The political election cycle is in high gear. It has been stuck there for the last several decades. Nonetheless harmony in mind, body, and spirit will surely be tested during this election season especially in the after light of the insurrection of January 6, 2021.

In his Detroit Free Press column of July 17, 2022, “The cable news rules: it’s better to attach than to defend,” award-winning sports journalist and author, Mitch Albom writes, “So ask yourself, if you’ve stopped consuming news, is it because it is too negative or not negative enough?… Are we root, root, rooting for the home team to fail more than win, and if they don’t win is it really a shame, or pretty-much what we wanted?” This question was in response as Albom writes, “is from an Axios report that came out the previous week, claiming that cable news viewing amongst the three major outlets has dropped dramatically in the U.S., ‘down 19% in prime time for the first half of this year compared to the first half of 2021.’”

Opinions are plenty, truth is scarce.

I mention this Detroit Free Press article because I do not watch cable news. It is not journalism seeking truth but seeking opinions. Opinions are not necessarily bad after all I am giving my opinion here. It may resonate with you or it may not. However, I cannot engage in personal political conversations when people do not obtain current news from multiple written sources so they can weigh in and corroborate the truth versus media propaganda. Sadly, few people take the time to do so. They listen intently to their favorite television or podcast source. I admit I do not always get it right either, but I am willing to discuss politics and current events when the other person has put in the effort.

Truth, supply and demand

If we replace the words “goods and services” with “truth” in Merriam-Webster’s definition of supply and demand, it reads, “The amount of truth that is available for people to buy compared to the amount of truth that people want to buy. – If less truth that the public wants are produced, the law of truth demands that more can be charged for the truth.”

So, what am I trying to say here? I am asking, what is the supply and demand for truth? Truth people want to hear compared to what the facts bear out as truth. Is it just a game of ratings? Is just a game as to which party can score more wins than losses without regard to the benefits for their constituents? The PACT Act that would have expanded veterans healthcare is a good case in point.

Mark Twain once said, “it’s easier to fool people than convince them they have been fooled.”

And so goes the current cable news media and partisan politics.

Spanish philosopher, George Santayana is credited with axiom, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” While Winston Churchill wrote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

The difference between the two statements is remembering and learning. Many people have never learned our true history because it was never taught accurately which is currently a hot topic; and one cannot remember that which was never learned. History was obviously not a favorite subject for many until the truth came out about it.

Political history

I will fully admit my politics have evolved tremendously since I voted in my first presidential election in 1980. My activist heart has been hurtful to others at times during the evolvement of my personal views particularly leading up to and past the 2016 and 2020 elections. I am not willing to set aside my activist heart in the upcoming elections, however, I will not be divisive, and I hope you will not be either. We can see where the name-calling memes and partisan bashing has led us to today’s political climate.

As my political views have evolved so has my spirit. Some who know me personally would say my right-leaning has shifted to left-leaning. I would counter that I lean on my heart and the words of James 1:26-27 (GW). God knows my heart as He knows everyone’s heart, the faithful and the unfaithful. Not only must my relationship with God be right, but the outward expression of that relationship must also be right. If a person believes in God or not, history (or God, in my opinion) will bring us back to the same point over and over again until we learn the lesson of humanity. Whether it arises from our impulsive nature or inherent self-seeking superiority, God and/or history is trying to impress upon us the one thing that is entirely not right in our lives.

We are all human underneath the genders, the pronouns, the racial, religious, and ethnic colors.

Let me repeat. We are all human. We are bound to each other for better or for worse.

It is an individual’s choice to allow each other the patience to have its perfect work. If we can travel this road without the bashing, the bullying, the bloodshed, the rage, then one by one we can make the difference by having necessary inclusive conversations by withholding unnecessary propaganda opinions. Unfortunately, Christian nationalism does not allow individual choice. It does not have ears to hear, hearts to love, or minds to embrace diversity.

How do we maintain harmony in search of truth during a contentious political election cycle?
I will hold firm to my values. I will hold my tongue no matter the taste of blood, if necessary. My actions, my purse, and my vote will do my talking.

“If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless. Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world.” James 1:26-27 (GW)

This will likely be my last post regarding politics and the upcoming election cycle. I have my response ready to those who may want to engage me in political conversations. Who wants to vote on it?

Peace,

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