It's my bloggy and I'll post politics if I want to......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bwahahahaha.....I am drunk with power!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am South African and talking politics there is not taboo the way it can be here. (Ironic considering our very recent political history!) It took me some time to realise that here one does not generally discuss politics in polite company unless you want things to get quiet and strained, or loud and mean very quickly. This is a problem for me, because our politics affect pretty much every facet of our lives and the lives of those around the world, and I think if we all talked about it more, we'd all be a lot better off. I have a few LDS friends who claim the same political affiliation as I do, and we cling to each other like monkeys because when we are together we feel free to discuss and debate politics from the perspective and lifestyle of our faith. This is unfortunate because we are all pretty much in agreement  on most issues,so the conversation can only go so far. I firmly believe that a little debate can be a very enlightening thing and I really don't believe that debate necessarily equates to contention, but I do believe that this society would have us believe that it does. Most unfortunate.

Anyway as you know I'm a Mormon and (you may not kow this part)  I'm also a Democrat. This can get weird. The vast majority of members of our church tend to vote conservative, and while there are many very open minded LDS indviduals who are Republican, yet firmly espouse the fact that our church endorses no political affiliation,  I have come across some who honestly believe that a Temple recommend and a Republican ticket go hand in hand.

I have met some Christians over the years (both LDS and not) who have given me the distinct impression that they think I am a bad Christian/Mormon who is flirting with spiritual ruin for being a Democrat. They are genuinely flummoxed regarding how any sincere Christian/LDS individual can honestly feel good about voting Democrat ,thus they assume that I either do not vote my conscience and am just trying to be cool and fit in with all my liberal friends (because you know, fitting in with my religious community with whom I end up spending most of my time, just doesn't do it for me) or I am profoundly misled and will most probably go straight to hell for my stubborn ignorance (with my innocent children stuffed in the hand-basket with me).

The irony is that every single reason I have for voting Democrat is because I am a Christian, a Latter Day Saint. Every reason I have for voting Democrat I got from the Book of Mormon and the Bible and because I am LDS, I personally am perplexed at this attitude.  So yes, at times being a Mormon democrat can get isolating,  especially since when you are one of them foreigners you already feel different in so many other ways.  This is why I was so thrilled and gratified to read this little article this week on LDSliving.com. Not exactly a publication known for it's radical , liberal fringe Mormon political views:

Now why couldn't he run for President?

I am considering having this quote made into a T-shirt for myself , "I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it.” -Harry Reid

Comments

[Genevieve]

Hallelujah! (I hope it's okay to say that.) Frog, you are way too cool to be a Republican :) We need people like you to set an example that being a Christian doesn't necessarily mean you should be Republican.

I love reading your stories of being a parent - the good and the bad. I read a book a little while ago about how mothers feel they can't complain about the trials and tribulations of raising children, especially in their earliest years; as if they're letting all of motherhood down if they do so, and that they're not fit to be a mother. The book went on to say this is a very bad thing because it leads people to believe that raising children is easy and comes naturally, and thus, many parents aren't prepared for or informed of exactly just how much their lives will change, and some end up regretting their decision. So I'm glad you're out there professing the truth - and I can't imagine a better, more loving mother than you!

[Carolyn]

Kirsty This is a great blog. I am so proud of you!!! I feel that a healthy debate is always good when kept in the bounds of the topic. I think where members in our church get confused is that they take the things being debated personally because they feel so personally attatched to the issues.
I am not a democrat, and I am not a republican.(This drives my husband and in-laws nuts...they are staunch republicans) I am conservative but this doesn't mean that I always support the republican party. I find there are things in both parties that I like and dislike.
I am so sorry for the views some people in our church have towards this democrat/repulican battle.
Our church is all over the world and all over the world politics are different but the church is true. Good for you for following your heart.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and views. This follows in line with your other wonderful blogs, well done.

[Julie]

I would totally buy that t-shirt.

[Kirsty]

Thank you Carolyn, Julie and Toad, I am sincerely touched by your support.

Carolyn-I admire your tenacity in claiming no party under such peer pressure. You go girl. And thanks for encouraging my individuality ;) Not everyone appreciates it, but that's ok too. :)

Julie-Let's get a prototype t-shirt and pitch it to Deseret. I'm sure they will Be All.Over.It

And Toad, yes it is ok to say Hallelujah-you could have even thrown in an Amen Sistah! Thank you for your very sweet validation, you are most kind re: my "honesty" aka rantings. I do think it is important to be honest about any struggle in life really, because nobody gains when we pretend things are not as they are. I remember having a miscarriage when I was very young and very alone(apart from my poor husband who was also very young and would have given anything to help me) and while I was surely surrounded by women who had experienced the same, nobody shared their story with me and I felt like a lone defective freak in the wilderness. I often think how much easier that experience would have been if I had just one friend who could have said, "hey, I know".

It's the same with depression. Such an awful disease, maybe one of the worst, because we tend to think of it as a character flaw rather then an illness. We need to talk about these things and be generous with sharing our experiences, they may be a life-line to someone, and there is never shame in honesty.

All that said-Kids really are hard work but they are so seriously worth it. Just not at bedtime;)
xox
k