Politics has been called the art of compromise. Unfortunately, that means the art of mediocrity, too. Greatness is never accomplished by compromise, only through dedication to the ideal. Politics in America today, no matter the party affiliation, is so far from ideal it's pathetic. Our leaders exhibit no drive to govern for the people as representatives, but govern to contain the people. And I'm not talking about the leaders of the party in power, but those on both sides. It's especially difficult to talk about politics in today's world because of the incredible polarization and intolerence displayed by all sides. Politicians don't dialog, they accuse. Media pundits don't have debate, they scream at each other. With the crisis on the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the true cost of the mediocrity of our leadership is apparent. No, it's not the poor response that took five days to begin evacuating people stranded after the storms. No, it's not the lack of security that allowed the lawlessness to grow more dangerous daily because our troops were not called in earlier. No, it's not because the poor planning for a catastrophic hurricane that would inevitably land on New Orleans doorstep and wipe out the below standard levies flooding a major American city. It's the shameful way we've built a class of poor and disenfranchised people who remained faceless and hidden in this, the wealthiest country on Earth until they became the focus of a national nightmare. That's the shame of politics. That's the cost of mediocrity tied to greed, special interests and corruption. The pictures of the poor and destitute stranded on rooftops and in front of the Superdome in New Orleans could have been taken in Somalia or Ethiopia or the Sudan. This is America. We, a Christian nation, must hold to the Christian ideals so important to our growth as a great nation and so important in our compassion for those at home and abroad in need. One of Jesus's most important teachings to his followers is chronicled multiple times in the New Testament, including here in The King James version in Luke 18:22: "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." And in 2 Corinthians 8:9: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." What's the point? Jesus was telling us if riches - money and possessions - stood between us and our fellow men, then it was best to give the riches up and help our fellows. It's our duty to ensure that no one in this country lives in poverty. It's the duty of our leaders to ensure that everyone in this country has opportunity and security. And when we've secured this country, we must secure the world - not by military might or forced political doctrine, but through love, kindness and caring for one another. If our leaders adopt that attitude, fear and greed will disappear. War and suffering will fall away. Ignorance and poverty will become a thing of the past. That's the ideal our politicians should hold. That's the ideal we should demand from our leaders. Talking about politics can no longer be forbidden. Now is the time. A change is coming! |
