Political engagement as an act of faith
On the day I turned 18, I could hardly wait for the final school bell to ring—but not for the reason you might imagine. I couldn’t wait to get in my car, drive downtown to the courthouse, and register to vote.
Women in the United States were permitted this right only 96 years ago with the passing of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which reads in part: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” Knowing the years of struggle that undergirded women’s suffrage, I do not take this right for granted. Since my 18th birthday I have voted in every presidential election, each time thinking deeply about the issues at stake and choosing the candidate I believe best suited to the position.
This election, however, feels different to me. I care greatly who is elected to be our next president, but I’m reluctant to engage in an exchange that feels more like a mud-slinging brawl than a thoughtful, truth-seeking conversation. Christians on social media post memes likening the president and first lady to jungle animals; Hillary Clinton is slammed with the traditional aging, power-hungry-woman tropes; and Donald Trump is ridiculed for his hair and likened to an Oompa Loompa. The comments sections of news sites contain ridicule and hate. People at the next table in the coffee shop demean and deride a candidate, calling him or her “evil,” a person no Christian could vote for.
