I love my friends, but I live with my conscience. There are always some friends who disagree with me. They may figure I picked the wrong party or support the wrong candidate. In this civic election, several of my best friends are supporting different candidates. That's fine.
Valuing their friendships means respecting their strong convictions - even if I disagree strongly. When that approach works both ways, I believe our friendships will survive.
But there are some comments I don't handle very well.
After my last column on the civic election, I got an email from a friend. He scolded me for taking sides.
“As a reverend of the church, you should be ashamed of yourself! I thought you were supposed to be open-minded, instead of biased. …You have tainted yourself by choosing sides.”
This really surprised me. He knows I'm fairly vocal about most things I believe. He knows I don't take kindly to muzzles. I can't just shut up and pretend everything's honkey-dorey.
It's no secret that I've had some very public confrontations and disappointments with our present city councillor. So I figured people wouldn't be shocked that I endorse someone else. Can you blame me for having a long memory and a big mouth?
To be fair, however, he's not the only one I've been disappointed with.
I remember meeting one aspiring politician several years ago. He met with me, offering help in doing some work in the community. But within half an hour of meeting the guy, he was trying to get me to co-sign a car loan. I can't bring myself to vote for the guy.
Another politician used his influence to create bureaucratic delays in order to divert money originally allocated to our community. We caught him and threatened to expose and oppose him publicly. The money was returned to its original designation.
Another politician from the suburbs opposed us on several zoning concerns. We had worked hard to stop more pawn shops and clubs from coming into our neighbourhood. Some of the applicants bragged, however, that it didn't matter that they got voted down. Their politician buddy told them how they could get around the law and still get what they wanted.
After many community complaints, a restaurant got busted on liquor violations. Instead of backing up the cops and the residents, a politician publicly berated one the cops for having a “conflict of interest.” It's sometimes tough to know whose side these politicians are on!
We could get more personal. As an evangelical Christian, I concur with the Bible's disapproval of a homosexual lifestyle. Yet I don't select or reject candidates on the basis of their private sexuality. My selection or rejection is based on their public policies and personal service record. Some of my evangelical friends will disagree.
I'm way past thinking there's a perfect politician. Hey, if I was running and I voted for myself, I'd still be voting for a sinner.
I'm not looking for a savior, I already have one. I'm just looking for an honest politician. I love it when a politician preaches what I practice. Most times, however, I'm just looking for politicians that actually practice what they preach.
My choices may be flawed. My candidate may not win. But I'm doing my homework and will deliver the results of my research this Wednesday.
I won't tell my church that it's their “religious” duty to vote for one candidate. But does that mean I have to pretend to be unbiased? Does it mean I shouldn't tell people who I'm voting for?
I return to my friend's scolding me for sharing my concerns publicly.
My good book says that ministers, and others, are supposed to pray for and respect those in authority over us. I don't, however, equate respect with kissing butt or ignoring problems.
I figure the best respect, in a democratic context such as ours, requires that I express concerns and opinions about leaders elected to serve the good of the people.
I'll pray too. Because, no matter who wins, their job is tough. And my job will be to start fresh and work with them wherever and however I can.
And I really hope my friends - even those who are voting differently - will stick with me, sometimes despite Sunday columns and Wednesday elections.
Rev. Harry Lehotsky
514 Maryland Street
Winnipeg, Mb R3G 1M5
(204) 775-4929
lehotsky@escape.ca