Summer, 2020

Yesterday, I wrote of the 2016 election, how so much of my pre-vote wrangling and writing was driven by some need: to be prophetic; to be relevant; to be right. Looking back, perhaps I was prophetic, relevant, and right, but in the end, what difference did it make? Did I influence the course of the election? (Clearly not.) Did I advance the ultimate Good, the “One Thing.” (For more on the One Thing, do not miss yesterday’s post.)

Heading into another parade of horribles—What else is an American election but an endless march of madmen wearing grotesque masks?—I’m taking a different approach. But before I dive into the meat of the matter, let’s give definition to the problem.

To borrow from twentieth-century French philosopher Jaques Ellul, the problem is that: “Hate, hunger, and pride make better levers of propaganda than do love or impartiality.” And to be clear, these are not partisan levers. Politicians from the left, right, and middle all know this to be true.

Does this ring true of today’s political milieu? Do you see politicians using hate, hunger, and pride to divide and conquer the people? Are they listening well? Are they taking a hard look at the history of a country and asking whether our current policies are based on equity and impartiality (hallmarks of love)? Are they operating in another way, perhaps in furtherance of their own best interests? Has the motto of the politicians become, as Carl Sandburg put it,

“Love your neighbor as yourself but don’t take down your fence.”

(You cannot have it both ways, says uncle Carl.)

I realize I’m wading into boiling rivers here, that some of you might not want to discuss politics and its confluence with religion or faith or virtue or whatever. Still, the tutu-ed elephant is dancing in the living room, so let’s address it. And let’s do it a way that looks toward the ultimate Good, the One Thing.

Today, feel free to shoot me an email and share how you’re feeling about the current political climate. I promise to read your response with all the grace in the world. And though I might not respond to everyone, if I do, I promise not to pick a fight. After all, it’s hard to pursue the One Thing when your fists are flailing at your neighbor.