Hey everybody.
If you don’t want to read anything political, you may want to click away and read something else. I suggest this.
For those of you still with me, unless you live under a rock you likely know we’re dealing with an election year here in the U.S. And you’re also no doubt aware that it is a heated one, with many strong opinions on both sides.
In our small neighborhood alone, there about a dozen homes with political signs, some with multiple signs covering all directions. (Neighbor Buddy has three.)
For those interested, the overwhelming majority are for Biden (including Neighbor Buddy’s), though this county voted Trump in ’16 (decidedly so). Whether this is a portend of things to come, I can’t say.
As for our house, we have never posted political signs. Ever.
Our usual defense for this is that Husband is a minister and to this, people always nod their heads and say, “Oh, I understand completely.”
Except there’s nothing actually preventing us from posting political signs. There’s no rule against it, no tax penalties leveled, and of course, certain Christians have never made a secret as to where they pledge their allegiance.
Still. We never posted signs.
Until this year, that is. After years of silence, we realized silence was no longer an option.
And yet…
Here’s the thing: Long ago when I stated I had “no ilk,” what I meant was that I don’t put my trust in worldly matters. I do vote. I care about what happens and attempt to keep up with the issues. But in the end, my faith lies elsewhere. (And given Husband is a minister, I’m going to assume you get my meaning.)
It was about a month ago when we began talking about posting something in our yard. This was back when there were only four signs total, and two of them were for Trump.
The Trump signs were the first to appear. One was a big flag right underneath the guy’s American flag. The other was a sign that included the line, “God, Guns and Country” (making me want to ask what version of the Bible he had, because it sure as hell wasn’t one I’d ever read).
After giving the matter a lot of thought, I placed an order for a sign that we could stand behind. The best thing about it was that all proceeds from the sale benefited a women’s health organization. (Score!)
Sadly, it wasn’t expected to arrive for two weeks. (Augh!)
True fact: I’m one of those people who, once I get an idea in my head, can’t rest until the thing is done.
I WANTED A SIGN!
And that’s when it came to me. The perfect sign for our yard.
I found a piece of wood, painted some letters and slapped on several coats of polyurethane for weather protection.
Once dry, I set it up by an old stump:
Some of you might recognize the words. They’re based on Micah 6:8:
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
If there were ever words that I would state as my “dogma,” they are these. Terribly simple, yet terribly challenging to live by.
Oddly enough, as I was putting the sign in the ground the other sign was delivered — 10 days ahead of time!
I set that sign out too:
Before I went back into the house, three neighbors stopped by to tell me how much they liked my signs. One said, tapping her chest, “they’re good for the soul.”
Of course, I know that won’t be everyone’s reaction and some might say it’s better not to risk offending anyone.
On the other hand…
Here’s a secret: that original link I provided at the top for people who didn’t want to read anything political? It leads to a Vox article titled “Why don’t Americans talk about politics?”
Its main conclusion is that we’d pretty much do anything, even avoid seeing loved ones, if it means avoiding conflict. And while it doesn’t offer clear solutions, the article points out that this unwillingness to discuss opposing viewpoints has led to an inability to have any sort of civil discussion. As a result, this has led to more polarizing viewpoints on both sides, to the point that now the differences we are seeing has less to do with ideologies than tribalism.
That, my friends, is deeply troubling.
The only way out, as I see it, is to be willing to have difficult conversations with people who don’t agree with us. To not view the other side as stupid, morally bankrupt, or losers. To speak from a place of respect and not sarcasm.
To be willing to walk humbly, even as you do justice and love kindness. Especially as you do justice and love kindness.
And to be willing to use your blog, typically devoted to bad jokes and questionable humor, to state once and for all your ilk.
Peace out, my friends. 🕊️
Feeding on Folly 
On a recent walk through my neighborhood I did an informal count: 8 for Biden and 6 for Trump. I live in a different political environment out here. We thought about putting a sign on our lawn, but there are only three houses on the street with almost no traffic (foot or car) so it didn’t seem worth the effort.
I do like your signs and maybe I should do something like that.
Our move involved a slightly different political environment too, though the opposite of yours!
Your comment made me realize I forgot to include a link for the smaller sign! This is where you buy it to support the health organization: https://www.zazzle.com/store/supportwawh
The other sign you can make yourself. 😉
Awesome! Love your signs too lady 🙂
Thanks, Rhonda. I’m rather pleased with them too. 😉
I like both your signs. I have American friend on both sides of the political fence, and I think they would heartily agree with both your signs too.
Thanks, Margy. I value my friends on both sides of the spectrum too. 👍
I enjoyed reading your post and the Vox article. I have lived in the US and through that experience realised that politics is not something Americans seem to chat comfortably about. What I took away is that despite our “mosaic” philosophy as a nation (Canada) we are rather homogeneous in attitude while the American “melting pot” has lead to more diversity, both negatively and positively.
I love your signs. 🙂
That’s a good point, Lynette. We’re never sure where someone stands or what they’re background is – or education – and we’re worried about saying the wrong thing.
I should point out, I hate talking politics. Mostly it’s because I’ve rarely seen it discussed quietly — even on television. And it’s only getting worse, it seems.
I think your signs are good – and love, justice and kindness should never be forgotten, no matter what political sign you wave.
Very true, Claudette. No one has the monopoly on civility. It’s free for all!
In our neighborhood there are few signs for politicians, but numerous and varied signs for kindness on every street. This gives me hope.
I love that! Sounds like a great neighborhood to me. 🙂
I love your signs! Humility does seem to be waning in this country, while bombast becomes the forerunner. We live on a dead end dirt road, so the signs all say “slow”.
Yeah, it seems not everyone understands the strength in real humility. It’ll come though. It’s all a learning process.
The great beauty (read strength) of the American republic is not its politics. The great strength (read beauty) is the one ordinary person who is willing to say what they believe and believe in what they say. And as long as that happens, as long as that one person exists, there will be others, maybe those who agree and maybe those who don’t. But these voices are the true power of the republic because they refuse to bend to the tyranny of silence: the silence of acceptance, the silence of consent, the silence of tacit approval. And as long as someone, somewhere is willing to speak, write, or put up a sign, I’m confident that (even in these tumultuous times) the American republic “shall not perish from the earth.” Good on ya, Christi!
You’ve written a beautiful treatise — thank YOU, WD!
I’ve not given up hope — there is much here to celebrate and I am certain we have the ability to turn the tide. As the cliché goes, it only takes a spark to get a fire going.
Your commercial sign is quite popular in our neighborhood, and I don’t think I’ve seen a single Trump sign in the city. (Maybe that’s why he “loves” us so much.) Outside the city is a whole ‘nother story. As for your homemade sign, can you imagine how the world would be if that motto was the tribe?
Just in the week I set out that sign, I’ve seen five more pop up. Pretty amazing!
As for the homemade sign, I’ve often wondered what the world would be like if religious types (of any religion) actually lived their faith.
*heavy sigh*
Wonderful signs, and I wish every candidate sign out there could be replaced with one of these. Our Methodist church is peppering our neighborhood with “John Wesley’s Rules for Voting”: 1) Vote for the person you judge most worthy, 2) Speak no evil of the person you voted against, and 3) Take care your spirits are not sharpened against those that voted on the other side. Easier to read than to do, right?
I absolutely LOVE your church’s sign — especially that they’re peppering the neighborhood with it! What a fantastic ministry and witness! Thanks for sharing that, Dave!
And yes, you’re right — they are difficult words to live by 😉
I guessed! Your signs are excellent, Christi!!
I recently overheard neighbors conversing in the courtyard about the presidential campaign and it seemed to be getting heated. As I wondered if I should dial “9-1” and then wait (kidding) (sort of), I heard a woman ask the group, “Can anyone tell me who the other presidential candidate would appoint to the Supreme Court?” Silence. Before anyone answered she continued with something like, (I can’t recall verbatum) “Who knows anything about who is running to represent us in Congress?” I’m glad to say one guy answered the last names of all four candidates. That turned the conversation onto a less aggravated, more civilized direction. I wanted to join them and ask what are the special elections proposing changes to our local governance, ie: School Boards, Tax codes, boundary matters. I believe we should talk about important matters AND that these questions are as important (if not moreso) as who should be the figureheads in the Oval Office. But what do I know? I’m new here ; >
You brought up such a fantastic point! How about discussing issues that actually affect us?! (I vaguely remember those days, they weren’t all that long ago!)
We were friends with a guy who left Phoenix to work in the government in DC. When he came back for a visit, he told us how eye-opening it was, especially as he came to learn the people who actually got things done were the Ways and Means Committee. And how many of us can name a single person on it?