The Democratic Process v.2008

Quote du jour:

As for that VP talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?--Sarah Palin

I can't help myself. As political theatre this election has been the best ever. I'm having an odd sort of watching for the train wreck kind of fun. It beats the woeful economic news. It's official. Retirement is so 90's.

Anyhow, at the risk of violating separation of church and state and ending up in court - and I should put proper blame on our Congregational and Unitarian (they preferred to be called Arians actually) forebears in Dedham* who really started the ball rolling on that one - I will not editorialize on candidates - just on elections.

*To paraphrase: let the church take care of church business and let the town/parish take care of town/parish business -SJC Dedham Decision, 1820

Today what I really want to say is that voting is religious. Helping other people vote is religious. Upholding fair and free electoral process is religious. Even if we didn't explicitly say that "we affirm and promote the use of the democratic process in our congregations and in society at large". But since we do, I can write these words in a religious education blog. We are a faith tradition that believes we all have the right and the obligation to make our wishes known. As citizens, we should do no less.

Now, I, like many other people, have had a really hard time believing my vote counted for anything in any number of elections. I clearly backed the wrong horses. And I may be doing so again this year. but I will vote as if my opinion mattered. It does. It matters to me and it matters to every politician who took advantage of voter apathy. It matters to every child who will have the the supreme court justices seated by this generation inform their future. It matters to everyone who labors under the weight of illness or poverty, or discrimination. It matters to anyone who is in the military, or national guard and reserves. It matters to our climate and our planet. In this state, it matters to all the human service agencies who depend on tax dollars and to all the people who 'inhaled'.

It matters to everyone who believes in democracy - Democracy only works when we do. And even for the backers of the wrong horse - our numbers count. Everytime we vote, we hold open space for our views, our opinions, our wishes to be considered. Everytime we vote, we offer up a prayer for our society.

So I will challenge all of you to live your faith. Vote. Encourage others to. If you have time, consider working to get out the vote; any party would be glad to have you. And when you are in church on Sunday, remind our children and youth, that whatever your vote is, it is one we make for our today and for their tomorrow.

Vote. It's your prayer made manifest.