Now that this major election is over and as relieved as I am to be past the angry argument that we call an election, I encourage you to look deeper at how we "vote" every day of our lives.
We live in contact with people, in a space of sharing, interacting, and socializing with the people around us. We do this within a sphere or political contact and governmental involvement. So our actions, voices, choices often become political actions. They have an effect far beyond ourselves.
How we vote in an election also has an effect on many people's lives. It is not, however, the only way to affect the lives of your neighbors.
Yesterday, I chose not to vote in this year's Presidential election. I chose this route for two primary reasons. First, I feel that no candidate could offer adequate leadership in the various issues that I find to be of utmost importance to me. Top among those issues is our country's militancy across the globe. And stemming from that is the global violence carried out in the name of capitalism, economy, and open markets, and a general attitude of placing profit and power above people. Followed by the domestic violence we cause to each other in the inequality of treatment and opportunity within this country. I see no real difference between either of the main candidates in many or all of these areas. And as much as third-party candidates might uphold one standard, they as well lack in the others.
My second reason for choosing to not vote is that I believe our political system, our electoral system has become something of a horror. I believe we are blinded by this veil of democracy that does not actually give us choice. So as much as I am told that I have given up my choice by not voting. I hold firm that I have taken back my choice by choosing to vote against this system. Each vote within the system supports the system itself, therefore a choice to withhold that vote is to support a movement against this system. And my hope is that that movement is alive and growing.
But today, i still choose to make an impact. If only that impact is in the life of one co-worker; or, a smile shared the barista at a coffee house that hasn't had the best morning or week. Or if that impact is in the choice to reduce my fuel consumption by riding my bicycle today, and the ripples that stream down to the people whose daily lives are impacted by the violence that surround oil availability, production, and consumption. I believe in the right to pursue greater happiness in my life. Similarly, I believe in the right to freedom of speech. But these freedoms and others only go so far as that they do not impede another person's right to the same. And I believe this is not limited to those who live within this country or are citizens of it. We have to be aware of how our choices impact the rights of others and not blindly seek out our own rights.
I also believe that there is a better realization of happiness than the security that we so heavily lean on to be the foundation of our happiness. Whether that is financial security or physical security, I don't believe it is the foundation of happiness. I believe that the fulfillment in happiness comes from a redemption of the relationships in our lives. Righting the wrong relationship we have with each other, our families, our neighbors. Righting the wrong relationship we have with this creation, this planet, this nature. Righting the wrong relationship we have with our God. This is the work of Christ Jesus. This is the work of His followers. This is my work.
