My Outrage

This time last year as the Presidential Primary process was just beginning in all of my imagination I could never believe that today we would be where we are right now.  Seriously, of all the outcomes - this was dead last on my list.  Now, on this side of history I understand it and hate it all in one breathe.  The electoral process as designed I have deep respect for.  Politics and the nuisanced dances it takes to make a country and the world work have long captured my attention.  But this - this bastardized process, the permanent case of amnesia that seems to plague both sides of the electorate, and the persistent intolerance of exercised freedoms that are so sacrificially fought for is at the core of my outrage.

As snow fell last Winter, rumors fell like snowflakes that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was repeatedly interfering with both the caucus system and debate scheduling.  Despite the inability to substantiate these claims - the conservative media ran with the story calling Hillary Clintons ascension a coronation.  It would become clear in the heat of Summer, as the DNC Convention was about to begin, that these claims had legs and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, would soon find those legs cut off.  But it was too late.  Bernie Sanders was forced to get in line and his supporters were bullied into doing likewise. And yet after all that, there was an air of arrogance, a sort of counting your chickens before they hatch, that allowed the campaign of Hillary Clinton to overlook and under-address real voter concerns.

Meanwhile over on the RNC side a more complexing story was unfolding.  As the snow melted away and the Republican candidates withdrew one by one. It became very clear that both the party and the media were out of touch with deep issues that were plaguing the very constituents they were trying to woo. They (Republicans) were loyal through 8 years of George W Bush and still ended up with nothing to show for it. Then after eight years of President Obama, a man who they villianized and refused to legitimize, they were ready for a real Maverick.  Before we knew it, all the other candidates were gone and Donald Trump remained victorious.

In years past, the religious right would played the role of Scrutinizer In Chief. Mitt Romney's failure to secure the GOP's full support rested solely in his Mormon faith.  Despite the alignment in values - the division that doctrine created made Mitt Romney the wrong man for the job. But this time around - the church was done with loosing. They were willing to look past Donald Trumps failed marriages, rumored romps, foul language, massive ego, and policies that fail to align to Christian values in order to secure the White House. The end goal is the overturn of Roe V. Wade at all cost. And if you ask some, this will cost the church current members and the ability to reach future members. 

 Now in this bleak mid-winter we are buried in a blizzard of hypocrisy.  At times it feels like we the citizens are stuck between two first graders that are screaming  - He Did It  - No She Did It.  The GOP wants everyone to move on when their current Commander in Chief didn't move on until about a year ago.  The Dems are outraged at being lied to out-rightly. Lest they forget how the media was misled about a certain videotape and country called Libya.  The party that elected a Commander in Chief who at the onset of his campaign was so fouled mouthed is now feigning offense at a foul mouthed Pop Star for protesting doesn't reconcile.  What neither side is willing to admit is that they both use the same methods and they both characterize those methods as audacious.  

As this process has moved along, it has become increasingly clear to me that we don't understand how freedom works.  We have soldiers dying for our freedom to practice or not practice a religion, to speak or not to speak, to protest or abstain, to vote or not to vote, etc.  Yet, when anyone exercises a freedom that offends us, or ones expression doesn't match our own we call them unpatriotic.  And realize that if you loose an opportunity because of a freedom you participated in - understand they are free to do so.  This is freedom, plain and simple.

So currently I sit here outraged. As some would describe it, I live in an urban liberal bubble, Yet most of my huge (not bigly) extended family are proud passengers on the Trump train.  I know, that my family has been devastatingly impacted by trade decisions and I also know that they are lawful highly responsible gun owners.

My family has a long long and respected tradition of military service- my Grandfather fought in WW I, 4 uncles fought in WW 2, 2 Uncles fought in the Korean Conflict, 1 Uncle was in the service in Germany during Vietnam, and a wide variety of cousins have served and still serve.  I may not always meet them eye to eye ideologically, but understand their concerns and respect them dearly.

All the while I live in a city surrounded by people that are being dramatically affected by the new Presidents policies. Issues that if you don't live it, you may not fully appreciate it.  The older I get, and the more I learn, the more I understand that there is no black and white.  There are varying shades of grey that require contemplation.  So, here I sit outraged.  

The only way forward I see is to let the process as laid out by our forefathers play out. We must exercise the freedoms we have with the wit and wisdom that keeps us civilized.  We must remain diligent; reading always, deciphering always, empathizing always, and dissenting as required. And most of all, let's restore our respect for each other.  Because when all the dust settles, and this presidency has run its course, we have to move forward with each other.

A Muslim, A Jew, A Catholic, A Protestant, And the Future Steward of the United States of America

Since I was 9 years old, I knew who I would vote for in every presidential election.  Granted I had 9 more years to go until I would even be eligible to vote. But, I always had a conviction about my choice.  This year the only thing I have a conviction about is that the american electorate have lost their minds!  Yet, I have a moral conviction that voting is an obligation and not optional.  So somehow I must work through the options that lay in front of me and make the best decision I can.  Now this blog isn't for the Trumpsters who will be with him until the "bloody" end. Nor is it for the Hillsters who are with her, no matter what.  This is for every person out there that feels like they are disarming a bomb and are wondering "Red Wire" or "Blue Wire." 

This past Monday morning, as usual, I was getting ready for my day while toggling between CBS Morning News and Morning Joe.  As I was listening to the interview with the Khan family I suddenly stopped what I was doing, grabbed the remote, kicked it back 2 frames and gave the interview my undivided attention.  Why? I heard the word "Stewardship."  And it was like the lights were turned on, nice and bright.  Here is what happened....

Mark Halperin had asked the Khan family if they had considered the cost of speaking at the DNC the week prior.  Had they considered the impact of what might follow.    This was Mr. Khan's answer.....

“There comes a time in a person’s life where the burdens that have been placed on us mean nothing, This county its good, means so much to us... that we unanimously, we sat at home and we spoke about what could happen....The only way to say thank you would be to face it. But say it, say it, say it publicly.  So that maybe the dignity of the office, the stewardship of this office.  These are not simple words and concepts… these are realities. The world watches the United States..... they emulate it.   It is our obligation, it is our moral duty."

Let's place aside whether you agree or disagree with this families participation at the DNC Convention.  What captured my attention so swiftly that morning was the word "Stewardship"  Stewardship, was one of those church words I grew up with.  It was a big word, that as a child I thought meant simply, give a good offering because God said so.  As I grew up and gained a deeper understanding concept, I would come to believe that all I have and will have comes from a God who loves me and that he has entrusted me to use it according to His values.  

When Mr. Khan said that, it made me look at voting and candidate selection in a different light. For years the voting standard lied in simply the issues.  Where do they stand, where have they stood, and where do they say they will stand tomorrow.  We see tons of voter guides with issues and check boxes.  But, what gets a much lighter consideration, yet goes well beyond issues, is a question. Can we put the next four years in their hands, knowing they will move those issues forward?  

Trust, is such a tricky thing in this election. Hillary Clinton has been surrounded by a whirlwind of suspicion since the mid 1990's.  And let's face it, Donald Trump, isn't trustworthy either.  We have said for years, that politicians are crooked.  And yet, somehow, at this pivotal moment we have to select one of them.  How do we do that?  Well, as I studied the concept of Stewardship again, now in a different light, this is what I learned.  

Stewardship in simplest form is basically, conducting, supervising, or managing something.... the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.  Some synonyms for stewardship are caretaker or guardian.  When you delve into the secular perspective on stewardship the focus is primarily on the care of the environment and our physical world.  In Judaism, they go back to Genesis and the continuing work of creation. The focus is to alleviate environmental degradation.  

Now Pope John Paul II, said "The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.” Even though he too is concerned about the Earths natural state, he also compels us to be both faithful and consistent in our stewardship. In other words, don't say one thing and another.  St Basil, turns our perspective from the earth to its inhabitants when he said,  “The bread which you hold back belongs to the hungry; the coat, which you guard in your locked storage-chests, belongs to the naked; the footwear mouldering in your closet belongs to those without shoes. The silver that you keep hidden in a safe place belongs to the one in need. Thus, however many are those whom you could have provided for, so many are those whom you wrong.” You could say his approach to Stewardship is a real throwback idea.  In this day and age, there is so much focus on self development/self interest and Basil in the mid-300's was challenging people to care for those in need out of what you have.   

Not to leave the Protestants out, John Wesley was in agreement with St. Basil (albeit some 1400 years later), when he said  “Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?” Again, we are being compelled to focus on humanity. However he too demands our faithfulness. In John Wesley's case he is asking us to be faithful to the thing we serve. And, if we don't take care of our people faithfully, he in essence calls us a fraud.  

After delving into all of this, I came up with a checklist, of stewardship principles to guide your thinking as you vacillate between candidates.  

Stewardship Checklist

1. Does the candidate have a vision for the future?  Do they posses the capacity to manage towards that vision? (John Paul II - future generations)
   
2. Are those in dire need a part of their plan? Do they have the capacity to care for those in need? (John Wesley/St. Basil - one in need, the stranger)
   
3. Does the candidate understand that the hungry, poor and needy are "our problem" and not "a problem?" (John Wesley)
   
4. Can they be entrusted to care for the nation and not their own personal ambitions? Will they reconcile all actions on behalf of this nation to the both the letter and the spirit of the U.S. Constitution? (Wesley - other purposes)
   
5. Is there a plan to protect our natural resources? Is the candidate willing to reconcile any economic plan against the needs of the land it will impact? (St. John Paul II, Judaic Stewardship)
   
6. Does the candidate have the capacity to roll up their sleeves and be a caretaker?
   
7. Does the candidate have a history of caring and curating - showing true custodial care of the resources (financial, physical and human) already and previously under their care?

We have months to go, until any of us has to put pen to paper or pull a lever.  For many of us we are grateful for the time, because we are truly stumped and wondering  "Red Wire" or "Blue Wire."  My hope is that the above will help put some of this into perspective. May we truly understand what Mr. Khan was saying when he explained, "...these are not simple words and concepts… these are realities. the world watches the United States.... they emulate it.   It is our obligation, it is our moral duty."