Cynicism Creates Curmudgeons, Not Credibility

I admit it. It's easy to find things to complain about. At times, I can be one of the biggest complainers I know. However, the more I reflect introspectively, the more I seem to notice the cynicism of others.

I think that if we're not careful, we can turn into a country full of old grumps. Seriously. And I think we have politics and today's news media to blame.

For as long as I can remember, politicians have been campaigning on the faults and weaknesses of their opponents far more than on their own strengths and plans. If you vote for the "other guy", you'll really be sorry.

I'm not sure how long it has gone on, but I know that for quite some time, the "news" is more about propaganda than about reporting the facts. 

The result of this is that we have been fooled into thinking that we have to perpetually choose one "side" or another. Our minds become hostage to the rhetoric of our two-party dominated system. The other "side" is never right. My "side" is never wrong.

Our proclivity to predispositions spills into other areas of our lives and poisons our very souls against the recognition of goodness in anything or anyone else.

To others, our cynicism discredits our position on anything and everything. And why not? For we see others in exactly the same way; cynical, jaded curmudgeons.

Perhaps if we 're not careful, we may wake up one day and realize that the lonely emptiness that surrounds us is the creation of our own cynicism. 

The Weighting Is The Hardest Part

I've been writing about examining all candidates with a prayerful and properly formed conscience and keeping faith and morals in the political discussions.

There can be such a will of some people to defeat a particular candidate that they don't even want to hear or read anything, and I mean anything, that might cause them or others to do anything but march on in a robotic trance, with blinders on their eyes and fingers in their ears.

As Christians, we have a greater responsibility and allegiance to God than to any politician, political party, and even to our country.  Of course our country is important, but as Christians we are responsible to cooperate with God in our witness to others first, hopefully transforming the country through God's Grace.

The most common responses I have received so far have been:

Romney "is pro-life".

-Well, there's more to being pro-life than being anti-abortion.  And Romney is not always anti-abortion. And even when he is, I do not see such conviction that I believe that he will actually do anything other than say he is pro-life. There's more on this, but you can do a little research on your own right? (Of course we know Obama is definitely pro-abortion and even pro-infanticide so do not misinterpret or distort what I am saying.)

What " if your vote results in dramatic worsening of the situation for pretty much everything you care about (a bigger evil staying in power)?" and "A vote for a third party candidate is a vote for Obama."

-That is part of the discernment that one needs to consider. But it's a part and needs to be taken to prayer and considered in the whole of the process. When our conscience is clear, we will proceed with assurance and peace, not fear. The Lord does not give us a Spirit of fear.

"I know Romney is not perfect. He was not my first nor second choice in the primaries but he he is better than Obama."
-My intention is to get people to think about the weight of their vote on their souls before the weight of politics. Honestly, it's not for me to judge someone who wrestles with the full grasp of facts and takes that (hopefully with prayer) into the voting booth.

I was going to rant on a bit more about this, but Lisa beat me to it.  (Ah, good for me and for you.)

No, it's not easy, but it is your responsibility.  And although Tom Petty's song "The Waiting" was definitely composed with a different end in mind, the chorus of that song reminds me of this process.  Here it is (with my changing of that one word <2x>):

The weighting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The weighting is the hardest part
(The Waiting, by Tom Petty - with editorial liberty)

So try not to get angry about any of this, just think and pray and discern until you truly feel at peace that you have taken into account all of the information. Soon, the weighting will be over.

Your Money or Your Life?

Have you ever watched a "western" film where the highwaymen overtake the coach and demand of the driver or passengers, "Your money or your life?"  In reality, the phrase is known to date back to the 17th century at least, and generally followed the demand, "Stand and deliver!"  The victims, surprised and stunned, almost always handed over their possessions in order to preserve their lives.

In 1948, comedian Jack Benny presented what would arguably become his most famous "joke" using the line.  Benny is accosted by a mugger who first asks for a match to light a cigarette.  The mugger then demands, "Don't make a move, this is a stickup. Now, come on. Your money or your life."  There's a pause. Benny says nothing.  The agitated mugger now exclaims, "Look, bud! I said your money or your life!"  As soon as the words are out of the mugger's mouth, Benny quips back, "I'm thinking it over!"

I see the same thing happening in our country today.  Only, we are the victims, and the highwaymen and muggers are much more difficult to detect because we don't always see them for what and who they are.

Most of the issues currently being debated in our country are being done so within the realm of politics.  And in my opinion that is exactly what presents a problem for many Christians.  We have been "caught up" into this cloud of going "all in" for one group because of the danger we see in another.  What happens is that we allow others to shape the debate.  Usually that means money.  Oh, it's an important issue, but is it the most important issue for Christians?

"George, morality and religious freedom have been at the forefront of political discussions recently.  What in the world are you talking about?"

In the past few days, I have seen a "flood" of political discussion. Unscientifically, it's been about 95% about money.  And then there's this from Mary K. Ham at Hot Air (emphasis mine):

"the debate should no longer be about contraception and the deferred cancer-causing capabilities of Bain investments. It will be about the budget and the $16-trillion debt, the unsustainable trajectory of the federal government and the promises it’s already breaking to generations to come. It will be about Simpson-Bowles and a federal government that hasn’t even bothered to pass a budget since before the iPad existed. It will be about how four years of grossly increased spending has stimulated us into the worst recovery in American history, unless you happen to be an Obama donor or crony. It will be about how creating new entitlement programs cannot possibly fix the ones that are already broken. And, it will be about whether we value an ever more dependent society or an ever more successful one." (Mary K. Ham)

These are important issues, but it scares me to think that they will become the most important or worse, the only ones in the debate.  We have a duty to help others think about whether it will be "money or life".  We need to keep the issues of morality, religious freedom, and the protection of unborn children from abortion (Hello America!) in this debate.  We need to have honest discussions about how to care for those who truly need help.  We need to have honest discussions about what our country's role is around the world and domestically with regards to the dignity of persons.

Yes, we need to talk about money, but it better be about more than money friends.

The demand has been presented, "Your money or your life!"  The victims of the highwaymen were quick to protect their lives.  Will you be as quick to protect the lives of others and your eternal life?

Will our witness "stand and deliver" the Truth of the Gospel, helping others to at least pause and say, "I'm thinking it over"?

God bless.

* Thanks to Lisa at Catholic Bandita for calling attention to the article mentioned in this post.