2012 Election Results: Officials say, "Nobody wins!"
"What? How can this be? Was there a problem at the polls? Did Hurricane Sandy's aftermath create election havoc? Was it a tie? No, no and no. The election results are in and the "winners" declared, but at the end of the day the country lost."
If the Democrats and Republicans were sitting before a professional counselor or before any one who understood anything about interpersonal communication, both sides would have to hear the truth that the way they are approaching the issues is setting everyone up for failure.
For example, let's say Kimberly, my wife, and I are having a disagreement. Let's say she decides to blame me for what I have done wrong without acknowledging her part of the problem. And then let's say I attack her to try to win the argument. At the end of the day, who wins? The answer is clear, when it comes to a marriage or any interpersonal relationship when we blame, attack and refuse to take personal responsibility for what is our part in the problem, and that is, nobody wins.
Look at the political adds you are receiving in the mail and watching on TV...review the content of the debates...listen to the campaign speeches...blame, attack, refusal of taking responsibility...can anyone win when our political system has been turned into a completely dysfunctional relationship?
I have looked at all and been tempted not to vote this election. I feel like to participate by way of voting is to encourage the dysfunction. I probably will vote, but I do not believe I am alone among those who have grown increasingly disillusioned with two parties who are more interested in which side wins than whether or not the country wins. I am disappointed in two parties that, be it because of pride or fear, refuse to sit down and do what it takes to make anything in life work and that is truly hear each other, learn from one another and not loose one's identity in the process, but have the best of each party's identities called to the surface so that someone besides them win more than an election.
Of course, the even more disheartening truth is that the reason the political climate of angry blaming and attacking is the norm is because pollsters and campaign managers have deduced this is what the American people want. We don't want Democrats and Republicans to sit down and hear each other and learn to work together for the good of the country. We want to watch a war because deep down we as a country want to fight rather than hear. We would rather be on the winning side so we can shout "nanny-nanny, boo-boo" at the losers on the other side than to call on our leaders to do what it takes to let our country win and that is listen to each other and work together.
Wonder why that is? Why do we as a people encourage our leaders to refuse to work together for the common good? Perhaps it is because to expect better of them would demand better of us in our own interpersonal relationships. Perhaps to expect them to actively listen rather than fight, attack and blame would require us to first live out the same in our own homes, schools, churches and work places. Perhaps that takes a level of love and humility that we don't want to devote ourselves too. Perhaps the ugly truth is we don't want our country to win as much as we want "our side" to win.
"Father, forgive me. Forgive our Country. Forgive your Church in America. Forgive us all for encouraging a political climate of war rather than cooperation. Father, change my heart; change our hearts. Heal our dysfunctional, ungodly relationships so that we might expect better of and have the right to call for more from those who lead us. Forgive our leaders for not having the courage to lead us where we need to go rather than letting our personal and societal dysfunction dictate their actions. Forgive us for thinking that Democrats or Republicans can heal our land. Remind us of your words from old that never grow old in 2 Chronicles 7:14, 'If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.' Thank you for your mercy! Now, Father, lead us, your Church to live out this command that you may heal that all may win."
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