I suppose this happens every time we have a 'change' in our government. Members or supporters of those who didn't 'win' start proclaiming that it's the end of our country as we have known it (does it feel fine? I don't know), and warning anyone who will listen to prepare for those things seen in 'banana republics' (why do bananas need their own government anyway?) or from the past. Nazi Germany has been used as an example so often that there is a 'law' about using Nazis or Hitler in a debate called Godwin's Law. The law states (and I'm paraphrasing, since the original law referenced Usenet) 'the longer a discussion, the higher the probability of a comparison using Hitler or Nazis'. Far too often these days, we'd rather short circuit the discussion and cut off the other side, so we (and I use that term loosely) immediately go to the Nazi argument. What happened to the days when we'd debate and discuss the issues of the day for hours on end? Using comparison and contrast, refuting arguments using logic and wisdom instead of going for the emotional? I'm not really asking for an answer on this, I know my own rhetorical skills are lacking, so I'm probably just as guilty as those who I am criticizing.
In any case, what I am getting to is: most people in our country today have at least a rudimentary idea of how politics and our government work. We completed major elections last year, and we are now seeing the results. Whether you want to call them good or bad is your own opinion, those who know me know where I stand. Those who are on the outside looking in have been wringing their hands, and I can't say it's without cause. Eight years ago, we were seeing the same thing coming from the other side and they weren't without cause either, although I could say we made it through and once again we had a peaceful transition of power from one political party to the other.
I am not saying we shouldn't be vigilant and watch those who are in power, that's what we are supposed to do as concerned citizens of this country. I am also not saying that we shouldn't disagree with each other and those in our government. That's the primary reason we have the first amendment, to allow the discussion and exchange of ideas without fear of persecution or prosecution. It would appear to me that today we are no longer interested in persuasion through rhetoric, meaning we don't seem to be interested in winning people over to our way of thinking by our arguments. We'd rather find ways to make people agree with us, and that only causes hurt, anger, and a deepening of the 'us versus them' mentality unfortunately prevalent in today's discourse.
We do need to make sure our arguments are grounded in sound reason and we must be able to defend our beliefs and positions at any time. If we can't defend our positions and beliefs, then we need to look at why we have those particular beliefs and whether or not we should continue to have them. We should not be afraid of being wrong, and we should be open to different understandings. Of course, some things are non-negotiable, but that shouldn't be the case with everything. Even Martin Luther, in his response to the Diet of Worms said unless he was refuted and convicted by the scriptures or by clear arguments he was in error, he would not recant his writings. He showed he was open to learning and persuasion, but it was within a very narrow scope of argumentation.
The other point I would make is that if we are Christians and citizens of Christ, we need to look to and remember Romans 13:1 'Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.' God has put our current government and the government of all the other countries of the world for His purposes. We need to be watching, waiting and praying so that His purposes are made known to us.
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