Political Agnosticism
Last night I had a discussion with my mother that once again focused on political leanings. For most of my adult life, she and my brother have tried to convince me to join their opinions (and I do mean that literally) regarding political matters. This has been a point of tension in my family, and one of discomfort in dealing with friends and acquaintances. I dislike politics, I don't fully understand politics, and I can never bring myself to come to a conclusion or decision that I'm comfortable with when it comes to most political issues. Going one step further, I've seen politics tear up relationships, and even turn people away from the gospel. Some people say they don't believe in organized religion because it has done some ugly things. That's how I feel about politics, and to me, it's okay. I don't have to like politics. God governs all.
Life as an expatriate has afforded one major advantage in that it's easy to be politically abstinent. Now I'm not saying that I'm not proud of my country or its leaders past and present. Nor am I completely ambivalent towards issues that clearly go against gospel principles. I'm just relieved to be in a situation that can allow information to exist in my mind outside of rhetoric. But the headache has returned while on holiday in the States.
It's somewhat ironic that the last discussion I had with anyone before leaving Czech was political. The only one I've had since moving to Prague in fact (and I went to see the President speak earlier that year which tells you how void of politics the foreigner's lifestyle can be). My Slovak (the object of unrequited affection) came to bid me farewell, and we chatted for hours of differences between our two worlds. When the subject turned to politics, I was amazed to find that I was genuinely enjoying the conversation (I realize my infatuation was likely a contributing factor). I told him that I had never had a discussion with anyone about politics where a person was simply stating occurrences and events without bias. I then felt comfortable enough to tell him of my feelings regarding my own involvement in politics, and asked what made him so interested in it. His answer was one that completely changed my perception.
He told me that as a Slovak, he's old fashioned, and as a man, it's his duty to follow what is happening in local government. It will be his responsibility to ensure the security of his family and understand the political and economic climate in which they reside. Needless to say, I felt pretty dumb for never seeing things that way, and it all at once made sense.
So what now? My feelings towards personal political involvement still hasn't changed. Getting involved has always felt like trying to jump onto a moving train, and in the words of the British, I just can't be bothered.
As I was speaking to my mother, I come to the following conclusion: I'm okay with being a political agnostic, but when it comes time to marry, I hope I can find someone with the same regard for politics as my Slovak. If I should be so lucky, I would trust that his decisions would be in the best interest of our family, and would prayerfully take his advice. I could be relieved, yet involved. I realize that this statement will undoubtedly evoke very impassioned responses from fellow ranters, but it feels good to finally know where I stand in a place where I've always felt like an outsider. Perhaps this will change as I get older, but for now, it'll do.
posted by: | comments: 5
29 Dec 2009 7:40 amcategories: Politics
Nooooooooooooooooooo!
J/K. If you don't like politics, you don't like politics. Personally, I share your boyfriend's perspective, but in addition to feeling like it is my responsibility to keep abreast of current affairs, I also really enjoy it.
Oh, and if you feel like you need a primer on politics just to get your feet wet and ensure that you can hold your own with your family, et al., I recommend The Five Thousand Year Leap by Cleon Skousen.
Thanks for the suggestion. Though, the problem isn't really so much getting my feet wet as it is the uneasiness I feel about coming to an absolute conclusion about any issue. I don't like how quickly people and ideas are vilified, and I don't like feeling as though the information I'm fed ties into a certain party's agenda. I'll always feel caught between the lesser of two evils, and that just doesn't sit right.
And as much as I'd like to call him my boyfriend, that privilege belongs to someone else. But I appreciate the sentiment.
I feel like he is your boyfriend. That's just how I feel.
Don't worry about having to fit in with any political party. In fact, I recommend ignoring all party platforms altogether. I personally don't feel like I fit squarely into any standard political philosophy, and that is just fine. I vote for the man, not the party.
Don't worry about your political ideas being vilified, as there are always naysayers. After all, how many vilify your religious beliefs? Does that affect your choice in what to believe religiously? Read the book. Come to your own conclusions. It is nice to have have a boyfriend/spouse who knows his politics, but you can't make it to heaven on a borrowed testimony, and you have a moral responsibility to take your values into the voting booth, and it is only one person to a booth.
That's kind of the problem. Government is often compared to gospel, but if it were in any way like the gospel, there would be an absolute truth with clear decisions. But it feels more like walking through mists of darkness without the rod. I would never ever call myself an agnostic in the theological sense, but the term encompasses my true political feelings. I use it to clarify just how different the two concepts are in my mind.
If I feel that someone else considers my best interests when making political decisions, why not follow that? Notice I used the word "prayerfully" and not "blindly". But it would take some pretty serious character analysis before I'd go along with it . . . sort of like the kind that happens when you decide to build a home, raise children, and spend an eternity with someone. If I had it my way, I'd be able to mark my ballot purely on the basis of spiritual prompting, and even then, that's someone else's advice. I know I may get slapped for this, but I do think priesthood holders have the advantage when it comes to executive organization. My brain and conscience are better utilized elsewhere.
I can really sympathize with this post. I do lean to one side, but I've been hesitant to really get into politics because I have a fear of being blindly indoctrinated. Religion and politics encompass some of the most important choices we make in life, but it's much harder to be confident seeking out real truth when it comes to politics.