Here is my one and only publicly shared thought on the election. Though I doubt anyone has noticed, I have a general policy of avoiding politics on social media, based on the belief that no one is going to be persuaded through this medium, and most people who disagree with me would not understand or care to discover the axiomatic differences that lead to our mutually exclusive opinions. I have a
career based in the adversarial
process and I would rather spend time with my wife and kids than debate
pointlessly on facebook when I'm not working. Political discourse is
also in desperate need of more civility, mutual respect, and much less
sarcasm, mockery, and cynicism, in my opinion.
Having said that, for the unaware, I generally identify as a fiscal conservative, with more moderate views on social issues, but not to the point where I could be called libertarian, although I like some (definitely not all!) of their values. My friends and associates are truly all across the political spectrum, from the extreme right to the extreme left, which is one of the reasons I avoid the topic. My hubris says this is due to my gregarious nature; I like people and want to be liked, and find the idea of missing on friendship due to disagreement silly.
Based on the foregoing, one could guess that I was disappointed in the results of the presidential election. At the same time, however, I walk away with some sense of wonder and, at least in one respect, a deeper love for our Country and the Constitution.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My sense of pride in being an American is likely only surpassed by my pride in being a Mormon. My 5th Great Grandfather fought the British under General Washington. His son and grandson crossed the plains in 1847 with the first Mormon company to arrive in the Salt Lake Valley. The grandson, my 3rd Great Grandfather, was the youngest in the company; he was 6 years old.
The company was the first of many to lead the Saints out of the United States into Mexico under great hardship. Since 1830 the Mormons were driven from New York to Ohio, from Ohio to various parts of Missouri, from Missouri to Illinois, from Illinois to Iowa, and finally out of the United States to Salt Lake. When driven ultimately from Missouri, the governor issued an executive order which stated that "the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace." A temple built in Illinois at great expense and tremendous sacrifice was burned. In short, they suffered tremendously for their religious beliefs.
My Great-Great Grandfather on the other side of my family had to abandon his house in Nauvoo, Illinois. Almost immediately after being driven from their homes, the U.S. government asked for a battalion of Mormons to assist in the Mexican War. The irony of that request is rich. Yet my Great-Great Grandfather volunteered, and for the next year was part of one of the longest overland military operations in the history of the nation, at one point suffering greatly from exposure. I have often reflected on what kind of patriotism that took to go for a nation that did not uphold constitutional protections for him and forced him to leave with other Saints.
No question the hostility towards Mormons has diminished over the following 150+ years. Nevertheless, I have long thought a Mormon could never hold truly high political office because of lingering hatred. I was, therefore, astounded when a Mormon became the candidate for President for a major party. I am more astounded that the race was close, particularly in the national popular vote. I marvel at the journey from expulsion to what I witnessed this week.
These last two elections have proven that the pluralistic, egalitarian ideas espoused by the framers only in the abstract are coming to pass here. I think that James Madison, for whom I named my oldest son, would be gratified by this. The Constitution was created to mold, to change, and to fulfill the high ideals that were clearly not practiced in the 18th century, the 19th century, or, really, the 20th century. That a black man has become the President and a Mormon had a legitimate shot at the office is nothing short of amazing, and makes me so happy to see the lofty ideals of the framers gradually coming to pass in ways I did not think they would during my lifetime. I truly hope that the massively irresponsible spending habits of both major parties will not prevent us from continuing to strive for a nation where a candidate's race or religion are not relevant, but instead their policies and character.
Considering I will be 35 prior to the 2016 election and apparently being a Mormon does not disqualify me from being President, perhaps I should start asking for your vote now. Vote Millward / Hamner in 2016!
And for those of you who waded through the entirety of this meandering monstrosity, you are my very best friends along with Bud Powell. And if you stopped reading I still like you. :-)
Having said that, for the unaware, I generally identify as a fiscal conservative, with more moderate views on social issues, but not to the point where I could be called libertarian, although I like some (definitely not all!) of their values. My friends and associates are truly all across the political spectrum, from the extreme right to the extreme left, which is one of the reasons I avoid the topic. My hubris says this is due to my gregarious nature; I like people and want to be liked, and find the idea of missing on friendship due to disagreement silly.
Based on the foregoing, one could guess that I was disappointed in the results of the presidential election. At the same time, however, I walk away with some sense of wonder and, at least in one respect, a deeper love for our Country and the Constitution.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My sense of pride in being an American is likely only surpassed by my pride in being a Mormon. My 5th Great Grandfather fought the British under General Washington. His son and grandson crossed the plains in 1847 with the first Mormon company to arrive in the Salt Lake Valley. The grandson, my 3rd Great Grandfather, was the youngest in the company; he was 6 years old.
The company was the first of many to lead the Saints out of the United States into Mexico under great hardship. Since 1830 the Mormons were driven from New York to Ohio, from Ohio to various parts of Missouri, from Missouri to Illinois, from Illinois to Iowa, and finally out of the United States to Salt Lake. When driven ultimately from Missouri, the governor issued an executive order which stated that "the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace." A temple built in Illinois at great expense and tremendous sacrifice was burned. In short, they suffered tremendously for their religious beliefs.
My Great-Great Grandfather on the other side of my family had to abandon his house in Nauvoo, Illinois. Almost immediately after being driven from their homes, the U.S. government asked for a battalion of Mormons to assist in the Mexican War. The irony of that request is rich. Yet my Great-Great Grandfather volunteered, and for the next year was part of one of the longest overland military operations in the history of the nation, at one point suffering greatly from exposure. I have often reflected on what kind of patriotism that took to go for a nation that did not uphold constitutional protections for him and forced him to leave with other Saints.
No question the hostility towards Mormons has diminished over the following 150+ years. Nevertheless, I have long thought a Mormon could never hold truly high political office because of lingering hatred. I was, therefore, astounded when a Mormon became the candidate for President for a major party. I am more astounded that the race was close, particularly in the national popular vote. I marvel at the journey from expulsion to what I witnessed this week.
These last two elections have proven that the pluralistic, egalitarian ideas espoused by the framers only in the abstract are coming to pass here. I think that James Madison, for whom I named my oldest son, would be gratified by this. The Constitution was created to mold, to change, and to fulfill the high ideals that were clearly not practiced in the 18th century, the 19th century, or, really, the 20th century. That a black man has become the President and a Mormon had a legitimate shot at the office is nothing short of amazing, and makes me so happy to see the lofty ideals of the framers gradually coming to pass in ways I did not think they would during my lifetime. I truly hope that the massively irresponsible spending habits of both major parties will not prevent us from continuing to strive for a nation where a candidate's race or religion are not relevant, but instead their policies and character.
Considering I will be 35 prior to the 2016 election and apparently being a Mormon does not disqualify me from being President, perhaps I should start asking for your vote now. Vote Millward / Hamner in 2016!
And for those of you who waded through the entirety of this meandering monstrosity, you are my very best friends along with Bud Powell. And if you stopped reading I still like you. :-)
2 comments:
Very nicely put.
My biggest takeaway from the political season is that we really need to agree to disagree without being rude about it.
Maybe that will be the next big breakthrough?
PS. I'd vote for you.
(I'll be 35 by 2016 also... Yikes!)
I wish it would be more civil, but I am not holding my breath.
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