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PERSONAL OPINION
Elections and thanksgiving

John H. Redekop

This column is being written in mid-November, in an atmosphere of elections and thanksgiving. The Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated about a month ago. The American election was held a week ago. The US Thanksgiving will be celebrated ten days from now, and the Canadian election occurs four days later.

At present, the outcome of the US voting is still in doubt. Never before have I witnessed so much scheming, manoeuvring and straight-faced manipulation, even hypocrisy, as in this American post-election period. The usual fairly shallow polarization between Democrats and Republicans now runs deep. For many citizens, the standard disagreements about policies and personalities have degenerated into emotionalism, animosity and bitter anger. Following all of this rancorous wrangling, it will be extremely difficult for either Governor Bush or Vice-President Gore, whichever eventually takes the presidential oath of office next January, to unite the country and be accepted by all as the legitimate leader of the US.

The Canadian electoral situation, in the middle of November, is hardly more encouraging. In more than 40 years of following and studying Canadian elections, I have never before seen so much ganging up by four opposition parties on the Prime Minister nor so much misrepresentation and distortion on the part of the Prime Minister and his governing party.

Given the above, many citizens in both the US and Canada have doubtless concluded that elections and thanksgiving don’t belong together. They would endure the former and celebrate only the latter; elections, like bad weather, simply have to be waited out (with some entertainment gained from watching the lightning and thunder). In my view, they are in error. Yes, there is much which can be criticized, but let’s not lose sight of the larger picture.

Our free elections, however disputatious the campaigns and however controversial the outcomes, lie at the heart of our cherished democratic freedoms. The fact that shenanigans and fraud tend to occur does not negate the basic truth. That political candidates must compete for voter support, that voting is secret, that the counting of votes is by and large fair and open, that disputes can be settled in unbiased courts and that defeated office-holders peacefully and quickly yield power to those who have won, produces an amazingly free and open society.

When we thank God for our freedoms, and when we pray for our political leaders as God’s Word instructs us to do, let us not forget to thank Him for our democratic elections. As we ponder electoral outcomes, either celebrating the success of the candidates we supported or lamenting the victories of those we opposed, let us remember that in a democracy it is far more important that free elections are held than that certain candidates win, provided that the winners follow constitutional practices and are committed to holding another election at the appropriate time. The relatively short terms of office which winners gain do, after all, end.

Some readers may remain unconvinced. Let’s add another truth. In evaluating our political systems, we need to distinguish between the office and the office-holder. The office continues; office-holders come and go. In a democracy, the power lies in the office. It is exercised by the incumbent, but that person relinquishes it when the electoral term ends. Incumbents may detract from an office, but they rarely demean it in the long run. There is, thus, considerable truth in the observation that often in a democracy the political system is better than the office-holders of the day.

We all know that sometimes elected officials abuse their powers or neglect their duties, but keeping in mind the distinction between offices and office-holders enables us to remain grateful. In my prayers, I often thank God for a political system which produces freedom for us all. I pray that He will grant wisdom, insight and propriety to the office-holders of the day. Most of the time, I can also thank Him for those office-holders. Sometimes I also pray fervently that more competent leaders will be elected to office, and I even work diligently to that end.

By the time this column is read, many readers may be disappointed by electoral outcomes in both the US and Canada. They will be convinced, perhaps correctly, that the best candidates did not win. They will say that those who won certain offices are not particularly competent, that they espouse unwise policies, that they have a poor track record and that they possess less than stellar morality. Even so, we must acknowledge that the system which provides the political and other freedoms which we enjoy continues in operation. We do well also to remember that such a political system was bought at great price, over many generations, and still remains the envy of most of the world. Perhaps 75% of the world’s people would gladly exchange their political situation for the acrimony and confusion which presently characterize North American politics. They know that squabbling in a climate of freedom is vastly better than silence imposed by oppression.

Elections and thanksgiving do go together. As this year draws to a close and we reflect on our many benefits and blessings, let’s not forget to thank our God for the freedoms we enjoy. Let’s also remember that by and large they have not been diminished by recent election outcomes.

John H. Redekop is on the faculty of Trinity Western University and is a member of Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C.

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Last modified December 6, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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