Conscience and voting and talking

It is the new year... January 1st to be precise and so many of us have had family gatherings and dinners with others who may not share our political views. We were advised to attend these gatherings and not discuss politics for the sake of peace in the house and family. Pretty good advice during these times of heated and angry divisions in out country and in our communities and in our families.

I wonder who was silent while others talked their talk? I wonder and worry that civil discussions did not generally happen (they can be difficult when passions are apparently in play). I wonder how many people bit their tongues and suppressed their anger. More importantly and sadly - how many people listened and listened and found themselves needing to be agreeable in the moment AND THEN will be in agreement later!?

We hear things and find ourselves agreeing with people to keep things civil and peaceful and then later do we live up to those agreements made for the sake of peace in the house? I fear YES -- we find ourselves doing things we essentially agreed to under the duress of needing to be silent.

HOWEVER -- IN THE VOTING BOOTH YOU WILL HAVE PRIVACY AND YOUR ENTITLEMENT AND RIGHT TO THE SECRET BALLOT. And after voting you can be agreeable or you can assert your right to privacy. No one has to reveal how they REALLY voted. The exit poles do not absolutely reflect the actual voting and in fact it might be wise to ban exit poles as they themselves may be viewed as coercive.

There are for some people very important single issues about which they are passionate.Beyond those single issues there are so many other important issues, more and less, to consider when deciding for whom to vote. WHAT IS THE REAL AND RIGHT BALANCE?

In my community Israel is single-issue swaying people. Israel's existence is absolutely right, important, and necessary. For some supporters of Israel there may be secondary issues stated as important, too, that sways them towards one party or another. For me the general social-mindedness of us Jews and our interests in justice is most real. I/We are very concerned about anti-semitism and gender-equality and racial equality and we know what is humanely wrong and right.

SO - love and use The Secret Ballot ... and say what you will or be silent in the face of hate... but vote out hate and vote out prejudice and vote in respect and loving kindness. Show you care!

It is sometimes difficult to talk the talk AND walk the walk. Sometimes is may be easier to walk the walk quietly. Live, work, and vote YOUR CONSCIENCE. Love and care.