Tonight America lost. Not our nation, our families. America the nation won. We voted, and the guy who got the most votes will remain in office, consequences be damned. That’s how it should be, even if the resulting victor and his policies are antithetical to our Republic.
But our families lost.
2010 NC Primary
In 2010 we took our son to the polls. He couldn’t talk or walk, but it was important that he be there. And today, countless times I explained to this now three year-old that it was election day. Mommy, Daddy and our neighbors were voting for the President, the Governor and other elected officials. He said “ok”. He had no clue.
But its important. My boys are going to grow up discussing elections and politics, faith, world events and the community that surrounds them. Sometimes they will agree with me, sometimes they may not…. but they must be informed and form valid opinions for themselves. I would be just as happy raising a liberal who could back up his viewpoint with solid reasoning as a conservative who knows that dad is always right. Almost. The viewpoint is not as important as how he gets there. The reasoning better be solid, or I’ll make it crack.
As I contemplate what America has chosen for herself and the anecdotes from this election season, there is no doubt this is where the Republic has fallen short. Our ideas aren’t failing. But the kitchen tables, the family discussions… the very incubators of democracy are.
Families who openly discuss and debate politics are the exception. We can’t talk about it at work, we don’t discuss it in polite company, and rarely do we around the dinner table. Comments about the administration are usually reserved for a fleeting whisper for someone we believe is on our side. Our churches can’t get in the mix, for fear of alienating part of the congregation or placing their tax status in jeopardy. And heaven forbid you support a candidate on twitter or facebook where you are likely to be unfriended or attacked. Our interactions are reserved for group-think websites and an increasingly partisan media that preaches to us rather than research what is actually going on.
When you are lucky enough to find a conversation, its reduced to trite quips, campaign talking points, or a regurgitation of the nightly news. Adults (who I otherwise think are intelligent) couldn’t express their vote for Obama to me today other than “we gave Bush for years”. Media is plagued with stories, not about issues, but about Obama Phones or who had the best zingers on the campaign trail or last debate. The actual discussion of issues, about the direction of our nation and which policies are best for the next generation were reduced to charges of racism or bumper sticker drivel. The actual issues that shape are nation are no where to be found.
We are no longer a right of center nation. Not because our people aren’t, but because our people aren’t engaged or informed. We don’t discuss philosophy around the table and strengthen our views in a battlefield of ideas. We let the elite media dictate to us how we should feel, what we should believe, and how we should act. And any who fall out of line are chastised, ridiculed and marginalized. We let grammar schools force our kids to read books supporting homosexuality, to ridicule their faith’s teaching about creation, and to sell them the lies of redistribution utopia. We encourage universities to indoctrinate our youth, their Academic standing may depend on it. We let the corporate “news” monopolies hand us one side of the story in 30 second sound bites. We let campaigns feed us talking points and coordinate their messages while we haplessly fall in line. We let employers and HOAs tell us we can’t have bumper stickers on our cars, signs in our yards or American flags flying free. We let unelected judges define marriage. We let politicians pass bills in the dark of night that they haven’t even read. We consume entertainment in 23 minute increments produced by a left-wing Hollywood that promotes a hedonistic and irresponsible worldview void of consequence.
But we can’t be bothered to discuss these issues at home.
I grew up discussing politics and issues around the dinner table (the rare nights that we sat around the table). I remember political arguments with my father when I was in middle school, and heated debates in the years to come. I quickly discovered, we were the exception. American families stay silent. Our dinner tables replete of anything controversial. Our Thanksgiving banter whitewashed to prevent disagreement. At work we can have heated debates about Monday Night Football or the latest sitcom, but never anything that matters. We are so afraid of offending anyone or appearing out of step with how the elite tells us to think that we remain silent… and we let them win.
For whatever reason, America decided to grant Barack Obama four more years. Just as I did four years ago, I will pray for him and our nation. He is my President. I will pray for my country, that it remains strong. I will pray for our future, that we turn from this fiscal cliff and save ourselves before its too late. I will pray for my boys, that they grow to be smart, engaged and opinionated. And I will pray for our families… red and blue… that we get back to discussing the ideas so the next election is about issues and purpose and not anything less.
I hear so many people unable to articulate why they voted for this candidate or that. If I were their parent, I would be ashamed.
If there is a Republic left for the next generation, the only way to preserve it is by having serious conversations with them now.
