October 30, 2004
Vote Your Truth
Powerline points to Joseph Perkins' piece on Al Gore's litigious legacy.
I met Tom last night (you may remember him from this post), and we got to talking again about the election. Two things we came away with: we can agree to disagree and still respect the other's choice (I am voting for Bush, he is voting for Kerry), and that civil discourse between voters is increasingly hard to come by. Oh, a third byproduct is that we came away from that conversation last night stronger friends.
I read the Perkins piece (please go and read it now if you have not already done so), and I got to thinking how I want you to vote. I want you to vote your truth.
If your truth is in your head, and you've weighed each candidate's arguments rationally and come to a conclusion, vote your truth.
If your truth is in your heart, and you've decided that one candidate's goodness or badness clearly outweighs the other, vote your truth.
If your truth is in your gut, and you just have a hunch that one candidate will be a better president, vote your truth.
If your truth is in your values, and you believe one candidate clearly demonstrates those values, vote your truth.
If your truth is in making a statement, and a vote for a third party candidate best makes that statement, vote your truth.
If your truth means having to hold your nose in choosing the lesser of two scoundrels, vote your truth.
But if your truth is in obstructing another's ability to vote or committing vote fraud, through coercion, or vandalism, or illegal electioneering, or dual state registration, or violence (actual and threatened), stop and consider yourself a part of the problem about which Joseph Perkins writes.
No matter how "right" your candidate or party is, now matter how "wrong" the other candidate or party is, no matter how certain you are of the apocolypse if candidate X wins, you will forever bear the mark of dishonoring one of the United States' most sacred institutions.
If you can rationalize your actions with the notion that no one will know, then I can conclude only that you must consider yourself to be no one.
If you can rationalize your actions with the conviction that the end justifies the means, then I must ask, aren't you killing that which you are trying to save? Is your logic any different than the spurned lover who kills his ex out of "love"?
If you can rationalize your actions because "the other side is doing it", then I simply ask that you be strong and understand that your ultimate reponsibility is to yourself, not to your candidate or your party. Let the other side bear the mark if they choose.
Please note well that I am not implying that you should act like a peeping tom, passively recording any deceit you may witness. Confront it, safely. Report it, definitely. Take your digital camera with you to the poll and record it. Al Gore's actions in 2000 has opened Pandora's box, and we must do everything we can as capable, honorable citizens to shut the lid. The future of our magnificent country depends on just one person: you!
Semper idoneus!
Posted by nopundit at October 30, 2004 03:55 PM