more political reflections....

So, hopefully, I am not boring all my friends out there who were as bored with politics as I was before this semester apparently....

Here are some thoughts that may end up in my paper for Church, Community, and Nation.



We have a democracy—which means what? We are able to use our freedom of expression and individual rights to formulate our own opinions about current events and issues. We are able to reflect on issues in the past and anticipate those of the future. In our democratic nation, there are two main political parties—the democratic and the republican. The majority of Americans fall into one of these categories but there are a few smaller parties that do not receive much attention: the green party, as well as independents. It would be interesting to see why these independents do not claim a party… In my reflection on political parties as a result of this election, I am first hurt and horrified, second angered, and third confused. My concern is about people’s attitudes towards political parties and those in the opposing party.

Even the word opposing is bad. We are in a class [CCN] talking about how not to isolate the other, demonize them, and judge them prematurly, and yet, this is exactly what I felt happening to myself. And what I feel would happen as soon as I stood up in class and identified myself as the minority in the class. I am not going to rationalize my vote, because it doesn’t matter. Judgments have already passed on me. And why should I have to defend myself? Why should you have to defend yourself? I’m not saying we can’t ask questions of the other party, but there is a difference between asking questions and accusing. There has to be a better way to talk about politics and issues than humiliating someone for their beliefs and singling out a group for voting a certain way.

Samuel from Germany who is studying here in America at Princeton Theological Seminary asked me why Americans only talk about politics with close friends—people in Germany and other countries apparently talk openly about politics. You go to the store and the clerk asks you a political question. It is conversational. The other students from differnt countries, he says, wonder the same thing. Politics is not as hush a topic as it is here. "Why is that?" he asked me. I was stumped. Here’s the answer I could not spell out for him then. For Americans, politics is an extremely personal issue--and maybe more importantly is the reaction people receive when they place their personal political views on the table only to have them attacked. Their ideas are pushed off the table and stomped on, without the rest of the table taking time to consider the view or respond to the person as if they were a person with viable thoughts. We are only safe around those we are closest too and even then we are reluctant to speak. I for one have never made a specific claim for who I voted for because of this reason. I don’t talk about my party affiliation because of this reason. After class on November 5, 2004 I vented my frustrations to this blog—claiming my vote and my femaleness and my Christianity all of which combined had been attacked throughout the week. Afraid? Yes. Because I didn’t want someone to continue questioning me on how I could vote as I did in such a hurtful manner. There were a few responses from both parties--from close friends or people that I don’t know.

I’m not saying to be rid of political parties or that everyone should think the same thing so that we can achieve unity. I am saying that both sides need to be intentional about really listening and understanding the other. We need to work together—that is the unity I am talking about. The name-calling divides us and when we are so divided there is not going to be a stable and reliable government. We’re going to tear ourselves apart running in opposite directions.

In chapel on November 11, 2004, Veterans Day, a military Chaplin spoke. He said that he was talking to a pacifist about the war and that believes that while they both have different views about the war, they are both headed in the right direction. Can this apply to political parties?

I was urged by a fellow classmate, Nathan, to tell my feelings of isolation to the class—I feel like I need to speak up but fear being attacked more.