Elections seem to get tougher every year. There is always some crazy person willing to make sensationalist claims, and there is always a reporter willing to pretend to take him seriously. For example, this election, we learned that Obama is a Marxist, and that gays might marry in Mormon temples. But that’s part of life in a democracy, I guess. You have to be able to laugh off the attack ads.
When people we know spread false claims, it hits much closer to home. I’ve talked to people that think it is OK to stretch the truth a little when the stakes are so high. One person justified a little bias by asserting that the other side was worse. When the negativity and loss of faith in politicians’ integrity affected some of our loved ones it made Elisa and I so sad that we felt physically ill. [Corrected from: “It is the negativity and disillusionment of our loved ones that has made Elisa and I so sad that we felt physically ill.”]
So I want to give a big thank-you to all those that took the time to do their fact checking this election season. Thank you to those that valued truth over sensationalism. Thank you to those that made their decisions with charity and not anger. Thank you to all those that scrutinized their opinions and listened to criticism. You all know who you are, because it has been a taxing couple of months for you. No matter what side of the issues you take, I hope your voices get more prominent every year like you deserve while your opponents become more marginalized.
No matter what the rest of the world believes, we owe it to ourselves and our causes to be fair and honest every time. It makes our positions stronger, not weaker. As voters we want to make educated decisions. We need to encourage others to make educated decisions by being straightforward. Otherwise we are undermining democracy and our own part in the process. Stretching and bending the truth may commonly be found in politics but they really have no place there. Maybe you’ll recognize this quote from A Man for All Seasons, which to me says that even our biggest detractors deserve to hear us treat the issues with integrity.
Roper: So now you’d give the Devil benefit of law!
More: Yes. What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
Roper: I’d cut down every law in England to do that!
More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country’s planted thick with laws from coast to coast — man’s laws, not God’s — and if you cut them down — and you’re just the man to do it — do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake.
Yesterday in our Sacrament meeting at church I did a very brave thing. It was a testimony meeting where people from the congregation are invited to bear witness of the truthfulness of the gospel. It has been awhile since I have gotten up to share my thoughts. I get so nervous, because it isn’t something you generally plan out. Well I decided I was going to get up and try to express what was in my heart. It wasn’t until I actually made it up to the front of the chapel and in front of the congregation that I decided to try and do it all in German. It was terrifying! But I managed to express my gratitude for the gift of the Spirit and bear my witness of how it can bless our lives in all things.
Even though it is scary and difficult, especially in German, it is always such a wonderful feeling to share those special thoughts and feelings with others. I miss that about being a missionary. Even while taking a break from my calling as primary chorister I have fewer opportunities to share my testimony.
Anyway, I was really proud of myself for trying in German. It is a scary thing to start a sentence and not know how you are going to finish it.
Google had a small Halloween gathering yesterday afternoon. I did my best to get Eden downtown well rested but she ended up not sleeping very well. So Chad and I took turns with her and carving pumpkins for the pumpkin carving contest. In the background Google was playing horror flicks which wasn’t conducive to a baby napping. Lots of my coworkers told me how little Eden looks. But I had been thinking that I no longer have to hold her head up, so she is getting huge.
Chad did a Frankenstein pumpkin. I forgot to put the bolts under the ears so it really just ended up being a guy with thick eyebrows. Chad was bragging to everyone about my mad pumpkin carving skills. I was under a lot of pressure to produce a masterpiece. I ended up doing a mediocre “Cow Jumped Over the Moon” scene. If I had professional tools it would have been better. Elisa sounds like such a perfectionist all of a sudden. I must have been really concentrating while I was carving because people kept coming up and asking to take action shots of me. We snacked a bit on brain muffins and Smore pie just long enough to stick around for the pumpkin carving results. Out of probably 20 pumpkins 6 were winners, but I was still pumped that I was one of them! I got a lift ticket to Hoch Ybrig.
We went over to the Mascaros for the evening. The Jacksons were there too. All the kids got dizzy off of the sugar cookies they decorated. We attempted to make root beer. It was pretty successful after we practically doubled the already high sugar content. We played games and talked about Proposition 8, (allowing or disallowing homosexual marriages). It is nice to have people you can talk openly with and have a mature discussion regardless of differences in opinion.
By the way, I dressed up as a mom for Halloween and Eden was a little caterpillar in a cocoon. Technically she was just asleep in her swaddle but that doesn’t sound as exciting.
