Before I continue my post from yesterday and address this often inappropriate question, I need to express my gratitude...
Ladies and Gents, I am overwhelmed by the response I've received from yesterday's post. First of all, I am grateful to all of you for baring with all my spelling and grammatical errors. Writing between the hours of 12 and 2 a.m. meant that when I reread it the next morning I was mortified. BUT my very forgiving friends overlooked the ridiculousness and understood the point I was trying to make.
Secondly, and most important, THANK YOU for your priceless input. I was touched by the emails and messages you shared with me on the matter. From hearing from a dear friend who is the uncle of girls discriminated against for not fitting into a more conservative community to another cherished friend from childhood who happens to be a member of the FDLS church. (She shared interesting perspective on how people treat her children knowing their parents are polygamists.)
There were comments and messages from those who are generally part of the majority in their communities, are keenly aware of this and are active in teaching their families unconditional love and tolerance for others. While others offered priceless perspective, having experienced similar situations as my neighbor did and could relate to his legitimate concern.
It reminded me of a simple but sweet truth. Among the greatest treasures in my life are the many compassionate and genuinely loving people I know. They come from all walks, ideas and theologies of life and I am better because of each and everyone of them (YOU).
Thank you, my beautiful family and friends.
As promised, this post is the continuation of my last...
Nearly two months ago, I was in the Chicago O'Hare Airport waiting to come home after a race I ran with my brother. After eating some AWESOME sushi at a particularly swanky sushi bar, (I felt so fancy with my chopsticks and my laptop...I didn't even spill my drink once!) I headed to the terminal, hoping to continue the work on my manuscript. I had a lot of time to kill so I sat down in one of the only empty chairs at the gate. It happened to be next to a man who looked about my age.
Not wanting him to think I'm a snob with raging fish breath, I smiled and said hello (since a friendly person with fish breath is so much more tolerable). He responded kindly and somehow, probably because I can't sit next to anyone for more than 3.7 seconds without starting a conversation, we began to talk.
Very early into our conversation, we began discussing where we were from. He was native to the South and mentioned he was Southern Baptist. (As stated yesterday, I'm still getting used to discovering a person's religious affiliation within moments of meeting them.) He was very friendly and talked so kindly of his sweet wife and adorable baby boy.
My turn. I mentioned growing up as a military brat, grad-school in Oregon and having a 'home-base' in Utah. After mentioning Utah, he asked, "Then you're Mormon, aren't you?"
Yes I am, Sir(...and not the so-so kind. I'm the Molly Mormon who tried sooooo hard to be bad in junior high that I actually tried to smoke but the tumbleweed burned my lungs too much and I gave it up. I'm the Molly Mormon who wasn't allowed to say C--P! or D--M It! I'm the Molly Mormon who attempted to make her first pot of coffee AT THE AGE OF 27 but only because I worked at a restaurant. (It was kind of a disaster really. How was I suppose to know that pillow thing went inside?) I was the Molly Mormon who rebelled by attempting to wear a short skirt to church but felt so badly afterward that I threw the dress away. And I'm not sorry because that is who I am.)
This is where the conversation got dodgy and a bit uncomfortable.
His immediate response to my answer was "So you'll be voting for Mitt Romney then?"
I was stunned. On so many levels.
Let's not even discuss the assumption that I am of a particular political persuasion. The bigger concern was why on earth he would think I would vote for someone simply because they share my religious beliefs?
Legend has it that Butch Cassidy was a Mormon but that by no means encourages me to join the "Mormons for Butch Cassidy Historical Society". For all I know, they're out there somewhere trying to get a banking establishment named after him.
Please understand this is not an Anti-Mitt Romney diatribe. It's not Anti-Anyone...well, except for maybe Butch Cassidy. (Although, who wouldn't admit that Paul Newman was a dashing outlaw?) This is a "Huh? Why would a person vote for someone simply because they share religious beliefs?" type of discussion.
I don't get it.
During my schooling, I like many teenagers, undervalued some of the truly gifted educators who helped me think for myself. One of these was a history teacher who I saw at church every Sunday (I also happened to have accidentally mooned him at LDS girl's camp). It always struck me that he didn't seem to treat the Mormon kids differently from the rest of the kids.
He had a passion for American History, the Constitution and taught with us with a great love for his country. He reinforced what my parents and clergy taught me, especially as I approached voting age; That was to "vote as dictated by the promptings of my conscience." BUT after researching the issues and deciding what is important to me.
Left up to me at the time, a particularly flighty teen, I would have probably voted for a candidate simply because he smelled like 'Obsession' cologne or had been Marky Mark from the Funky Bunch.
Luckily, it was a while before I turned 18 and NOT an election year.
The point that I'm trying to make is that our voices are powerful ESPECIALLY if we choose to take the time to know who/what we support and not just because it's convenient or familiar.
I lived near Salt Lake City during the 2002 Winter Olympics which were headed up by Romney. It was an incredible experience, one that enriched my life and the lives of the students I taught. We took a field trip to meet Katrina Witt and explore Olympic Village and I have many positive opinions about how the city transformed during that time. Mitt Romney is part of that idealistic picture. However, I have yet to research his political career and the issues he is passionate about. It would be irresponsible for me to vote for him without doing so.
So I guess I ask the question once again, Why would a person vote for a candidate simply because they share the same religious beliefs? Even more, why would a person NOT vote for a candidate simply because of their religious beliefs? I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
In the meantime, I'd better start doing some reading!
Disclaimer: I really don't think there is a "Mormons for Butch Cassidy Historical Society".
8 comments:
I have SO many opinions about this! I've always struggled with the reality that many religious people tend to vote conservative, simply because of the "hot button" issues that do matter, but are irrelevant to the current election, whatever/whenever that may be.
That's my vent. I don't want to taint your beautiful post, but will say that I was shockingly appalled (can you be that appalled? LOL) that so many Christians vote based on a candidate's personal beliefs about abortion and gay marriage (current hot button topics) when the real issues at hand are much bigger and scarier, and should not be dealt with by a person under-qualified to do so. They are important, but have nothing to do with the OTHER issues that are actually being debated in Washington. Abortion has been legal since the '70s, and voting for a man just because he's personally against it doesn't make sense in my brain. George W is against abortion. Did he change it's legality? And was he qualified to deal with the situations that arose during his 8 years based on that one moral stance? I feel he did a good job with what he was given but still see flaws in his efforts. I'm against abortion, and would not have done a good job battling terrorism and the economy. It's more than a few small issues.
But what do we do when we're faced with voting for the "lesser of two evils"? If they're both evil, how do we decide who to place our vote with? I think religion is irrelevant in politics. Being Muslim doesn't make you a bad person, more than being Christian makes you a bad (or good) person. Humans are ethnocentric by nature, so it's hard to realize that truth sometimes.
You're a brave woman, asking for opinions on this topic! I look forward to reading other responses.
Now, I fear, I've said too much. Way too much. LOL
I thought your last post was extremely well written! This is one of those things where you have to let yourself be really upset for just a day or two and then leave it so that it doesn't eat you up inside.
I find that the people who are most vocal against the church just simply don't understand it. It's really sad that they don't take the time to find out truths about a religion before they go making incorrect comments about it. (I see this in education as well.) It's a lot about ignorance first and then often turns ugly.
Stealing a Dr. Seuss quote I will say to you, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
You are awesome!!!!
Why would a woman vote for a woman just because she is a woman?
Why would someone with the same ethnic background or skin color vote for someone with the same?
It is absurd to think that anyone would not research and study the issues and candidates and then cast their vote accordingly.
Because of the Mormon factor, I studied the candidates more than I ever have in the past just to make sure I was supporting a candidate for the right reasons.
I guess a person might vote for someone strictly because they share a religion, but that seems awfully shallow and short-sighted. There are plenty of people in my religion that I don't agree with! However, I can see NOT voting for someone because of their religious beliefs. If they believe in something and truly try to live it, that will obviously affect how they execute their office, what things they support or don't, etc. If I don't agree with their beliefs, and that seems like it will intersect with the decisions they are making in their office, then I probably would not vote for them. This is not to say that I won't vote for someone who is a different religion - far from it. Religious intolerance is not really anywhere near my M.O. But if their religion will cause them to act in a way that I do not want employed in my government, then I would not support them. I suppose that is true for anyone you vote for - whatever their beliefs and values are, religious or not, you have to agree with most of them, or why would you vote for that person?
Do you think he said that because of the Mormon-connection? Or because Utah is traditionally conservative? Or maybe a combination of both?
I hate it (either way) because he assumes things about you that aren't true (necessarily). Why doesn't he just ask? And why don't you tell him to stick it in his (ear) if he does? That's the beauty of the secret ballot - it's no one's business but my own...
I've got my own ideas, thank you very much, many of which are informed by my conservative, Mormon upbringing, while others are a result of other experience. I'm a unique individual with a conscience of my own, and I vote that conscience. And that, Mr. Airport Snipe-and-run Man, is the most you deserve to hear.
:)
PS - you rock. That is all.
I think people just have no idea that in our church we are advised to make our own decisions politically. As a Christian, yes, I would love a president who believes in God and has standards. I believe it would make our country a better place. But no one tells me who I should vote for. It's based on my own decision and my own research.
I agree, it is absurd for someone to vote or not vote for a particular canidate based off of their religious beliefs. When JFK was running for office, many were up in arms because he was Catholic, as though he was going to enforce a law forcing all American citizens to become Catholic. It is the same with Romney; I have heard ignorant statements made about how he would force all US citizens to become Mormon. It disgusts me that people are so closed minded and shallow about such important decisions. You rock Trish!
Hilarious. I loved the part where you said, "since a friendly person with fish breath is so much more tolerable".
One tool I have found to help me get more acquainted with political candidates is the VoteEasy tool by the VoteSmart group. Check it out:
http://www.votesmart.org/voteeasy/
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