You know, one of the beauties of democracy is the secret ballot. You can hear and read all of the ads, articles, radio shows, and sermons but once you step into the booth or check the box, it is all you. You have to make a choice between two people who are qualified to run the country but have different approaches. No one is putting a gun to your head or threatening your family or watching you in the ballot box to make sure you vote the right way.
We may not have those extreme examples but we do have some people in powerful and persuasive positions that, I think, should not use their power to affect the vote of the people that follow them. This is America. The land of the free. Home of the brave. Why wouldn't people who are in positions of power either keep out of it or show both sides of the coin?
My campus pastor in college did a wonderful demonstration in our chapel one day right before Election Day. He did the pros and cons of each candidate and then urged us to research even more to make up our own minds. That is what the church should be doing. It annoys the hell out of me when pastors say who they are going to vote for or who their congregation should vote for. It takes away the right and privilege that we have as Americans to choose our leaders. So, pastors, please don't endorse from the pulpit. It's not very American.
With all of that aside, please go vote. It is a privilege that not everyone in the world has.
Women, a hundred years ago, we were still fighting to be able to vote.
People of color, we were still fighting to vote in the 60s.
Voting is an important privilege that we get to exercise. No matter who you are or what you believe, you have an obligation to the people that fought for your right to express your beliefs to vote for the country that you want to leave for your children. Take pride in your country and vote.
Peace,
Celisse
We may not have those extreme examples but we do have some people in powerful and persuasive positions that, I think, should not use their power to affect the vote of the people that follow them. This is America. The land of the free. Home of the brave. Why wouldn't people who are in positions of power either keep out of it or show both sides of the coin?
My campus pastor in college did a wonderful demonstration in our chapel one day right before Election Day. He did the pros and cons of each candidate and then urged us to research even more to make up our own minds. That is what the church should be doing. It annoys the hell out of me when pastors say who they are going to vote for or who their congregation should vote for. It takes away the right and privilege that we have as Americans to choose our leaders. So, pastors, please don't endorse from the pulpit. It's not very American.
With all of that aside, please go vote. It is a privilege that not everyone in the world has.
Women, a hundred years ago, we were still fighting to be able to vote.
People of color, we were still fighting to vote in the 60s.
Voting is an important privilege that we get to exercise. No matter who you are or what you believe, you have an obligation to the people that fought for your right to express your beliefs to vote for the country that you want to leave for your children. Take pride in your country and vote.
Peace,
Celisse
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