Comments on: Confessions of a compliant voter - by Brandon Hoops

By: Brandon Hoops

Brandon Hoops — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 03:08:17 +0000

Glad you joined us Cynthia. It is fun to interact with our readers.
What do you think helped you to “think” over the past decade or so?

By: Brandon Hoops

Brandon Hoops — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 03:01:15 +0000

Thanks for your encouragement JK. Today I read something John Wesley wrote in his journal that speaks to your point of humility. He said, “I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them, 1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy: 2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against: And, 3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”

As for art, I think that’s why I enjoy SNL or 30 Rock around the elections, they do well to highlight the ridiculousness and as you said, the blindspots.

By: Jonathan King

Jonathan King — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 21:33:37 +0000

Hoops –

Thanks for your refreshing honesty and humility. During a season where many of us – myself in included – are swift to tout our political ideologies in response to the media hailstorm, your words are a necessary reminder to humbly step back and evaluate my own convictions. In terms of my parents’ politics, I actually find myself more reactive to the contrary, rather than parroting their politics. Huh. Guess that says something about me.
Also, I like how your post ends by point to a piece of art and the truth that it conveys. The statue, that is. Artists are an important voice for us in this, to remind us of history and highlight our blindspots. This statute tells a story, and an evocative, confrontational one at that – especially after last night’s Presidential debate.
Do you know what Lincoln’s campaign promises were? Nothing. Interesting piece of history.

Thanks again, Hoops. I appreciate your writing.

-jk

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:05:16 +0000

Brandon,
One of my most favorite girlfriends posted your link on my FB Wall. We talk a lot of politics/faith, most importantly, we talk a lot of “WHY”. With respect to politics you mention you, “…had done little thinking for myself”, but I think that also extends to almost all areas of life, including faith.

I agree with what you say and I really like the way you said it. Imagine that: THINK!

I’ve been on a political/faith evolution of sorts since moving to CA in 1995. I’d like to say I was compelled to think for myself because it was the right thing to do, but that was not the case. I was compelled to think for myself because even though I identified myself with certain groups, it became evident I didn’t agree with them, nor did I want to be mistaken for being like them. So it went…what do I believe and why do I believe it? A mainstay question in my life.

I appreciate you challenging folks to think. THINK! The following blog posts ask the WHY, but the main point is to challenge folks to think about why they politically affiliate with whom they affiliate.

“Why are you a Democrat?” (Parts I & II)
http://www.reelurbannews.com/?p=1202
http://www.reelurbannews.com/?p=1241

p.s. I also think it’s terrific you reply to your readers!

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 06:02:05 +0000

It’s not that I’m uninfluenced by my parents but that I don’t think it was to the degree you described, Brandon. None of us are tabula rasas, of course.