USA – FranciscanMom

It’s getting to be that time of year again. I’d really like autumn, if it weren’t for the fact that November’s approach means Election Day is coming.

This season brings out the worst in everyone, and it’s complicated this year by the clear evidence that there’s just no one I can support, in good conscience, for the presidential election.

There is no political debate anymore; it’s just a bunch of people shouting their opinons on the airwaves and social media, like I’m doing right now. Everyone shouts. Nobody listens.

More and more, I’m coming to appreciate and admire Lisa Hendey’s stance at CatholicMom.com. We’re not covering the elections there. It gets too ugly too fast, and that’s not what we’re about.

I’ve dipped my toe into discussions on Facebook and immediately wished I’d kept my mouth shut (or sat on my fingers). Not because I regret what I said, but because I don’t want to be pulled into an online political debate that’s anything but a real debate.

I have friends who’ve sworn off social media until mid-November. That’s not an option for me, but I’m hiding certain posts in the hope that Facebook will get the idea that I just don’t want to see this stuff.

I’m done retweeting political stuff. I’m done “liking” and interacting in any way with Facebook posts about the election–even the ones that say, like I am right now, just how much they hate the whole process and the fact that decisions have to be made between alternatives that are awful in equal but different ways.

That’s going to take some self-control on my part. But I am hoping I can stick to this, because my own peace is at stake. I shouldn’t be getting on Facebook or Twitter and then feeling like my next stop should be the confessional.

No one’s vote is going to be changed by anything anyone says on Facebook or Twitter.

I’m going to try praying instead. Prayer can change hearts. Prayer can do things that retweeting and “liking” and spouting off on social media can’t do.

Right about now, I think it’s time to call upon St. Michael the Archangel and the Holy Spirit to protect our nation and to guide us in wise choices when Election Day comes along in 4 short weeks.

flag-1247214_1280 — Via Pixabay, CC0 Public Domain

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This month I’m joining all the cool kids in the #Write31Days adventure! I didn’t pick a keyword or a theme, because just getting something written for all 31 days is challenge enough for me right now.

Yesterday I looked out the front window and saw that next to each driveway in my neighborhood, a small plastic flag had been planted in the ground.

I thought that was pretty cool. Then, after I sent Big Brother out to mow the lawn, he came back in with the flag (he’s a good Boy Scout, and didn’t want to run it over with the mower or leave it in the driveway).

Attached to the stick holding the flag was a business card for a local company. But the kicker was the logo on the edge of the flag:

MADE IN CHINA.

I still made him put it back after he finished the lawn. Little Brother can have it to play “parade” tomorrow (I know he’s going to want to!)

But today is the Fourth of July. We display a real flag on our front door, and we will spend time today with friends who are immigrants to (and now, citizens of) our country. They’re happy and grateful to be here. And they remind me that what we have here in the USA is a very precious thing indeed, not without cost, and not to be taken for granted.

H/T to Dan at faithmouse for this toon that expresses just how I feel about this holiday.