THURSDAY JULY 1, 2021 - INDEPENDENCE WEEK

 THURSDAY JULY 1, 2021 - INDEPENDENCE WEEK

Welcome to July - the seventh month of the year - six months down and six to go!!!  Hang on!!  (At least this year many of us are not scared of COVID!! But, not all!!)

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Back to the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Now a lot has changed from 1776 and 2021.  But, let’s start with the premise that “all men are created equal”.  Let’s extend that a little.  In 1776, to be a voter, you had to be a landowner (and white).  

In 2020 (last year), and at various times in the 245 years of this political institution “all men” has been restrictive on ‘all’.  Blacks couldn’t vote until after the Civil War; Women couldn’t vote until 1919; adults under the age of 21 couldn’t vote for many years (now they can vote, but not buy liquor!!).  

There has been discussions lately about voting rights.  From the last election where one candidate said there was widespread fraud, many states have been tightening up voting restrictions.  Shorter times to vote, more proof of voter eligibility.   Some of the media talk has been that restrictions were needed because of the fraud; but other media has accused those favoring restrictions of cracking down on Blacks and minority voting.  

From a group called “Global Citizen” (you can determine if the writing is slanted one-way or the other!!)

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The 2020 election was really unique because of COVID-19. We had to acknowledge that we didn’t have a pandemic-proof democracy. A lot of changes happened that were good and based on sound information to increase vote-by-mail and early voting. Sometimes that happened at the local level, sometimes it was a board of elections that made that call, and sometimes that required an executive order by the governor or the state legislature passing a new law.

The courts became the battleground for voter suppression and were dealing with this narrative of voter fraud.

All of these things became the legal battleground for confusing the voters and rapidly going back and forth between laws. There was a substantial amount of third-party interest lawsuits that kept that conversation going and IT REALLY STOPPED BEING ABOUT THE VOTER. IT STOPPED BEING ABOUT DEMOCRACY AND IT STARTED BEING ABOUT HOW TO USE THE PANDEMIC AS A POWER GRAB TO TRY TO SWAY THE ELECTION. (emphasis is mine)

From George Washington’s Farewell address we have this thought about political parties (“factions”)

““The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism….In governments purely elective, [a spirit of party is] not to be encouraged.

A FIRE NOT TO BE QUENCHED, IT DEMANDS A UNIFORM VIGILANCE TO PREVENT ITS BURSTING INTO A FLAME, LEST, INSTEAD OF WARMING, IT SHOULD CONSUME.” (emphasis mine)

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In my experience, political parties have gotten more partisan.  (I also “blame” the media for blowing on the coals and stoking the fire into hot flames).  We had a riot in the Nation's Capitol on January 6th, 2021 - where seemingly one partisan group believed that massive fraud occurred and their candidate was not reelected.  Both of the major political parties have been lobbing grenades into the other’s camp.  Impeachment.  Fraud.  

How could we get so extreme in our viewpoints to the statement that “all men are created equal” to say “My side is right and your side is wrong”? Have we forgotten our morality that was present in the signing of that Declaration?  Where did love one-another go?  Is forgiveness out of style these days?

Matthew 5:44 says “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

1 Timothy 2:1-2 says “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness”

Are you praying for our leaders (whatever party they might be in)? Are you loving your enemies?  Or, are you rejoicing when somebody trips up?  

This blog has been saying “LOVE WINS” for a long time.  I know my attitudes and thoughts have changed.  And as I have aged, I see heaven as a goal, not the election of some politician.  

Psalm 20:7 adds this “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

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No politician can solve all the problems of this world.  Two political parties that throw more gas on fires aren’t going to solve the problems of this world.  

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And, let me go one step farther (watch out):

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

So, all men have rights to life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness - did the original signers of the declaration believe that?  Did they know that there are people on our southern border looking for life and liberty?  Did those signers know about the human rights violations around the world?  Did they think there might be some strange people out there that want life, liberty and to be happy?  Our creator endowed us with these rights - but didn’t guarantee them!!!

As we come into our 245th anniversary of the signing of this declaration are we any closer to what it proposes?

But, I know that LOVE WINS!!!

Karen