The recent campaign season often left me shaking my head. Attack ads, billions of dollars spent, robo calls ad nauseum and a polarized country invoke deep and varied emotions within. Approaching such a complex and sometimes mean spirited situation with children is often a challenge. Yet this year I am grateful that it turned into quite a learning experience for both adults and children in our family.
This election season has been a time of engaging dinner conversation and offered a favorable circumstance to teach our daughters about a few of the important things in life. We have spent much time around the table discussing each candidate’s views on multiple issues, the complexity of prioritizing and making decisions in any election and helped them understand that though mom and dad love each other very much and often agree in the political realm, occasionally we vote differently. We have talked about presidents, governors and local officials and how each impacts the various circles in which we live. We have each had our turn in mock debates to be both President Obama and Governor Romney and been forced to carefully answer tough and insightful questions from our own 8 year old debate moderator – watch out Jim Lehrer!
And beyond the focus on this particular election, it has been a chance to talk about the differences between democracy and other forms of government around the world. Why we would ever choose to vote for a candidate even though we were fairly certain that they would lose their race led to great discussion on the value of standing by principles rather than just wanting to win. We have batted around the ideas that though learning about candidates and positions can seem boring, it truly impacts the everyday lives of those who reside in the US and sometimes beyond.
I often consider myself an ambivalent patriot. On the one hand, I acknowledge that the freedoms that I enjoy and take for granted are truly exceptional. Freedom of speech, religion and the list goes on are things that I hold dear. I know that people have given their very lives to protect this democratic government that I live under. There is much to be grateful for as a citizen of this country
On the other hand, we as a country have sometimes abused our power and status on this planet. We have at times been a bully and done things on the national and world scene that oppress and damage individuals and other countries. There are just and reasonable explanations why factions of the world dislike the USA.
But the joy and excitement of our 8 year old as she got to help me vote almost brought me to tears. She was so very proud. She couldn’t wait to get to school this morning to see who had won the election in her classroom. To live in a country that now allows a vote for each citizen no matter race, religion or gender is a gift and hard fought victory.
The concession speech of the defeated is often conciliatory and there are gracious words offered by the one who wins. The peaceful exchange of power during a presidential inauguration is something that touches me deeply. So my hope and prayer on this day is that the desire to mend this country and begin to approach consensus, reach across the aisle and compromise is more than election night rhetoric – for the sake of all of the children in our care.
likerunningthroughafield 