Reading, Drinking and Dancing with a Chaser of Snark

The Courage of Thomas McKenzie

Aside Posted on February 29, 2016 Updated on July 10, 2017

I am a Roman Catholic.  I am also a proud Democrat.  Not voting in the GOP’s Presidential primaries is not a crisis of conscience for me, especially since Pope Francis has spoken out clearly about the history of social justice of my Church.   I am, for the first time in many years, able to vote my conscience without betraying my Faith.

Today, I read Thomas McKenzie’s post,   This Isn’t Funny Anymore: Why I’m Voting Against Donald Trump.  Mr. McKenzie, an Anglican priest, describes how Donald Trump’s candidacy runs afoul to basic Christian teachings.   Trump’s entertaining, yet troubling, rise in popularity, has continued to cultivate an ugly, racist, misogynist, intolerant feeling that has permeated our culture.

Sadly, after Mr. McKenzie’s post went viral, he was subjected to exactly the type of bullying, he so eloquently illustrated in his writing.   Some of these unsavory characters have resorted to threats of violence, which I hope he has reported to local law enforcement.

Mr. McKenzie’s words touched and moved me.  I know several former Republicans, my husband included, who have been deceived and left behind by their political party.  They have seen reasonable discourse turned into vitriolic insults at President Obama, Democratic politicians, women, minorities, disabled persons, and anyone who may deem to disagree with them.   They have all gone “underground,” have reclassified themselves as “independents,” and are supporting candidates who espouse centrist views. Silently.

Mr. McKenzie, please know that you are not alone.  Your strength in speaking truth to power, is what Jesus called all of us to do.   You set a humble example that I hope many more of us follow.     Christians and non-Christians, must question the motives of Presidential candidates, demand to know exactly what their platforms are, then vote according to what makes our Country great, and that is to continue to BUILD a more perfect union, as our forefathers wanted.   We are a work in progress, and TOGETHER we are better.   Jesus taught us that.