I’ve shared for nearly 3 years now, the purpose of this blog is to share my experiences in life as I grow “grace for grace” in the Lord. This past year, I have felt moved to become politically active. As I feel that my political views are a part of my development, I shared my views. However, after reading some of my readers’ comments and also an article in BYU magazine, I thought I would apologize not for my views, but for the attitude in which I wrote my article on being a Christian and Democrat.
Ross Spencer, Physics Chair at BYU, wrote an article included in last summer’s BYU magazine entitled “Learning in the Light of Faith.” Last night, after I had written a pretty controvosial post on being a Christian and Democrat, I was led to this article after saying my prayers. After reading the article, I was humbled by what the author said and thought I would share this with readers of this blog.
Spencer writes:
Part of balancing scholarship and faith is learning when to use critical thinking and when to be still and listen. I’ve been involved in logic and criticism for a long time now, and it is often an ugly and unfriendly business. Unlike the title of the popular book “I’m OK- You’re OK”, critical analysis often feels more like “I’m OK-you’re an idiot!”
He then goes on to quote Jesus in the Bible (Matt 7:3-5) where Jesus asks “why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
Finally, he quotes the beautiful LDS hymn “In Humility our Savior” and highlights the words “teach us tolerance and love”.
Combining religion and politics is a risky thing and I chose to do that last night along with my political views. I think it is fine that I shared the views and I do not regret how I feel or sharing them, but I do regret if it came off as me saying “I’m OK-you’re an Idiot”, or being intolerant and unloving. I was pretty fired up after my candidate lost, so it probably came out in an arrogant way, for which I apologize.
Some readers who commented reacted similarly to the way I felt, but on the other end of the spectrum by calling me names and cursing us “ignorant” conservatives. Those of you who reacted like that, I encourage you to read this article and see if it helps in future dialogues with people that disagree with your views. I fall in the same category with you, and after reading this article will try my best from here on out to be more objective and try to see others’ perspective.
Other readers, who clearly did not agree with my views chose to react in a more humble manor by being objective and sharing their views in a respectful way. For that I thank you for your good example.
This experience has been a good learning experience for me and I thank those of you who stopped by and shared your views with me after writing the post. I thank those of you who stood up for me and “had my back” so to speak. I thank those of you who opposed me and responded in a curtious, objective way. I also thank those of you who opposed me and called me names and responded rudely. I ask for forgiveness if you felt I was calling you an idiot. I hope this article can help us all grow a little in the way we respond to others in person, or online.
18 comments
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November 7, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Proud Daughter of Eve
I actually want to thank you for both posts. The conservative/liberal divide is one my husband and I struggle with too and sometimes I feel like you did last night, when you wondered how a faithful Christian could vote liberal. (We don’t have Democrats and Republicans here in Canada, we have the Liberals (left-wing), the New Democratic Party (further left-wing) and the Conservative Party (right-wing). We also have the Bloc Quebecois (kinda centre-left but they attract people of all political flavors who also happen to want Quebec to secede from Canada) and the Green Party (furthest left-wing and pretty small).)
In reading your post and responding, I was reminded why I could still respect someone’s choice to vote Liberal. My husband and I disagree on family issues (he’s a Catholic who supports same sex marriage) but we do agree on social issues like healthcare.
One more thing in support of the health care up here. Through my entire pregnancy, which included the development of insulin-dependent diabetes, the only thing I paid for out of my pocket was the parking fees at the hospital when I had to go to the diabetes clinic for maintenance. Now I did have additional insurance through my work that helped with some things (like a private room after the birth) but contrast that with a family in the States who may have to spend $30k on prenatal and birth care for an uncomplicated pregnancy. Do we really want to make it so only the rich can afford to follow the Lord’s commandment to be fruitful and multiply? As I’ve mentioned before, taxes up here are high; however within a certain income bracket, you get a refund. And note that Canada, so much like the U.S. in other ways, has not had an economic meltdown. Life up here is more affordable despite our taxes.
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November 8, 2010 at 4:52 am
ama49
Hi Daughter of Eve,
I’m very glad you stopped by and contributed to the conversation. You brought a whole different perspective and opened not only my eyes, but many others as well to a different perspective.
I’m glad this helped you and feel free to contribute anytime!
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September 25, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Sequoia
Clear, infomtraive, simple. Could I send you some e-hugs?
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November 7, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Jonathan
Ama,
You are a good man. I think very differently from you about many things, but you are a good man. I am glad to see that the debris from what seemed a political explosion has settled into a treatise on understanding. Props to you and your humility. This is something I can agree with.
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November 8, 2010 at 4:51 am
ama49
Hi Jonathan,
Thank you for the comments. The Good Lord moved me so I can’t really take credit, but learning to see eye to eye and loving others…isn’t that what life’s all about? I thank you again for sharing your views because I learn from them and even if I don’t see things exactly the same way you do, it’s all good. One thing we can definitely agree on is that God’s there for us to lead us in the big things that really matter like faith, humility, love, etc.
I hope you continue to stop by and share your insights.
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November 7, 2010 at 10:48 pm
How can a Christian or Mormon vote Democrat? « Grace for Grace
[…] on November 7, 2010 at 4:37 pm | Reply Christians and Democrats: I’m OK-You’re OK « Grace for Grace […]
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November 8, 2010 at 3:39 am
ezra
Ms. Eve,
I agree that politics are divisive; and as you described the political climate in Canada, you reminded me of the importance for a country that still insists on personal responsibility and freedom to make personal choices.
I think that is what Ama’s post was initially trying to make. These personal freedoms prescribed by our patriarchs allow a person to allocate funds and support causes as that person sees fit. Minus these freedoms, we have a political landscape that ostensibly seeks to offer more and take more from its people–at a cost to the people.
We here in the States still welcome the many from Canada who come so that they can get the health care that they need so badly, but for which they also cannot wait–or which they are denied. We are glad to have a system that rewards innovative medicine and the doctors who invest in their careers–who also end up sending the fruit of their research to foreign lands so that it can be sold at a discount rate. My hope is that we keep nurturing these freedoms so that we continue to be the nation that affords these blessings for ourselves, but also for you and the world!
Blessings in Christ!
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November 8, 2010 at 4:34 am
ama49
Ezra,
Nicely said!
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November 13, 2010 at 8:24 am
Ryan
Please stop perpetuating the myth that people from Canada are coming over the border to seek care here. It is a very rare occurrence and almost exclusively occurs when the individual is seeking an experimental treatment only available in the states.
Its also worth noting that the only reason this happens in the Canada to US direction more often than the other way around is because we are a larger country and thus are more likely to have experimental treatments that others don’t. In fact our rate of healthcare innovation is lower than most industrialized countries. If you pay attention to health news you’ll note that Great Britain, Australia, and France have been leading the way on a lot of new treatments lately.
Also note that the large, large majority of healthcare research in the US is already government funded through HHS and NIH grants. Healthcare innovation is extremely expensive and generally benefits only small numbers of people so they are rarely profitable. The only healthcare research that’s privately run goes towards obesity and erectile dysfunction because that’s where the money is. Market forces can not function normally in many elements of healthcare economics.
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November 8, 2010 at 5:04 am
ezra
Thanks, Ama.
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November 8, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Cal
Ezra, I second Ama’s, “Nicely said.” Actually, I’ve never heard it put so nicely!
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November 23, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Ken
When it comes to the subject of healthcare it would seem to me that any community that is based on Christian ideals would want to make sure that all of its people would have the care that they needed, and it would not seem unreasonable that the expense of that care would be shared by the community at large. This was very much the way people lived in the early church according to the New Testament. Not sure what healthcare looked like back then, but if it were anything like today I would assume it would have been a cost shared equally by all.
Having said that, it is clear that the right to equal healthcare for all, also carries the responsibility of not abusing the system. Christianity is also very big on free agency. If a person wished to spend their life in pursuit of personal pleasures that result in ill health, such as smoking and over eating, does he then have the right to burden the rest of his community with the cost of caring for him? Is this not akin to the statement that “ A slothful man shall not eat the bread of the working man”?
In order for any community to share any part of their resources equal to all, they must all share the same mind set of giving all that they can and taking no more than they need. This mind set cannot be found within any community in today’s world. Far too many within the upper bounds of income are seeking for every way they can to give less to the community and keeping as much of what they have for themselves. And on the other end of the scale, far too many of those who have little will take more than they need, especially when it is “Free from the government”.
The ideal of sharing equally in the New Testament did not last. Not because it was not a good idea and the best way to live, but because we as a people are unwilling collectively to live by such a high standard. And now today there are those that want to push such an ideal on the rest by force through government. This never was nor ever will be what God would want. The invitation ever will be “Come follow me” and never forced on any man.
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December 1, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Doug
Hi Aaron
Have you seen the cartoon on YouTube on Quantitative Easing-one of the best overviews of our current economic reality. What do you think?
By the way-enjoyed your Thanksgiving comments-sounds like our family!
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December 6, 2010 at 12:01 am
ama49
Hey Doug,
I see a few videos of QE on youtube. Can you provide a link to the one you’re referring to?
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January 2, 2011 at 5:16 am
graceforgrace 2010 Year in Review « Grace for Grace
[…] The most controversial post on graceforgrace was definitely “How Can a Christian or Mormon Vote Democrat?” I posted this shortly after the Republican candidate I was supporting lost and was still a bit heated after the loss. Mormons and Christians from both parties had a lot to say on this post and I learned a good lesson in humility and quickly wrote the follow-up post entitled “Christians and Democrats-I’m o.k. You’re o.k.” […]
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January 7, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Bill
Dear ama49 –
I am so sorry I did not see your second post before firing off my previous rant. It was heartening to see, but felt bad that I had reacted so precipitously. My compliments also on the graceful and thoughtful tone it took. Need more members like you.
Best wishes!
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January 8, 2011 at 7:03 am
ama49
Hey Bill,
No worries at all. I learned a lot from this and appreciate all people’s perspectives. Stop by anytime!
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January 15, 2012 at 9:00 pm
mary
I also did not see this post before responding to the first, just a short time ago. It’s waiting moderation, I’ll let you decide what to do with it. I haven’t changed my view and still mean what I said, but I might have stated it more gently if I had read this one along with it. I’m gratified to see this post,
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