Tuesday night, I was watching election results with a group of refugees recently leaving Burma. Then I went to the apartment of a family from The Congo. And, at both places I was keenly aware that we, as Americans, have some rights we most assuredly take for granted. I speak mostly for myself, here, when I say I’m sad for us–sad that we don’t realize what we have. Unlike the people in many areas around the world, we are able to speak openly FOR one candidate, and then not fear for our very lives when that candidate doesn’t make it to power. We are able to go to the polls, place a vote, and walk out without dodging bullets from the side we voted against, shooting at us because we disagree with them. If we are unhappy about the results, we are able to go to countless amounts of town, city, and state meetings, doing our part to make small changes that add up to a big one.
I’m not naive enough to think America is perfect or that there aren’t people stuck in a system that doesn’t do them any favors. But, I am just naive enough to think that Americans could change their own country AND the world if we would appreciate our rights and act on them with the respect they deserve.
It’s a good time to be grateful, not just because our candidate won. It’s a good time to be grateful, even if our candidate lost. And, it’s a really good time to pray for those people who don’t have the rights we do.
Posted by speroproject 