Kindness is Necessary

It's fall, and I've found myself missing so many things from home - rain, cold weather, thick sweaters and hot coffee.  But I was reminded recently about something that makes me incredibly glad to be away from America right now: ELECTION SEASON.  As posts trickle through my mini-feed, I'm filled with happiness that I'm not being hounded by vicious advertising campaigns and zealous political fiends that chase you down in the streets.

In my experience, election season highlights the following attitudes/assumptions:

1. If you do not wish to discuss political issues with me, clearly you have no conviction or courage.
2. If you do not agree with my political viewpoint, then you lack information or common sense.
3. My perspective is fueled by my conviction.  If you have the same information and come to a different conclusion, you're essentially amoral.
4. Your own opinions, deductions and rationales are not good enough, because you'll probably make an emotionally based decision, which is stupid.  Quote someone or give me a statistic so I can know whether or not you are a valid person to listen to.
5. If I out-talk you for any reason (or get other people to laugh at you) I win, and you're stupid.
6. If you out-talk me, (or get people to laugh at me) you are calling me stupid.

Thus we beat each other up with information and hateful slogans.  We demean and tear down fellow Americans if we deem that their moral convictions aren't in the right order.  When did WE become God?  Frankly, no one person can be correct about everything, which means by default that you may just be wrong once in a while.  Nothing exempts you from this - it's part of the privilege of being human.  You know what else?  If your convictions draw you to a few major issues, it doesn't mean that another person is stupid or evil for prioritizing something else.  Frankly, no one can be an expert at everything.  We NEED this variety to create a healthy society.

I am blown away every election season by the waves of contempt and contentious language that American people pour over one another.  I don't care who you are or what you are promoting: if you can't make your point without slandering the intelligence or moral acuity of your opposition, then you are not a persuasive person, you're a socially accepted bully.

Americans have allowed mob-mentality and bullying to be the driving force of our political fervor.  I'm not just talking about the official campaigns - I'm talking about the conversations that happen standing in line at the grocery store.

I found this quotation by John Wesley, and I find it very fitting:

Let's say (hypothetically) that you found out John Wesley DIDN'T actually say this.  Does that make the message any less true?

To my fellow Christians:  God told humans they were stewards of the earth (environmental rights).  He's also told us to build and grow (small business protection).  He clearly sets standards for ethical treatment of immigrants and foreigners (minority rights) and protection of the weak and defenseless (abortion, child rights, and ethical treatment of animals).  He also REPEATEDLY champions for the widow, orphan and poor and condemns societies that leave them unsupported (welfare).  Chances are, one of those things I just listed made you angry because you associate it with a particular party.  God has charged us with ALL of those responsibilities, not just issues that seem to be clearly upright or immoral.  It can be muddy and messy and grey - that's why so many people have to work on it together.  Above all, the way we choose to speak - and the issues we avoid due to discomfort - reflect not only on us, but the God we serve.

Kindess during the election season is not weakness or lack of fortitude.  It is necessary.  It's commanded by Jesus, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' even if you think his politics are stupid.  Be smart.  Vote well.  Live well.  Be kind to one another.