Elizabethtown College recently had the privilege of a political celebrity of sorts visiting our campus. No, I’m not talking about the flexible comedian, although the individual in question may have had a good sense of humor and been able to do a yoga move or two. Campus was bustling with the news that Ann Romney had come to support her husband’s presidential campaign. It’s amazing how politics has a way of bringing the ignorant out of the woodwork. I’m speaking in reference to College students, professors and faculty of Etown that give politics a bad name and cause me to be embarrassed by the school I attend. I will explain myself, but first let me give you some history on my own political affiliation.
I am moderate in my political views. I usually feel myself torn between both political parties when it comes to choosing a side, especially during election times. Oftentimes when I mention to someone that I am a moderate, the individual suddenly feels inclined to win me over to their particular party. I politely listen to them, not at all giving the impression that I consider them a fool for completely giving their commitment to one particular party and believing all other views to be 100 percent false. I walk away thoroughly bored and unconvinced.
I have had this experience with supporters of virtually every view on the political spectrum. I remain unconvinced that one party has all the answers, mainly because of my personal worldview that all people have something to offer society. I believe that everyone has their strengths, and therefore all people have their faults. The ideal society, in my mind, is one in which Democrats and Republicans are mature enough to recognize each others’ strengths before critiquing their faults.
You may still be wondering why I mentioned embarrassment by the institution you and I are currently attending. I was embarrassed at the lack of respect for both parties. Although he is a Democrat, my roommate attended the Ann Romney gathering and very respectfully listened to all that was said. After leaving the event, he joined the other supporters of Barack Obama who were protesting outside of the Chapel. Feeling the need to spread God’s message of love, compassion and respect for the uniqueness of mankind, an anonymous individual declared to a handful of Obama supporters that they would burn in hell for their support of a Democrat. Perhaps I’m naïve, but I assumed that thousands of Biblical scholars, translators, theologians and critics would have stumbled across the verse that declared Jesus was in fact a Republican. I apologize, but I would like to take a moment to remind Republicans that President Obama is not the anti-Christ; Bill Maher is. I joke, but I have heard it taught that you cannot vote for Obama if you are a Christian. President Obama has strengths that qualify him to be the President of the United States, even if I may disagree with him on some issues. I can appreciate and respect what Democrats bring to the table without my personal beliefs feeling threatened. As a Christian who is thoroughly embarrassed by so-called “Christians” who give my God a bad name, I would recommend that the individual who pronounced Obama supporters to their fiery doom read James 4:12.
Lest you take this to be a rant against Republicans, let us address a similarly ignorant comment I overheard from an anonymous Democrat. Approximately two weeks ago, I overheard a conversation taking place next to me in regards to Ann Romney being a stay-at-home mother. The individual declared that Romney was lazy, simply because she chose a lifestyle of homemaking as opposed to joining the workforce in the way that Michelle Obama did prior to her role as the First Lady. The individual pronounced Romney completely unqualified, ignorant and lazy solely based on the fact that she chose to commit her time to her children versus finding a full-time job. I won’t even take the time to address the fact that being a stay-at-home mom is quite possibly one of the most difficult jobs on the market.
I was blessed to have and know mothers who were willing to commit their lives to being stay-at-home moms. They are some of the most educated individuals I know. The hard work and effort they have put into their families have supplied this country with well-rounded children. Let us not forget that these stay-at-home moms educate and supply this country with many of the politicians and individuals responsible for holding it together. I would like to remind you of just a few people who were homeschooled by their mothers. You may recognize some of their names. James Madison, John Adams, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Winston Churchill, George Washington Carver, Andrew Wyeth, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Eli Whitney, Orville and Wilbur Wright, C.S. Lewis and Louis Armstrong. If you didn’t recognize many of these names, you probably didn’t have a woman like Ann Romney, a stay-at-home mom, to properly educate you.
In summary, I would like to remind both parties of the value that you each bring to the table. Please do not continue to embarrass your fellow students – Christians, Republicans, Democrats, or Moderates – by displaying your ignorance and lack of respect for individuals with differing worldviews. Stay educated.