the mistakes our government may make.
2. Thou Shalt not Generalize
If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a thousand times. “Conservatives/ Republicans are all racists, who love guns, and care nothing for the environment.” “Liberals/Democrats are all socialists who want to take away our money and freedoms.” No matter which variation of these statements you’ve heard, let me remind you, every person is a unique individual, and we’ve all experienced different things that have shaped the way we think. I should not be blamed of all the faults of the party I happen to fit into, especially when there are so many instances when I strongly disagree with my part. Generalization dehumanizes people; it emphasizes all the hard-line, rocky attitudes that conformity to party beliefs, and takes away from all the variations that make us unique.
3. Thou Shalt Be Patient
In the next four years, we’re going to watch as a new President struggles to change the world for the better. Some of the methods, laws, and policies are going to be foreign to us and adverse to our familial tastes. However, not everything that is different is bad. Now that we’ve made our choices it is only fair to those that we’ve elected to have a chance at changing things. It will be important to remember that Rome was not built in a day. It will take months or years before we can clearly see changes in society, but patience is the key, and with patience we will persevere.
4. Thou Shalt Think For Thyself
Who can know the challenges we will face in the next four years? One thing is for certain, the political environment in no way lessens personal integrity our responsibility to do the right thing. Just because the election is over does not mean that our role in government has ended. At every turn we have the ability to impact others with our voices, our hands and our hearts. No matter where the government leads us, we have the responsibility to remain faithful to our convictions and to the people around us. The government cannot keep us from confronting injustices in society; the government cannot keep us from rising above the hate in society and acting on behalf of those who cannot. Rise above mob mentality. Rise above corruption. Think rationally and logically, do not take media at face value. Use your voice. Think for yourself.
5. Thou Shalt Be Helpful
There is a difference between stating your opinion for the knowledge of others and obnoxious complaining. Always consider your motives. Are you being helpful and constructive, or are you uselessly taking out your frustrations. Complaining about things you cannot change is not only counterproductive, but it is pointless. Don’t waste your time, and don’t waste the time of other people.
6. Thou Shalt Be Informed
Your ignorance is not an excuse. Being informed of the issues is and always will be your most important responsibility as an American.
“The ignorance of the oppressed is the strength of the oppressor.” – A.R. Bernard
How can you possibly act rationally on behalf of yourself and your loved ones if you do not know the issues surrounding a circumstance? Our first duty is to protect ourselves from the oppression of the government, and the first step is to always be informed.
7. Thou Shalt be Involved
There are many ways outside of elections to be involved in politics. You can appeal to your local representatives in the form of letters and emails. I’ve worked in close proximity to local government, and as a fact your voice does not go unheard. If you feel deeply about an issue in your community, you can go so far as to instigate new legislation. On a simpler level, hold rallies, not violent protests, build petitions. We live in a democratic society, use your voice for its purpose. It is completely unreasonable to blame lawmakers for problems in society when you are not involving yourself in fixing those problems.
8. Thou Shalt Love
There is no such thing as the common human experience. We all have struggles that go beyond what anybody else can understand. It is ever important to be mindful of this when approaching social and domestic issues. It is not our place to judge others because they feel differently about certain issues. Society is not black and white. We need to approach issues involving immigration, abortion, LBGT, racism and sexism delicately. We need to remember that we are all God's children and that He commands us to love each other, so even if you disagree with someone on an issue above all it is our responsibility to love.
9. Thou Shalt Listen
As we seek to love others, we should engage in conversation. Asking questions and listening to what people have to say makes us more empathetic to "the other side." The better we understand others, the less we see them as "the other," and the more we are able to love them and cooperate with them, which makes our country better. Instead of spewing our own opinions, we need to take the time to listen to what others have to say.
10. Thou Shalt Pray
After we have done all that we can do, the most important thing we can do is pray. God doesn’t want us to be idle, but after doing all that is in our capacity, we must leave the situation up to God. God knows better than we do, and He is in control of every situation. His will is always done, so why wouldn’t we seek His favor and His presence?
