The Evolving Electorate

Have you ever seen an upside down Christmas tree?  At first the tree looks interesting. But, the longer you look at it, the stranger it looks.  You twist your head considering another angle.  And eventually you have to look away because it just looks wrong....all wrong.  This morning as you listened to the news coverage of the New Hampshire primary you heard almost the exact same sentiment - the results - especially in the GOP - seem wrong...so wrong.  The fact that a bully could win the GOP New Hampshire primary is mystifying.  The reality that a man that lacking in polish would win over a Democratic party machine like Hillary Clinton is beyond comprehension. Everything appears to be upside down.  

The results last evening, appear to be a reflection of the changes we are going through as a nation. Change is messy and can feel at times upside down and it can take a long time adapt.  The electorate is evolving and the old platforms no longer fit.  In fact when applied, they fail miserably.  The current elected officials and those who intend to be elected need to adapt if they truly want to meet the people where they are.  Here are some changes that I see.

Women Are More Than Reproductive Beings

Running on the platform of protecting a women's reproductive rights is no longer a big selling point.  Yes, recently Planned Parenthood faced an increasingly high level of scrutiny.  And yes, in the next presidential term there will most likely be Supreme Court openings to fill.  But this is not an issue that you can build your campaign on.  Younger women have never lived in a world where abortion wasn't an option.  And just like their slightly older counterparts, they don't see anything changing in that regard.  This generation of women have political concerns and interests that go beyond their own bodies and they are simply feeling ignored.

Historical Significance

The historical significance of voting for the first woman president is not enough to fuel voters to choose Hillary Clinton.  In fact, for those voters who voted for President Obama and find themselves disillusioned with his presidency will not vote for another historically significant candidate if they can't deliver.  And last but not least, do not shame women into voting for you. Men have been shaming women for centuries to serve their end.  Shame on the woman that does that to other women.  

Evangelical Compromise

Several weeks ago, when Jerry Falwell Jr. endorsed Donald J. Trump it became clear that a segment of the Evangelical Christian community was finally shifting.  For several presidential election cycles they abandoned solid candidates because they weren't Christian enough.  Now, they realize that their lack of support has brought about significant political and cultural changes that run against everything they value.  Now, they are willing to overlook some evils for what they perceive, as for the greater good.  This weeks evil, the Donald Trump potty mouth.

The New Democratic Establishment

The best way to get your cause noticed and advocated for is to ensure that it remains marginalized.  For decades the cause of pro-choice, gay rights, equality, affirmative action, etc have been issues that have the that never had majority buy-in.  The Democrats have had these as their core of their social concerns.  However, I don't they were ever ready for an alternate universe where the gains that they have made now put some of these issues in the majority.  They need to dig deeper on how appeal to the LGBT community.  Hillary Clinton's inability to recognize that these issues are no longer in the shadows but in the light of day was at the core of that silly "establishment" spat.  Bernie Sanders was able to see the gains and call the as they are.  

'Hard Working Socialism

There is a perception that if you are for social programs, you are merely looking for a handout and not a hand up.  There is a movement now, that is shedding light on a social program system that is rigged to keep the working poor from climbing out of the hole they are in.  There are now strong voices speaking for the voiceless.  They are unashamed to say, "I Am Poor" "I need help." "I want to contribute."  They are no longer in the shadows and are finding a safe place to voice their concerns and will be a considerable voting block this time around.  And they won't be bundled in with those that are generational welfare recipients who rigged the system for themselves.  They want to pursue the American Dream.  

No More Coronations 

Throughout most of 2015 the ascension of Hillary Clinton to the throne of Democratic Presidential Candidate seemed inevitable.  Once Jeb Bush threw his hat in the ring, the same presumption was made.  But as we have seen they have both struggled.  Family political dynasties are no longer acceptable. In fact they almost appear to be a deterrent.  Both Jeb and Hillary have found it difficult to shake off the family baggage and propel forward.  

Now, what hasn't changed is what the electorate has always wanted.....

Hope

This is why Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton last evening and came mighty close to beating her in Iowa.  He casts a vision that voters can get behind. As opposed to the shame that Hillary Clinton served up, trying to kick women in their collective behinds.

American Superiority

After 8 years of what some has characterized as a Presidential Apology tour, voters are hungering to be back on top again.  They don't like the fact that we are in debt to China, or that so many jobs are being sent out of the country. They are buying long and hard into the "Make America Great Again" motto.  

Equality

The need for equality is no longer just limited to the gender pay gap. It extends to equal opportunity and equal taxation.  There is a revolt against classicism.  People want treated equally and fairly by law enforcement.  The need for equality is at the heart of so much of our national discord.  

As we move forward even deeper into the Presidential primary season, these candidates need to re-calibrate and become reacquainted with the electorate.  They need to throw their cookie cutters away and have conversations with the voters that drag themselves to every townhall meeting. Hear them, offer them real solutions, try to be honest for a change, and give them something to believe in.  

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Raising White Children

First, to be clear I am white. Caucasian if you will. Second, as genetics would have it my daughters are white.  Third, I am bound and determined to raise my children in such a way that they only see their skin color as a physical attribute and not one that defines their intelligence or potential. Nor does it determine how they should treat others.

In the 1980's I attend elementary and middle school in a wonderful town in lower Delaware.  My school was half Caucasian and half "minorities."  The older I got, the more I saw the irony in that statement.  Half is not a minority. It is simply half.  Anyway, it was growing up there that I began this journey.  You  see, there were folks (not my parents) in my life that took issue with the "minorities" in town. So much so, that they asserted their adult wisdom  to discourage "certain" relationships.  It made no sense to me.  

There were two girls especially that I could not imagine my life without.  One girl, let's call her "Juanita" had the best sense of humor ever.  She was so full of life.  Then there was  "Emma."  She was an intensely loyal friend.  She was always by my side and we had the best fun together.  Shunning these two girls on the basis of their skin color alone just didn't make much sense to my young mind.  So, I remained friends until we moved.

As time went on watching certain footage of the 1960's, studying the case of Brown vs. the Board of Education Topeka, KS etc. - my young perspective on relationships without regard for color was affirmed.  More and more I felt a real assurance that I was on solid principled ground.  Even as I matured and grew stronger in my faith, it became clear to me that were all created equal and that were to love one another as deeply as Christ loves his church.

So, here I am many decades later raising two beautiful girls in the midst of some very racially charged events that are too big for their young minds to wrap around.

As I raise my girls, here are some simple rules, that I use.

1.  We Are All Equal - "There is (now no distinction) neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."  Galatians 3:28 (AMP)

2.  Respect One Another Despite Our Differences - As word of the grand jury decision trickled out of Ferguson, I simply told my girls that we are never to allow our opinions of one other to be shaped by our appearances, or abilities or disabilities, or even how rich or poor we think someone is.  This, they can understand.

3.  Talk About Color - They can also understand that we all do look different.  In the first grade my daughter had to choose a woman to honor for Women's History month.  They were to make a paper doll.  She chose Gabby Douglas.  She loves Gabby Douglas. The day we went shopping she spent a lot of time pouring over the hues of brown paper at Michael's , that we would use to make the body of the doll.  She wanted to make sure it wasn't too dark or too light.  I was so surprised.  She not only noticed Gabby's complexion but she wanted to respect her shading.

4. Talk About Our Differences - We have never shied away from discussing a persons color.  I have even had discussions with them explaining the differences between their hair and the complex texture of an african-american girls hair.  There is nothing wrong with that discussion.  We all do look very different and it should be celebrated, not feared.

5. Talk About The Past - There is a well spring of hope when I speak to my children about the past - segregation, slavery, and civil rights. Why?  Because none of this makes sense to them.  They look so puzzled.  The very fact that a society existed where these crimes and limitations were placed on a person based on their color seems unbelievable to them.  My one daughter expressed one time how sad she would be if some of her classmates had to go to school some where else.

6.  Kids Are Listening - It is in those moments of impulse, when our words are important.  Screaming out, "typical women driver" does not teach tolerance. It actually opens up the door to group prejudice.  And just as you may feel that based on your vast driving experiences that 9 times out of 10 women are the worst drives - you are wrong. There is at least one women driver per 10 that is competent.

7. Kids Are Watching - Every interaction you have with neighbors, strangers, teachers, etc your child sees.  Children by nature are imitators.

8.  Be Natural - Do not run out and try to find your child a friend of color.   Would you want to be chosen as a friend just because you were the right demographic. It's like, "Hey we need one more guy for our basketball game, go ask Tyrone."  Meanwhile, Tyrone has no interest in basketball.  He happens to be six feet tall and a wicked flute player.  And you picked him because he was the right color and height.

9.  Don't Fear, What You Don't Know - I am fortunate to be raising my kids in the most diverse section of the world, with more languages spoken here than anywhere else.  We get real life opportunities everyday.  And I realize that we aren't all afforded with the luxury of diversity.  It can sound like a cliche, but sometimes different is just different.

10. Raise Children With Intention - We must raise our children with intent.  We must intend that our kids look beyond the surface.  We must intend to encourage our kids to stand with their mates if they are getting bullied.  We must intend to teach our children to respect all.  Lastly we must intend to teach our children not to be afraid of a child that is different. It is within diversity that our life gets brighter. It is within diversity that our life gets bigger.

In closing I leave you with this great thought from a great woman with a wise soul.  Maya Angelou said, "It is time for parents to teach children early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength."