Dissent and Compromise

Does anyone else feel inundated by crisis after crisis and an over abundance of “problems” that must be solved, right now, by the government? As I scroll through the various news topics of the day, I feel slightly overwhelmed by all the options of outrage that fill the screen these days. There’s immigration, gun control, abortion, pandemic, vaccines, infrastructure spending, economic stimulus, housing bubbles, homelessness... I feel like I could name things endlessly. And all of the topics are filled with passionate arguments from all sides of the spectrum. Well, at least as long as you read the comment section, since the news media is doing its dadgum best to only show or allow one side. 

I suppose this shines a light on one of the biggest differences between someone who calls themself a liberal (or democrat - though that’s a topic that we could likely hash out over many more paragraphs and pages) and someone who calls themself a conservative. When there is a problem, who is best equipped to help or resolve? In my humble opinion... it is never the government. Ever. And yet, there are likely 80+ million Americans who think the government has their back, or have been brought up thinking that the government’s place is to protect and provide. While the other half of the American populace believes there are no scarier words than “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” 

How do we reconcile these two very different perspectives (world views, even) on the role of government? It used to be that the two sides of political power in politics compromised. Oh my gosh, I said that word: compromised. Everything about how our government works is based in compromise. And yet, here we are, at the 10th step of a dual and neither party is willing to flinch. Will they both shoot and aim for death? Will both sides assume mutual destruction? Our so called leaders have become so afraid of losing an inch, that we all end up giving ten miles. But not for the good or betterment of society. The politicians remain in power, they get rich, they play by their own rules and the American people lose. They lose because the national debt is rising at alarming rates. They lose because blacks and whites are told to hate each other. They lose because Christians are painted as judgmental and intolerant. They lose because extremists are loud and make everyone else feel like they are wrong for dissenting opinions. They lose because we have a media who, instead of checking the power and holding our elected officials accountable, takes the path of least resistance while lining their pockets with the profits of polarization and hypocrisy. 

I’ve said it before, and I truly believe it: liberalism cannot exist without its conservative counterpart. And the same goes for conservatives. Each ideology needs the opposition. They make each other better by fighting for the best parts of both the future and the past. But in America today, and likely most of the developed world, each side has locked themselves into their high tower, claimed the moral authority, and given absolutely zero f*cks to the merits of what their opposition has to say. But here is where I believe there is a difference in the two sides, and where I think debate can be had and discussion started: while the conservatives simply want to be left alone to do as they please (within the reasonable standards of an objectively moral society) and have become almost cowardly in the process, leftist progressives - not democrats - have decided it’s not enough to simply be allowed to exist and live their values, they must ensure, whether by carrot or stick, that everybody thinks the same as they do. There is no room for dissent among the left. And there is only dissent among the right.

Now, if you find this definition or observation offensive, good! Maybe you are one of the lucky few who will pave the way for changes in the way politics has the power to divide us. Perhaps you will bridge the gap between the two sides of the argument? Will you demand better of our leaders? Will you stand up for the freedoms laid out in the constitution and make congress come back to the frame work that was so meticulously thought through and laid out all those years ago? Or will you be offended and cancel your friend? Your colleague? Your loved one? Is a dissenting opinion really worth all that? I’d argue that being allowed to have and express dissent is imperative to the American experiment. I’d tell you that while I believe my own opinions are correct (isn’t that what opinions are??), they are not infallible, and can be shaped by someone with a better argument for their own opinion. But how can I ever know if there is a better thought out there if I’m either not allowed to hear it or I block any opportunity to be exposed to it? 

It’s been a long time since I considered myself a republican. In fact, every time I’m asked to offer my identity in that respect, I so often have to step back and wonder if it would be more fitting to call myself independent? Or libertarian? But the fact of the matter is that no one political party can encompass all of the leanings my opinions take. So I feel a bit without a “home” when it comes to politics. I’ve known many people who have been Democrats or Republicans their whole lives and have suddenly felt the same way: homeless when it comes to politics. This is what is wrong with American politics. The left, which is no longer a champion for liberty and justice for all, has forgotten the normal people and become beholden to the special interests and radicals of the progressive left end of the spectrum - communism being left and anarchy being right. And the right have become cowards who tout “big government bad, big business good” and have lost any willingness to stand up for freedom, and liberty, and justice, because wielding power means taking a stand… and what if someone doesn’t like that stand?! When we have no one in leadership who is willing to step outside of the comfort of their posh offices and guaranteed salaries, to actually fight for the constitution, for freedom of thought, and to ensure that this American experiment continues to be a beacon of hope for the world {just look at the flock of migrants who are currently surging our southern border and tell me America isn’t a beacon of hope?}… what happens? We end up hating each other. We lock ourselves in the metaphorical fall out shelter of like minded ideology and we begin to think that the other side is not only wrong, but evil. 

I don’t hate people who think or look differently than me. But if I turned on the news and only watched Fox, I might actually fear for my life if I were to walk the streets in a MAGA hat or claim out loud that I’m proud of the person God made me. Thankfully, I don’t only watch Fox (actually, I haven’t watched much of fox in months). Thankfully, I was raised to see the value of differing opinions. To be thoughtful and intentional about who shapes my ideals and what opinions I hold with priority. I think there are so many of my friends and neighbors who are the same way. Yet, CNN, Fox, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, etc all have their profits to look after… and that means that bad news sells. That even if they aren’t outright lying to you, they are shaping the narrative in such a way that you are made to be on edge. Being on edge gains ratings. You are supposed to hate the “other” guy. Because in politics these days, we are told that compromise is a death sentence, and the only way to “win” is to hold out for everything your party claims is correct. So what about all those politically “homeless” people who dare to think outside the box of left or right?

Perhaps in the future there will be a topic that is worth exploring and debating in detail. {there are so many these days that are so entangled in passion and hype, that it seems nearly impossible to hash them out and separate them from the emotion} I hope that when that day comes, the vulnerability of sharing my opinions, knowing that they very well may have faults, can be welcomed with open minds, and hearts with a desire to find that oh so illusive compromise. Perhaps, there will be room for this small corner of the internet to start making waves. If you haven’t found Sharon McMahon yet, go look her up. Her community is learning to “listen to understand” and I hope that we can all see the value in that. I’m currently the one talking, but I hope you’ll listen to understand. Just as I pray I can do the same for those who want to join me in discussion. I love America. I love all that it stands for. I love that it is imperfect and always striving for better. But I don’t believe for one, single second, that because it has sins in its past (and its present) that it should be the baby that gets thrown out with the bathwater. Let’s approach politics with sanity and reason. Let’s not hate the other side or consider them evil. Let’s open our minds to dissenting opinions and the possibility of the fallibility of our own perspectives. 

Apocalypse, now?

I didn’t really expect or plan for my first discussion point to be coverage or analysis of things currently transpiring. But here we are. My heart is grieving and my mind is raging. Go big or go home, right? Or perhaps, more fitting - trial by fire. Imagine my frustration/shock/anger/sadness when I turned on the news to the scene in Washington DC yesterday

Yesterday, Americans from across the country showed up in DC to make their voices heard. As the electoral college votes were to be counted and certified, these Americans wanted to make it known that their confidence in our election systems has been lost. I don’t want to tackle the topic of election fraud or reform right now, that’s much too big for this moment. But I think it’s important to note why those people, or the majority of them, were there. Our constitution allows for, even calls for, peaceful protest. I don’t pretend to know the intentions of every American or person in DC today, but as we talk about the why and then discuss the what happened, we need to have a starting point. You don’t have to agree with the premise of yesterday’s rally turned protest turned riot to look at it objectively and figure out what happened.

What happened at the Capitol was wrong. Violence is not the answer. Ever. This is 2021. But let’s look back at how we got here and why it’s hypocritical for people to call out what happened today when they largely ignored or even defended the violence that filled our summer. These protestors today, many wearing MAGA hats, carrying American flags, and even invoking the name of Jesus, were wrong. Period. There is no excuse. Here’s the problem though: America has been watching violence just like this and much worse for the last 7 months. Cities across the nation have been terrorized by intense and outrageous violence brought on by people wearing BLM shirts and covering their faces in the style of antifa. Where was the outrage then? When businesses were burned to the ground, the news media was calling for understanding - riots are a valid form a protest. Just as we were begged to not condemn the good being demanded by the 99% peaceful protestors during the summer by BLM, we cannot just write off the concerns of the people marching in DC yesterday because some of them turned to rioting.

I am in no way excusing or ignoring or condoning what happened in DC. But if we are to start to heal the huge political divide in America, we have to start looking objectively at all sides and calling a spade a spade; regardless of how deeply we agree or disagree with the subject matter. There has to be truth in politics, in debate. If we are not having discussion based on mutually agreed upon terms, then we will just argue in circles. We will tell the other side that they are evil or filled with hate because they do not agree. Both sides will believe they are right, holding the only truth. Both sides will become so frustrated with the lack of civility from the other, that riots will ensue. If we cannot first agree that violence is wrong, calling it out on both sides, no matter the cause, then we cannot begin to come to the table with understanding and compassion in mind.

Can we not step back from the high emotions of our various convictions and try to understand one another? Have we lost all ability for civil discord and debate? Are we to continue down the path of division, when we very likely agree on so many things? Good, decent, important things? I pray that unity among Americans is not a lost cause. That empathy has not been extinguished. That hate for “the other” hasn’t become such a potent fuel for fire that we end up in a situation like the civil war. I hope that respectful discussion can be had, and I pray for the people who read these words to take them not as an assault on their views, but as an olive branch towards civility.

Yesterday was a protest and a riot. One is ok, one is not. That should be a point we can all agree on. Let’s work towards that goal and maybe we will heal, after all.

Introduction

Over the last 4 or 5 years, I have felt myself get more and more quiet about politics, as conservativism and its principals become viewed through a lens that paints them as evil. How could the party that voted for Donald Trump be anything but, right? Or at least that is what we are led to believe by the news media, culture, and all of tech - excepting the specific niches carved out by conservatives who still feel confident in speaking boldly and fighting to preserve the ideals that come with such a title. So where does the average, every day person fit into this equation? What does a suburban wife and mother have to add to the fight for conservative principles? Has identity politics made it impossible for a woman like myself to have an opinion of my own? Am I to just shut up and fall in line with the so called compassionate party? If I want to raise my children to be advocates for the underprivileged and the oppressed, can I possibly do it while maintaining a belief that conservative principles still hold a place in the American experiment? 

As the messiness of an election year begins to wind down, and the consequences of isolation during a pandemic start to show up in our moods and behaviors, I’d like to explore my place in culture and society. To examine my own biases alongside the ones that have been told of me. I’d also like to make the argument, if it’s there, that conservatism isn’t bad or bigoted or money hungry or selfish; or any of the other wildly exaggerated stereotypes of someone who calls themself a republican. I hope that I can articulate my perspective well, while allowing room for discussion and consideration. It is my very strong belief that conservatism cannot exist without its liberal counterpart. One breeds process and innovation while being checked by the other for conservation of necessary limitations. The two sides of one coin need each other - and the very unhealthy culture of canceling or silencing persons with different ways of thinking, is a recipe for disaster. 

I’m fed up of reading opinions where one side attacks the other by calling names or dismissing conversation. You cannot read one side of the story without being told the other side is evil: and this happens on both ends of the spectrum. So here, in my tiny corner of the internet, I’m going to strive for making my argument without name calling. For doing the research and presenting the facts without the condescension or hatred for those who disagree with me. For respecting those on the many different sides. I hope that you will join me in searching for the truth among the lies and in finding common ground despite a culture that says it has to be all or nothing. 

I hope this discussion becomes like an eclectic forest of evergreens. Where we shed our preconceptions like the needles of a pine, not all at once to the point of death, but slowly and methodically as we gather information and shape our opinions. We don’t need to grow dormant and wait out the winter... we can be the beacon of hope in this dark winter (to use the words of Joe Biden); perhaps minds will be changed and politics adapt. But in reality, all I want out of this little movement, is for respect to be earned by all. I don’t want to be afraid of sharing my passion for conservative ideals because it might offend someone or cause me to be canceled. I want to show those who disagree with me that what the media says about republicans or conservatives is wrong. That democrats don’t have the upper hand on compassion and that the supposed moral high ground isn’t held by one party or section of culture and society. 

The Bible is full of instruction to not sit back in the face of evil. And while that may be a reach (particularly in calling politics the face of evil… though it might be more fitting than we are willing to admit) for this space and in regards to politics, I do believe it is a call to speak out even when it’s hard. To sit back, silently, so as to not offend someone, while the two sides of the political divide become farther and father apart and further angered by their opposition, has taken its toll on my heart and isn’t doing anyone any good. I will speak truth. I will speak up. I will share my own heart for the world to see. Republicans are not evil. Conservatives are not idiots. Votes for the leaders of those parties and champions of those ideals are not racist, bigoted, or xenophobic.