You may or may not agree with me as you read. Please be willing to read to the end before making any judgments. Thank you.
Politics and opinions: I am not one who normally gets too involved in politics. I often have a thing or two to say but I try not to get too deep into it. I do this because I find the deception and misleading statements of potential candidates distasteful and disgusting. Yet I find myself talking about this election more and more. There are so many opinions about this one too. Those who dislike Clinton and feel that our country will be destroyed unless she is defeated. Those who believe that Trump is so bad that unless HE is defeated we are all doomed. Those who feel that both candidates are bad choices and therefore they are going to vote for a third party. Those who want to write in a candidate who didn't make it or a friend who is 35 and over. Those who are considering staying home or not voting for the office of president. So many different opinions.
Discussions: Those opinions are leading to some good discussions. In person I have talked to WAY more people who have said they won't vote for either than those who are confident that they have to vote for one to avoid another. Yet, I also know many people who have said they WILL vote for one of them and it is specifically to help make sure that the other is not elected.
Shaming:
Having a low opinion about someone or someone's decision is very different than trying to cause someone to have a low opinion about themselves. I can't force you to have a good opinion of me or to respect my opinions. In fact, I wouldn't want to because I like differing opinions because they help us grow.
"If you aren't going to vote for one of the two main candidates then you shouldn't even go."
"If you don't vote for Trump or Clinton then you are throwing your vote away."
"Taking the 'moral high ground' is selfish."
There was another instance where I and others were told that we were being naive and stupid if we didn't vote for one of the candidates. The other three statements have all been made to me and mostly recently.
Can I be honest with all of you? So far it has only been Republicans or Republican leaning voters who have tried to push this on me and others. Those people would probably argue "well the Democratically leaning voters are happy to have you not vote for either because they want Clinton to win." False! The Democratically leaning voters that I have talked to have specifically told me they won't vote for Hillary either and are not sure what to do, but they are more respectful of my choice to vote. *just sayin'*
Can we not have a discussion and agree to disagree or does everyone have to agree with you? Isn't your argument strong enough to sway me without trying to make me think less of myself or be so ashamed that I change my decision?? Can someone not vote to their conscience even if you don't agree. I could point you to the New Testament and make a strong argument that your shame methods have the potential to make another Christian stumble in their conscience or in their morals. Does that mean they are right and you are wrong? Absolutely not! This post is NOT about right and wrong. It is about the right to make this decision for ourselves and not feel pressured to do it someone else's way!
(Addition: I have since talked to one of these people and they've helped me understand their argument and I now understand where they are coming from. I may not agree still, and I don't agree with the wording, but I appreciate the extra dialogue.)
My beliefs: I don't believe that the ends justify the means and I don't believe in situational ethics. I believe that both of the main candidates WILL damage our country but in completely different ways. I believe that God is sovereign and He doesn't need me, you, or the United States of America to fulfill His plans. I praise God that He has chosen to use our country this long and I pray He continues to use it and me and you as long as possible. However, an election doesn't destroy God's plans. Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton are incapable of taking God off-guard or destroying His plans. Could it get ugly here before things are all said and done? Absolutely! However, I trust God to provide for me, my family, and all others who believe in Him. That's it. That assurance is going to walk me through this election and out the other side without being depressed or ashamed of my actions.
You may make a completely different decision than I do in this election. I respect that and I will NOT think less of you because of your choice. However, even if I do *says while smiling* I promise not to try to make YOU think less of YOURSELF for your decision!
Will I vote? Is it "throwing my vote away"? I will vote and it is NOT throwing my vote away. I believe that this election above any other I'm aware of has the most potential for third party votes to NOT be throw away votes.
OK, I want to end by talking to the folks who are considering either not voting or not filling in the spot for president. You DO have a voice. No matter what anyone tells you. In this election could it be a whisper that is drowned out by the crowd? Maybe. But you still have a voice and you should plan to exercise it. Imagine an election where the winner wins with 45% while their opponent wins with 40%. Now imagine an election where a candidate wins with 35% and their opponent with only 30%. While they still win, a statement CAN be made without refusing to go to the ballot box on election day. God has given us the privilege of living in a nation where we have the right to vote! Let's exercise that right.
To GOD be the glory.
Politics and opinions: I am not one who normally gets too involved in politics. I often have a thing or two to say but I try not to get too deep into it. I do this because I find the deception and misleading statements of potential candidates distasteful and disgusting. Yet I find myself talking about this election more and more. There are so many opinions about this one too. Those who dislike Clinton and feel that our country will be destroyed unless she is defeated. Those who believe that Trump is so bad that unless HE is defeated we are all doomed. Those who feel that both candidates are bad choices and therefore they are going to vote for a third party. Those who want to write in a candidate who didn't make it or a friend who is 35 and over. Those who are considering staying home or not voting for the office of president. So many different opinions.
Discussions: Those opinions are leading to some good discussions. In person I have talked to WAY more people who have said they won't vote for either than those who are confident that they have to vote for one to avoid another. Yet, I also know many people who have said they WILL vote for one of them and it is specifically to help make sure that the other is not elected.
Shaming:
Having a low opinion about someone or someone's decision is very different than trying to cause someone to have a low opinion about themselves. I can't force you to have a good opinion of me or to respect my opinions. In fact, I wouldn't want to because I like differing opinions because they help us grow.
"If you aren't going to vote for one of the two main candidates then you shouldn't even go."
"If you don't vote for Trump or Clinton then you are throwing your vote away."
"Taking the 'moral high ground' is selfish."
There was another instance where I and others were told that we were being naive and stupid if we didn't vote for one of the candidates. The other three statements have all been made to me and mostly recently.
Can I be honest with all of you? So far it has only been Republicans or Republican leaning voters who have tried to push this on me and others. Those people would probably argue "well the Democratically leaning voters are happy to have you not vote for either because they want Clinton to win." False! The Democratically leaning voters that I have talked to have specifically told me they won't vote for Hillary either and are not sure what to do, but they are more respectful of my choice to vote. *just sayin'*
Can we not have a discussion and agree to disagree or does everyone have to agree with you? Isn't your argument strong enough to sway me without trying to make me think less of myself or be so ashamed that I change my decision?? Can someone not vote to their conscience even if you don't agree. I could point you to the New Testament and make a strong argument that your shame methods have the potential to make another Christian stumble in their conscience or in their morals. Does that mean they are right and you are wrong? Absolutely not! This post is NOT about right and wrong. It is about the right to make this decision for ourselves and not feel pressured to do it someone else's way!
(Addition: I have since talked to one of these people and they've helped me understand their argument and I now understand where they are coming from. I may not agree still, and I don't agree with the wording, but I appreciate the extra dialogue.)
My beliefs: I don't believe that the ends justify the means and I don't believe in situational ethics. I believe that both of the main candidates WILL damage our country but in completely different ways. I believe that God is sovereign and He doesn't need me, you, or the United States of America to fulfill His plans. I praise God that He has chosen to use our country this long and I pray He continues to use it and me and you as long as possible. However, an election doesn't destroy God's plans. Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton are incapable of taking God off-guard or destroying His plans. Could it get ugly here before things are all said and done? Absolutely! However, I trust God to provide for me, my family, and all others who believe in Him. That's it. That assurance is going to walk me through this election and out the other side without being depressed or ashamed of my actions.
You may make a completely different decision than I do in this election. I respect that and I will NOT think less of you because of your choice. However, even if I do *says while smiling* I promise not to try to make YOU think less of YOURSELF for your decision!
Will I vote? Is it "throwing my vote away"? I will vote and it is NOT throwing my vote away. I believe that this election above any other I'm aware of has the most potential for third party votes to NOT be throw away votes.
OK, I want to end by talking to the folks who are considering either not voting or not filling in the spot for president. You DO have a voice. No matter what anyone tells you. In this election could it be a whisper that is drowned out by the crowd? Maybe. But you still have a voice and you should plan to exercise it. Imagine an election where the winner wins with 45% while their opponent wins with 40%. Now imagine an election where a candidate wins with 35% and their opponent with only 30%. While they still win, a statement CAN be made without refusing to go to the ballot box on election day. God has given us the privilege of living in a nation where we have the right to vote! Let's exercise that right.
To GOD be the glory.
