The important, sacred privilege
of voting
Four years ago, I sat in a store packed
with free merchandise designated for Jewish people who had recently
migrated from Russia. The store served as a depot of free furniture
and clothing, but also as a classroom where everything from Jewish
ritual to American politics was discussed weekly. On this particular day, I had the privilege
of asking questions of the dozen or so immigrants who had just
become citizens of the United States. We talked about the entire political scene
how people became candidates, for instance. They looked
at the system and wondered why money was so important to the process.
We talked about candidates, and the immigrants emphatically said
they were astounded at the lying that had been done by both presidential
hopefuls. Most of those new citizens had concluded
the best way to choose a candidate was to follow ones heart.
In other words, after watching debates and advertisements and
reading articles, a person starts to get a feeling for the candidates.
And eventually a person begins to favor one. And then the heart opens and the candidate
becomes a part of ones faith and hope. Thats the one
who gets the vote. Then I asked the group the explosive question,
So, who are you going to vote for? For them, hearing that question was like
being thrown back into the constraints of communist politics.
Some winced and sprang back, as if they were surprised. Then one
person said defiantly, We dont have to tell you. And the rest of the group sang along and
repeated the phrase, We dont have to tell you. Obviously, they were using their newfound
freedom to tell me to mind my own business. I had no power to
pull the answer from them. You can imagine how delighted they
were with their political power and how they laughed until I joined
in their hard-won joy. Since then, that little scene has replayed
itself in my mind over and over and has become a symbol of the
authority we have over our political future. Never in our history
has any regime or person been able to shake that foundation. Every
vote we make is sacred. On the other hand, there are people who
must tell which way they are leaning or, in some cases, which
way they intend to vote. Of course, I am voting for Bush,
they will say. Or, I think Gore is going to wipe the floor
with W. Bush. And those of us who believe our vote is
secret and sacred nod knowingly and move beyond the scene. It
may baffle us that votes are so easily exposed. But it is a fact
of American life that for some people, voting is no longer considered
a sacred duty. But what is it that makes voting such a
sacred act? I think it has to do with reaching out to the vulnerable
people of our world. I mean, when do you really have a chance
to make an impact on the lives of people who cant rise above
their daily circumstances? For instance, what if there is a child born
into a desperate family, without adult guidance or spiritual direction?
How could most of us reach out to help that child? What if there are adults not capable of
understanding the complexities of our culture? How do you touch
their lives? And if it should happen that there are entire
nations of people, oppressed and imprisoned in a system
how can you help them and fulfill your religious obligation for
mercy and justice? I have always thought of political systems
as tools I can use to help people with extraordinary needs. When
politicians start talking about dumping agencies and policies
for helping disadvantaged children and forging new possibilities
for older people, thats when I get suspicious. Because helping
others is exactly what I think good politics can accomplish. If you are a religious person, there has
to be a way in this country for you to vote your convictions.
I dont mean a soft commitment, but rather a hard, tough
kind of political decision that drives and hammers your concerns. In your next trip to a polling place, try
to remember the principles that inform your religious life. Is
your religion designed to make more money for you or get special
entitlements from government? Or does your religion focus on others,
the people who wander helplessly in our society, looking for justice
and a sure way to survive? The way you vote often determines the religion
you embrace. Or is it the other way around?
Clark D. Morphew
Posted For November 5, 2000