Vote for (your) life
The ugliness that is bound to follow an increase in power given to those who condone and encourage violence is worthy of dread.
Dear friends - I’m writing this a few days ahead, preparing for a brief out of town trip to help (and enjoy the company of) some beloved friends and family.
This morning, I woke up with a sense of dread. It probably didn’t help that it had snowed madly overnight, blanketing our neighborhood in wet, white sleet, a sure sign that the light and lovely early autumn has bid its farewell. Winter is on the way.
But the change of seasons is not so much a cause of dread, for folks in privileged positions like mine, with resources enough to make it through.
Instead, I think dread is triggered by so many indications that violence is becoming a normal part of our political discourse. It has always been at least a subtext, especially for historically excluded folks. Systems do not shift power easily. A powerful uprising that results in the first Black president of the U.S. is followed by a backlash of nearly equal power as the system strives for homeostasis, an echo of violence that followed Reconstruction, Civil Rights legislation, gender equity movements, and more.
Since 2016, every election seems to present an existential crisis. And this one, the 2022 mid-terms, is no exception. It feels as if we are voting for the life of our planet, our democracy, our communities, our neighbors, even our lives.
I pride myself on not being a “single-issue” voter. I try diligently to understand the complexities of issues, people, and systems, and vote for the representatives and measures that align best with my values, allowing for imperfection.
This election, however, I find myself focusing on a single dividing line between those who warrant my support and those who do not.
Have the people seeking office spoken out, strongly and unequivocally, against political violence? Against violence as a means to resolve conflicts of beliefs, purposes, values, and policies? Against violence as a strategy, tactic, and/or goal?
If they have not, or worse, if they have tacitly or explicitly encouraged, recommended, or tolerated political violence, then I will not vote for them. Regardless of party or position, to earn my vote this year, candidates for office must reject political violence in the clearest and strongest of terms.
The ugliness that is bound to follow an increase in power given to those who condone and encourage violence is worthy of dread.
When you read this, if you live in the U.S., you’ll still have a couple of days to vote. Vote for the life of the community, the life of our democracy, and the life of everyone it is designed to serve.
Be well and safe, and take good care. Your contributions are essential to this journey.