Pardon my soapbox

“It’s harder to be a liberal than a conservative.  Why?  Because it is easier to give someone the finger than a helping hand.”   – Mike Royko

I saw this quote on a friend’s Facebook page the other day.  Since I don’t believe getting into political debates on social media is a good thing, I just let it pass.  But it really stuck in my craw!  I am sick to death of this divisive attitude in our nation right now.  People making hateful and prejudicial statements against a whole segment of society, which most of the time, is blatantly false…but by saying it so often, they have convinced themselves that it is true.

I admit that I am a conservative.  Most of my closest friends are also conservative, but not all of them.  I happen to believe that there are many good, decent people on “both sides of the aisle”…as well as many corrupt and indecent ones.  Just because people might share some of the same social or political views does not mean they are all alike…good or bad.  Just because someone is a liberal, it doesn’t change my feelings for them.  People should be seen for their own actions, not for their political ideas.

Since most of the people that I know best are conservative, I know that the statement above is misleading and false.  I want to describe some of the “conservatives” that I am familiar with.

I know conservatives who have adopted, or are in the process of adopting…both foreign and domestic.  (That’s not really lending a hand, it is dedicating a LIFE.)

I know conservatives who have opened their homes and hearts to take in foster children…making tremendous sacrifices for the good of some of our most vulnerable.

I know conservatives who may work a full-time job, or work as fulltime wives and/or mothers, or are retired, but spend their “spare time” volunteering:  advocating for children in the foster care system, delivering meals to the elderly and shut-in, building houses for the underprivileged, being mentors for children from impoverished or single-parent homes, serving in local shelters, working in local agencies that are dedicated to helping those who are economically challenged, working in hospitals, sitting with hospice patients…and the list goes on.

I know conservatives who always carry $100 bills in their wallets, so they can have them handy when they come across someone in need.

I know a conservative who buys and fixes up houses to “rent or sale” to those who can’t otherwise afford housing…sometimes getting little or nothing in payment.  (This same individual also has shelled out thousands of dollars paying the utility bills for these as well.)

I know conservatives who go into their chosen profession as firefighters, police officers, health care workers, social workers, etc. because they want to devote their lives to “lending a helping hand”.

I know conservatives who have given hundreds or thousands of dollars to sponsor children in third world nations or other agencies that are dedicated to helping the neediest.

I know conservatives who have left their homes, sold their possessions, and moved to a foreign country to share the gospel, as well as help provide healthcare to those with little or no access to it previously.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.  Some of these people are wealthy, but most are just regular middle class folks who care.  And I have never seen any of these “give someone the finger.”  I’ve seen them open their wallets, their homes, and their hearts to help those in need.

I also know there are many liberals who do these same things.  Why?  Because compassion doesn’t belong to one political party.  In fact, I think it is safe to say that it doesn’t belong to ANY political party or ideology.  Compassion is a personal choice.  It comes from a loving heart, and loving hearts are NOT formed by political alliances. 

So please, people of all persuasions and beliefs, please keep the hateful, misleading, prejudicial “pithy remarks” to yourselves.  Let us work towards peace and understanding, rather than continuing in polarizing political satire.  Our society and our nation depend on it.  (Steps down off soapbox.)