Tuesday, November 02, 2004
I Want To Believe
I voted today. It still makes me feel all tingly. I hope that feeling never goes away, even in lesser elections.
Like Fox Mulder, I want to believe again. I'm as non-religious as they get. If I was forced to pick a name for my beliefs, it would be "humanist". I believe that there is no real divinity, and that all the power and strength and will and courage that we get comes from inside, and from the people around us. There's no magic, no man in the sky, no mysterious higher power. We get brains and hearts through lucky twists of evolution, and it's up to us to make the most of it. Not because we owe it to God, but because we owe it to ourselves and each other.
That's why this election has me so worried. The past four years have brought with them a sharp change in the mentality of America, through the actions of terrorists, through our response as a country, and just through our common discourse. Of course, none of these problems just started in 2000, nor are they going anywhere soon, but recent events have only exacerbated things.
My problem is that it seems that everything I believe to be good and true and important about humanity seems to be directly under attack. I want America to be the best of humanity. I want people to seek wisdom and truth and peace.
I want to believe that Americans reject mendacity and ignorance and arrogance.
I want to believe that when we are threatened, we draw our strength from unity and thoughtfulness and judgment and good will, not through petulance and warmongering and misplaced aggression.
I want to believe that Americans will demand accountability and honesty from their government. If we won't, who will?
I want to believe that Americans will stick up for the unpopular minority, and not succumb to the tyranny of the majority, even they happen to be members of that majority. I want us to adhere to our high standards of ensuring that personal religious beliefs aren't imposed on others through the law.
I want to believe, America. I still do believe. Don't let me down.
Like Fox Mulder, I want to believe again. I'm as non-religious as they get. If I was forced to pick a name for my beliefs, it would be "humanist". I believe that there is no real divinity, and that all the power and strength and will and courage that we get comes from inside, and from the people around us. There's no magic, no man in the sky, no mysterious higher power. We get brains and hearts through lucky twists of evolution, and it's up to us to make the most of it. Not because we owe it to God, but because we owe it to ourselves and each other.
That's why this election has me so worried. The past four years have brought with them a sharp change in the mentality of America, through the actions of terrorists, through our response as a country, and just through our common discourse. Of course, none of these problems just started in 2000, nor are they going anywhere soon, but recent events have only exacerbated things.
My problem is that it seems that everything I believe to be good and true and important about humanity seems to be directly under attack. I want America to be the best of humanity. I want people to seek wisdom and truth and peace.
I want to believe that Americans reject mendacity and ignorance and arrogance.
I want to believe that when we are threatened, we draw our strength from unity and thoughtfulness and judgment and good will, not through petulance and warmongering and misplaced aggression.
I want to believe that Americans will demand accountability and honesty from their government. If we won't, who will?
I want to believe that Americans will stick up for the unpopular minority, and not succumb to the tyranny of the majority, even they happen to be members of that majority. I want us to adhere to our high standards of ensuring that personal religious beliefs aren't imposed on others through the law.
I want to believe, America. I still do believe. Don't let me down.
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