I’ve been seeing this line a lot lately on social media during this intense season of political divisiveness in America. Many people are tired of this current administration and the buffoonery that has taken over our federal government. I almost forgot to start the post with my disclaimer that I might OFFEND someone. Good thing this is my site and I can exercise my voice freely. It’s ok if we disagree. We don’t need to fight. Life will still go on.

That line (see title)… I’ve noticed it mostly from women so I want to address us in particular. What does it matter that you aren’t political? The mere statement implies you are about to express something political. I read a while ago that politics is really about relationships. I’ll unpack that in a different post. There does appear to be a negative connotation with being “political”.

My impression of what you’re trying to say is that you aren’t that versed in political affairs. You might not be that versed in each of the parties including understanding the history. You might not be that versed in the government process of creating laws, selecting a President and cabinet members, and knowing what they do in, or the terms of, their office. You might not be up to speed on foreign affairs and the United States’ relationship with all countries. You might know the nuances of climate change and what that means for our future. You might know all the policies the Presidential candidates supported and implemented and the details of their plans for the future.

Growing up, I was raised in a religion that told its members not to vote. That is potentially thousands upon thousands of people just in the United States who have or do not vote because a religion tells them not to. The “so called” reason that I can gather is because God is not of this world and as Christian’s we shouldn’t be either. Participating in the political process means you’re subscribing to this world. BULLOCKS!

I’m a Christian and believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God. I believe in God and the Holy Spirit. I also believe it’s my civic duty to exercise my right to vote on matters that are important to me personally and ultimately express my beliefs and values. As someone trained in social work, I support equitable healthcare, education, job opportunities, human rights, etc. for those who experience injustices, people with disabilities, people who are financially poor, people of different races, ethnicities, cultures, and sexual orientation/gender identification. Excuse me if I have forgotten some groups.

So I say to those who feel the need to preface with “I’m not political but”, it doesn’t matter. You have issues that are important to you. You see things you don’t like. You know your values and beliefs. Voice your issues through voting. Also, educate yourself through reputable sources. We have access to so much information through the internet. It’s not too late.

I used to think my vote didn’t matter but it does. I’ve been voting in local and federal elections for over 20 years now and I haven’t looked back. It doesn’t always go in the direction I voted, but I have confidence knowing I did my part and gave it a shot.

I don’t know every single thing in the political arena either but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t speak my concerns or that I have to announce “I’m not political but”. I bet many people who didn’t vote in the last Presidential election probably wished they had. Hopefully, they learned from that and will vote in this one.

If you’re in the United States, GO VOTE. Your vote matters.