Post election politics
07/11/12 05:23
You don’t read my blog for political commentary. And the politicians don’t read my blog, so any political advice I might give wouldn’t be taken seriously by those in power. Furthermore, politics is not my area of expertise. I ran for class president in the seventh grade and I ran for student council in high school. Having lost those elections doesn’t seem to have marred my life in any way. I have been happy, healthy and enjoyed a meaningful career. My marriage and family life have been fulfilling and joyous.
The election, however, is the dominant subject in the news today and it has been the dominant subject in my conversations with friends and church members over the past few days. It seems appropriate to offer a few comments, for what it is worth.
Despite the way the presidential campaign felt, with the candidates focusing on a few key states and ignoring the rest of us, we all participated in the election. South Dakota is identified as a red state and the campaigns of both parties assumed that our electors would be voting for Governor Romney and Senator Ryan. In that climate it is important to remember that 39% of South Dakotans voted for the reelection of President Obama and Vice President Biden. The fact that the majority voted in the manner predicted doesn’t mean that those in the minority have ceased to exist. 39% of South Dakota represents a lot of people and they are our friends and neighbors as surely as those who voted Republican.
A similar reality should be noted by our lone Representative. Kristi Noem handily won reelection to a second term in the United States House of Representatives. But 42% of her constituents who voted cast their ballots for Matt Verilek. She has been elected, but she would do well to remember that a significant slice of the people she represents do not share all of her views. An effective representative goes to the legislature with more than her or his personal views. It is easy to represent those with whom you agree. It takes a real stateswoman to represent all of the constituents.
Our political map remains very similar to the recent years. Republicans control the House of Representatives. Democrats hold the majority in the Senate. We have all of the makings of another season of political gridlock. The politics of opposition give their players considerable power to block legislation. History, however, will not be kind to those who only obstruct. The American people expect and deserve more from our legislative branch of government.
I know these things in part because I serve a diverse congregation. I don’t know the exact percentages and I suspect that we aren’t quite typical of the whole state of South Dakota, but I do know that I have ardent supporters of both political parties in my congregation. I serve people who voted both ways on nearly every choice that was put before the voters.
A few weeks ago, church member Kenny Putnam snapped a picture in our church parking lot that says quite a bit. In a single photograph he captured cars sprouting bumper stickers for and against the president, for the two major candidates in the house race, and an environmental message. Were we to photograph all of the cars in the parking lot, there would be a lot more opinions. And the majority of the members of the congregation don’t display their political opinions on the windows and bumpers of their cars.
As pastor of the congregation, I don’t mind telling our members how I vote, but I don’t presume to be able to tell them how they should vote. I am aware that not every pastor agrees with me. I have colleagues who are less than subtle in trying to influence the votes of the members of their churches. And I know a lot of congregations that tend to be collections of people who agree with each other on theology and politics.
At this point of my life, I have little interest in serving a congregation where the people always agree with each other. Sure, there can be some awkward moments as I try to serve people who see things in a radically different way than I do. Yes, I end up reading a fair amount of forwarded e-mail that is, in my opinion, objectionable. On occasion, I have even thought of subscribing a couple of the members of my church to each other’s e-mail distribution lists. They both have sent me e-mails vilifying opinions taken by the other.
But I don’t want us to be the same. I don’t want us to always agree. I don’t want to quiet the voices of those who have different opinions. And even though I am sometimes disturbed by the members of the congregation who would like to have me move on and another pastor come to replace me, I don’t want to purge the church of those members. I want to be the pastor of a congregation that honors, respects and empowers all of its members.’
Each week we say these words, “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” I really mean it. I believe that most of the members of our congregation really mean it. If it is to be more than a cheap slogan it has to mean that we welcome those with whom we disagree.
Our country is a complex and diverse group of people. A government forged out of the slimmest of margins is appropriate. A mixed legislature is a reflection of who we are. It is no great thing to elect a divided house. Greatness is getting to work with those with whom you disagree and solving the problems in spite of the disagreements. The American people did not vote for gridlock yesterday. We voted for a government that reflects our wonderfully diverse nation.
Now that the election is over, we expect our representatives to pay more attention to their constituents than to their donors. We expect them to reach across the aisle and work for bipartisan solutions.
We do it every week in our church.
I’m not a politician. I won’t be elected because I have no intention of running. But if I were heading to Washington DC to serve in the House or Senate, I think I’d take time to organize a choir for our legislature. It works at church. Our choir contains Right-wing Republicans and Liberal Democrats. And they sing together with beautiful harmony. A little harmony in Washington would be welcome. And there are some who won the election who wouldn’t be hurt by singing a new tune.
The election, however, is the dominant subject in the news today and it has been the dominant subject in my conversations with friends and church members over the past few days. It seems appropriate to offer a few comments, for what it is worth.
Despite the way the presidential campaign felt, with the candidates focusing on a few key states and ignoring the rest of us, we all participated in the election. South Dakota is identified as a red state and the campaigns of both parties assumed that our electors would be voting for Governor Romney and Senator Ryan. In that climate it is important to remember that 39% of South Dakotans voted for the reelection of President Obama and Vice President Biden. The fact that the majority voted in the manner predicted doesn’t mean that those in the minority have ceased to exist. 39% of South Dakota represents a lot of people and they are our friends and neighbors as surely as those who voted Republican.
A similar reality should be noted by our lone Representative. Kristi Noem handily won reelection to a second term in the United States House of Representatives. But 42% of her constituents who voted cast their ballots for Matt Verilek. She has been elected, but she would do well to remember that a significant slice of the people she represents do not share all of her views. An effective representative goes to the legislature with more than her or his personal views. It is easy to represent those with whom you agree. It takes a real stateswoman to represent all of the constituents.
Our political map remains very similar to the recent years. Republicans control the House of Representatives. Democrats hold the majority in the Senate. We have all of the makings of another season of political gridlock. The politics of opposition give their players considerable power to block legislation. History, however, will not be kind to those who only obstruct. The American people expect and deserve more from our legislative branch of government.
I know these things in part because I serve a diverse congregation. I don’t know the exact percentages and I suspect that we aren’t quite typical of the whole state of South Dakota, but I do know that I have ardent supporters of both political parties in my congregation. I serve people who voted both ways on nearly every choice that was put before the voters.
A few weeks ago, church member Kenny Putnam snapped a picture in our church parking lot that says quite a bit. In a single photograph he captured cars sprouting bumper stickers for and against the president, for the two major candidates in the house race, and an environmental message. Were we to photograph all of the cars in the parking lot, there would be a lot more opinions. And the majority of the members of the congregation don’t display their political opinions on the windows and bumpers of their cars.
As pastor of the congregation, I don’t mind telling our members how I vote, but I don’t presume to be able to tell them how they should vote. I am aware that not every pastor agrees with me. I have colleagues who are less than subtle in trying to influence the votes of the members of their churches. And I know a lot of congregations that tend to be collections of people who agree with each other on theology and politics.
At this point of my life, I have little interest in serving a congregation where the people always agree with each other. Sure, there can be some awkward moments as I try to serve people who see things in a radically different way than I do. Yes, I end up reading a fair amount of forwarded e-mail that is, in my opinion, objectionable. On occasion, I have even thought of subscribing a couple of the members of my church to each other’s e-mail distribution lists. They both have sent me e-mails vilifying opinions taken by the other.
But I don’t want us to be the same. I don’t want us to always agree. I don’t want to quiet the voices of those who have different opinions. And even though I am sometimes disturbed by the members of the congregation who would like to have me move on and another pastor come to replace me, I don’t want to purge the church of those members. I want to be the pastor of a congregation that honors, respects and empowers all of its members.’
Each week we say these words, “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” I really mean it. I believe that most of the members of our congregation really mean it. If it is to be more than a cheap slogan it has to mean that we welcome those with whom we disagree.
Our country is a complex and diverse group of people. A government forged out of the slimmest of margins is appropriate. A mixed legislature is a reflection of who we are. It is no great thing to elect a divided house. Greatness is getting to work with those with whom you disagree and solving the problems in spite of the disagreements. The American people did not vote for gridlock yesterday. We voted for a government that reflects our wonderfully diverse nation.
Now that the election is over, we expect our representatives to pay more attention to their constituents than to their donors. We expect them to reach across the aisle and work for bipartisan solutions.
We do it every week in our church.
I’m not a politician. I won’t be elected because I have no intention of running. But if I were heading to Washington DC to serve in the House or Senate, I think I’d take time to organize a choir for our legislature. It works at church. Our choir contains Right-wing Republicans and Liberal Democrats. And they sing together with beautiful harmony. A little harmony in Washington would be welcome. And there are some who won the election who wouldn’t be hurt by singing a new tune.