Get out the Vote Alabama

Margaret Bourke-White, Hamilton, Alabama

Dear Alabama,

You’ve been played – for generations you’ve been played.

Politicians understand that to win with you they only have to pay lip service to some one-line issues. They don’t actually have to do anything.

“They” pander to you. “They” line up your buttons and push them. What do any of them do for you?

Don’t judge a person by what they say – judge them by what they do.

Look through your history Alabama, under what leaders did the whole state – everyone regardless of economic status – do well? What leadership has benefited you as a state?

Review state and national history.

What is the economic history of Alabama? Historically and currently, what are the patterns of poverty and wealth in the state? While we’re on the topic, which states pay the most in Federal Income taxes and which states receive the most back from the Federal government?

DO YOUR HOMEWORK ALABAMA. It’s time to learn the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. You should do research around all sorts of things you want to know about: history, politicians; Jesus and his teachings; is there really a child sex ring in a Washington, DC Pizzeria, etc.

Primary sources are original sources. This would include things like declarations of succession; full unedited political speeches; the Constitution; the Bible.

BTW, in terms of the Bible, Jesus was called Rabbi (Mark 9:5, John 20:16). Rabbi means scholar or teacher, one who studies the law. If we are to pattern our lives after Jesus, then I think deep personal study is in order.

Also – FYI – making abortion illegal doesn’t make it go away. So, if you’re opposed to abortion maybe work at every turn to make unwanted pregnancies as infrequent as possible. Help single and struggling mothers care for their children. Make it less of a burden for women to have children. Be loving and supportive.

Illegal abortion means that the women who seek them will turn to unsafe measures. It means they will be forced to turn to those that would exploit them. It means that wealthy women will have access to this procedure while poor women will not.

Also - Stop supporting men who think that women are only there for their pleasure.

Stop winking at the idea that there’s a public set of values you pretend to subscribe to but we all know that you know “boys will be boys.”

I love you Alabama. I want you to do well. Please begin by electing politicians who actually do right by you and all your people. Enact these beautiful and loving principles you say you believe in. Jesus taught love.

Jesus taught love.

I beg you to turn away from cynicism, anger, bitterness – I beg you to reach out your arms to the world and embrace it all. Let go of fear – let go and let God – be the lilies of the field.
And vote your ideals, your best selves. Vote for love and inclusion.