A New Democracy

A friend of mine recently solved our political problems when she said:

If you don't like abortion, don't have one.If you don't like gay marriage, don't have one.If you don't like guns, don't buy one. 
I know I know, it's genius. They clearly need me in the world of politics right now. 

     -Missy Glasenapp

As simple and as silly as it sounds, I think there is some truth to what she said. I feel that we have turned democracy into a game of power and force. Rather than doing good for all people, we have turned democracy into a struggle to persuade others to take up our cause, and in doing so, we force our desires on those who don't agree with us. In other words, we have become focused on creating the right political climate for our individual lifestyle, and each one of us is fighting to impose this political climate on all people, despite the fact that doing so will actually be detrimental to many other people. This climate has made the powerful more powerful, and the weak more weak. Historically, large corporations have used political influence to buy their wants at the expense of their laborers and smaller businesses. Similarly, enforcing traditional marriage on homosexual individuals only makes these people feel more ostracized, shamed, unloved and unworthy than they already feel. 

Although about 4 percent of the general population is believed to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ), numerous studies and surveys during the last decade have shown that sexual minority youth become homeless at a disproportionately high rate, with shelters in some cities reporting that they account for up to 40 percent of their residents.*

My point is that although conservatives are only trying to uphold traditional marriage - a noble cause in itself - doing so may hurt those who are already hurting deeply. Thus, we should not only keep ourselves in mind during politics, but others too, even our "enemies."

Forcing our political desires on others is a problem for our society and nation, and a problem for those of us who claim to be Christ-followers. Jesus never told us to force others to do what is morally right - whether that be enforcing a proper marriage, banishing abortion and guns, etc. Instead, he taught us to love through personal relationships, and he saved us to live free of the chains of injustice. Our salvation may mean that we are living without guns and violence, our salvation may mean that we are pro-life, and for some it may mean upholding traditional marriage, but being saved does not give us the right to dictate the lifestyle of others. If anything, doing so only angers others. Outside of a friendship in which giving advice is acceptable, people do not want to be told by others how to live. In the words of Art Alexakis (the lead singer of Everclear):

I hate those people who love to tell you Money is the root of all that kills They have never been poor They have never had the joy of a welfare christmas 

               [Song: I will buy you a new life] 

As Christians, I believe that the poor and marginalized should be dear to our hearts. Rather than recruiting a majority to side with us and win political battles, I believe that we should engage in politics with the marginalized in mind. We should not only do what we think is right for ourselves, but for others, too. This can allow us to lift others up through politics, rather than just crushing our opposition. Besides, (for those of you who are conservative,) helping the poor can aid some republican causes in the long run. If we focus on taking care of neglected kids, kids in foster care, high-school drop-outs, and others without a strong support system, the rate of teenage pregnancies will decrease, as well as the number of abortions. 

The route to decrease abortion and strive for other political victories is not going to be direct. We won't solve the problems of the world and change other peoples' hearts with the cast of a ballot. However, deciding to engage in personal relationships and voting for programs that are relationally based can go a long ways to impact the world and save others from injustice. I think we should give people the freedom to decide on guns, abortions and marriage; not because every decision for these choices is morally acceptable, but rather because we should allow our love to transform instead of making our ballot force. 


 *Ryan, Kevin, and Tina Kelley. Almost Home. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2012. 184. Print.