Notes From Jon

I wish I’d had my camera.  And even if I had, it was pouring down rain, so it wouldn’t have been a good picture anyway.  But I had two urges as I drove up and saw our polling place in Kenbridge this morning

First, I felt pride.  As I drove up, I saw a line of at least 20 people outside the Kenbridge Emergency Squad, waiting their turn to vote.  It’s the most people I’ve ever seen at the polling place here, and I’m proud because so many people obviously care enough about his election that they are willing to stand out in the rain in order to vote.

Second, I had to laugh.  Most of your polling places probably looked similar to ours on the outside.  The ground looked normal enough, close to the doors where people waited to enter the building.  But about 40 feet out, you could almost see a defiined perimeter – an army of red and blue campaign signs, laying seige on the polls.  By state law, you can’t even wear a t-shirt, hat, or sticker for the candidate of your choice within 40 feet of the building entrance.  So of course, at 41 feet there are tents with people waving signs, handing out literature, and “encouraging” you to vote for their candidate.

I laughed because today, in the age of information, what use are campaign signs?  They seem like a waste of money.  They say nothing about the candidate – unless you count some of those signs attacking the opponent, which actually says more about the person attacking than the one being attacked.

I suppose, however, that undecided voters might just pull up to the polling site and begin counting the signs.  Whoever has more signs up here obviously deserves to be president.  Or if you’re undecided and you’re a gambler, maybe the “eeny-meeny-miney-moe” technique would work for you.

What do you think?  Is there a place for yard signs in future elections?

I’ve read a lot of comments lately that Barack Obama should start fighting back against buckets of mud being tossed at him by his current political rival, John McCain.  There’s probably the normal amount of mud – I think McCain was just withholding it until after the political conventions last month.  And I’m sure that some mud is being slung out the “back door” of the Obama campaign, as well.  Yet in public, he remains cool and confident.

I’ve watched this election with more interest than any before because it actually seems like people are ready for a change.  Republicans, Democrats, Independents – people seem to be looking for something different.  And political lines aside, I feel like Obama best embodies that idea.  He’s refused to play the game… OK, well, maybe not “refused.”  More like, stayed on the sidelines, with an occasional foray onto the field.  I’m pretty naive at times, but I’m certain that his advisers are telling Obama to “keep the high road.”

But still, he’s shown me hope that things might be heading for a change in our nation’s landscape – no matter who takes office in January.

This is informed by my faith, of course.  I have to have hope that human beings can aspire to improve ourselves and our societies – I need to have hope that God can make a difference in our world, even in the political arena.  But every time I’ve thought, “what would it be like to be in politics?” I hear the instant response from my conscience:

“Impossible.  How could I live as a follower of Christ and “turn the other cheek” when someone slings mud at me and my family?  How could I resist slinging some mud of my own when I get information that might make it easier to get me elected?” I know myself.  I’d make decisions that would override my integrity, if those decisions gave me a better chance of reaching my goal.

I don’t think I could play the political game with integrity.  But I’m glad to know someone can, and I hope he will ignore all those people urging him to do otherwise.

As I sat in the coffee house a couple of days ago working on my sermon, a man came in who was obviously the delivery man from Sysco or some-such. The TV caught his attention as he came across the room – coverage of upcoming primaries happened to be on at the time, particularly a look at Hillary Clinton’s recent campaign ads. With a big sigh, he went to the counter and began unloading his things, then started broadcasting his political views to everyone.  Since it was impossible to work or to carry on a conversation while he loudly ranted, everyone listened – though most of us pretended not to. The unfortunate woman behind the counter had no choice but to acknowledge his tirade.

“Can you believe we might have to choose between some woman for president and this athiest guy?”

“Hmmm,” she said, looking down at the order form she was filling out and keeping her thoughts about his comment to herself.

“I mean, she’s some kind of communist, and he doesn’t believe in God. Wouldn’t even take his oath on the Bible, can you BELIEVE that?” he asked, though he wasn’t really asking. And no one answered. He then proceeded to unfold his theory on how Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton (or both) are somehow the Antichrist, using references to the book of Revelation.  His prediction for the November elections – Obama will be President and Clinton the VP, and the world will come to an end sometime in 2009.

I seemed to recall getting both “Obama the Atheist” and “Obama the Muslim” emails forwarded to me, and figuring from the sources of those emails that their claims were false. But just for fun, since the Coffee Shop Pundit wouldn’t allow me to work, I decided to check out the stories for myself. Turns out this guy knows a lot more about Revelation than he does about the candidates.

I was reminded of the little fliers that the Christian Coalition of Alabama used to send to all the state churches every voting season – a “Candidate Report Card,” covering only issues which they deemed “important to Christian voters,” and sometimes smudging the truth a bit. Those made me chuckle, too – until I started seeing editorials and talking to friends at seminary who were using arguments and language that was all too familiar. It was upsetting to know that lots of folks – even my educated seminary friends – let “Christian experts” do their election research for them.

Silly as the coffee house episode was – and I did chuckle while he ranted for a few minutes – it ended up leaving me thoughtful and, honestly, a little scared. I take facts from email about as seriously as I take facts from cartoons. But if the number of these emails I get a week are any indication, someone out there obviously believes this stuff.

What else would these kinds of people believe if you sent it over email? All you have to do to convince some people is use big words and say you know someone at the CIA who confirms it. I’ve read (and heard with my own ears) people IN THE PULPIT make statements that they obviously got from these kinds of sources. And you know that if you hear it from the preacher AND you saw it on the internet, it might as well be written in the Bible.

The reporters and pundits say that religion and the internet will be big factors in the outcomes of this election, and I think they’re right. I’m just not so sure it’s a good thing…