Reflections on the Election

I am departing from my usual format today, because I feel called to respond to the results of this historic election. I spent last week in Mississippi, helping to restore homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, along with people from all over the country. I watched the election returns with a group of young people who are spending a year traveling around the country, contributing their hard work and sweat to all sorts of projects benefiting our nation through the Americorps program. Though they were Obama enthusiasts, I don't think they had the same visceral reaction I did. In some ways, I felt that the hopes I had as a college student in the late 60's were being realized. Though the issues are different, today's youth have been a significant instrument of change, as we had hoped to be back then. Though we were instrumental in stopping a war, it has taken 40 years to create a generation, and a context, that invites the full participation of our youth. That is extremely gratifying and moving to me.

I was also impressed with the response of both candidates to the results. Their speeches were both gracious and unifying, and it reminds me of something that often gets lost. There is much talk of red states and blue states, but in fact there are only purple states. Even in so-called red states, 30 - 49% of the population voted for Obama; in the blue states, a similar percentage voted for McCain. Even as they break down into counties, trying to parse ever and ever smaller units, using the monolithic colors of red and blue hides the reality that while my neighbor may have had an Obama sign on his lawn, a block away there was a McCain sign. And though the real divide may have something to do with rural vs. urban communities, even that breakdown will obscure the complex reality if we use these monolithic labels. Let's remember that we are all Americans wanting what is best for our country as we see it. Perhaps if we can attribute good motives to those who oppose us, we will be better able to listen to what they have to say. Perhaps it is not possible to forge one solution for the problems that beset so many communities; perhaps what we need is local solutions that respond to the complexities of local communities, a whole set of solutions that can be adapted to local needs. Though we are many communities, we are one nation, and now is the time to stand together with all our differences intact, not a melting pot really, more like a casserole.

Prayer: Dear God, It is easy to lump people together and dismiss them when I disagree with their point of view. Help me to see all people as Your beloved children, looking for a way to express Your divine spark, and honor them. Open my heart to hear their point of view, and give me the humility to recognize that I am not always right. Amen.