On the Eve of Everything

August 23, 2020

Seattle, WA

This week the Republican National Convention will meet to nominate their candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States. Last week the Democratic National Convention did the same. The real work, though, falls to those of us who will vote. It is up to us to make informed, thoughtful choices. It is up to us to consider every ramification of our decision, including that of not voting.

Yesterday I decided to study the 2020 platforms of both parties, prior to this week’s Convention. I hoped it would allow me the chance to compare and contrast. To find areas of agreement or disagreement that weren’t based off of a meme or a tweet. It’s what informed voters do.

The Democratic Party has a clear and concise platform for 2020. It is available at: https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020-07-21-DRAFT-Democratic-Party-Platform.pdf

By contrast, and inexplicably, the Republican Party has decided to adopt no new platform until the 2024 Republican National Convention. Let that sink in. They have decided to adopt no new platform. To find that resolution, you can go here: https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/media/documents/RESOLUTION_REGARDING_THE_REPUBLICAN_PARTY_PLATFORM.pdf?_ga=2.109560193.504857691.1598219603-2087748323.1598219603

To clarify, our country is in the midst of a pandemic and the RNC will not be addressing health care, emergency response, or infrastructure.

Our country is in the midst of an economic crisis and the RNC will not be addressing the economy or jobs or affordable and accessible education and vocational training.

Our world teeters on the brink of an environmental disaster, which experts agree will be irreversible once we get there, and the RNC will not be addressing the environment.

Our nation is in the midst of an uprising crying out for racial justice and for swift and meaningful measures to address police brutality and the RNC will not be addressing either of those issues.

The United States is no longer respected in the world. Countries have closed their borders to us. Their leaders mock ours. And the RNC has no plan to address our role in the global society.

In my estimation, the Republican Party has abdicated leadership in our nation. They have cast their lot with our worst instincts and with the deplorable actions of the last four years. In the week before the Republican National Convention a California Court ordered the sitting president of the United States, Donald Trump, to pay the legal fees of the porn star who sued him. In the event you doubt my sources, here’s one you might believe: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-44100-in-stormy-daniels-legal-fees

Not only has the Republican party abdicated leadership, they have abandoned any moral courage they might have once held. This is not the party it once was, and it has left too many of its faithful facing an impossible choice when they hold their ballots.

Only it’s not an impossible choice. It can be a choice for decency and integrity. It can be a choice for equality and opportunity. It can be a choice for creation and the people of this

land to thrive again.

This week I am choosing not to watch the Republican National Convention. If they don’t have a platform, I assume they are comfortable with this twisted version of “greatness.” I have seen it; I don’t need to see more.

But here’s what I am going to do. I have identified five issues in our nation that I will hold the Democratic AND Republican party accountable for. Five issues that matter to me. There are more than five, but there are five days in the week and that’s what I’m committing to. On each day, I commit to these specific actions: Writing one letter of support or concern; sending financial support to a related agency; learning where both parties stand and making my informed decision about whether I can live with that for four years; and spending time before the God we trust in prayer and confession. Confession for my own complacency.

Confession for my own lack of urgency. We no longer have time in this country to be complacent or to ignore what is happening. We must vote as though our lives and the lives of our neighbors depend on it. Because they do.