Pick your cause: Gaza, Ukraine, refugees, immigrants, political polarization, climate change, inequities, terrorism. The list grows longer when you also consider drugs, crime, homelessness, political corruption, economic concerns, health care, human rights, disinformation, poverty, cyber security, AI, authoritarianism, debt crisis, and…fill in the blank.
Turn on any 24/7 news outlet; hopelessness will be magnified before you finish your first cup of coffee. Stir in some feelings of helplessness, and you might as well go back to bed. The actors may change with new twists, but the story remains the same—human history repeating itself over millennia.
If you have some years on you, hopelessness and helplessness are an awful combination. A one-two punch to the gut will weaken any heart, regardless of age. If this sounds doom and gloom, it isn’t. People still protest in the streets to effect change. Mainstream and reputable media still expose societal concerns to make a difference. Individuals still step in to help those in their neighborhoods.
Even when we are discouraged by the state of affairs in the broader world and our own, our power to make a difference lies in our vote. Maybe protesting becomes more problematic and logistically tricky sometimes, but our worn-out shoes need not limit our ability to get to a voting booth. Voting matters. It’s the lever we have on the wheels of history.
We only truly make a difference when we vote based on character, which first must be addressed in ourselves. Are we really who we think we are? Do we have an inner sense of right or wrong compelling us toward the right actions? Are we honest, truthful, and consistent in both words and deeds? Can we respect others by living the Golden Rule? Can we show empathy and compassion responsibly, justly, and fairly? Are we capable of cooperation, even if we sometimes deny ourselves the ability to achieve it?
Or do we use our vote solely to guard what is ours, our families, and our tribes at the expense of what is ultimately good for society as a whole? When we pull the voting lever, do we let hatred, antagonism, and egocentricity shape our worldview?
Those seeking to govern often present policies that reflect values appealing to voters. However, ask yourself first: Do those who ask for your vote have character? Do they have an inner sense of right or wrong compelling them to govern virtuously? Or do they only give lip service to hide their motivations for power over purpose, pursuing fame, fortune, and personal gain?
How can we measure our integrity before voting if we have yet to measure theirs? Americans have much to consider in this election, from the top of the ticket to the down-ballot races.
Do we have the character needed to make a difference? Change begins at home and continues once we step out of our door.
King Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 9:17: “The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.”
So, let’s turn off the 24/7 news cycle and tune out political playbooks to work on becoming the people this country needs us to be. We determine character and wisdom. We are the only ones who can do it for ourselves. Vote for character. It’s your superpower.
