Do you follow politics? I don't. At all, unless Isaac thinks I ought to know something and enlightens me.
Over the past week, my brother Jeff and I have had some interesting discussions of the sort I usually avoid, since I don't know anything about it. I dared to use the phrase "politically liberal," which he immediately dubbed a "phrase to eschew," as "the [liberal and conservative] platforms are so broad that they're horribly inconsistent." (I only just barely know what he's talking about.) As a way of exonerating myself from having blundered, I confessed that I pay very little attention to politics and simply vote as my husband leads. I fully expected Jeff to jump on that, berating me for my ignorance and lack of active participation. To prepare for his impending attack, I started analyzing why I am so content to let Isaac do the research and tell me how to vote.
The simple answer? I trust him. I married someone I knew I could count on to take care of the outside world for me, in a dozen different ways, from salting the icy driveway to supporting a presidential candidate. The demands of homemaking give me enough to think about: how to best spend my grocery budget, clean my house, discipline my children. I don't think Isaac expects me to start following political trends and discuss them knowledgeably, any more than I expect him to research which foods to feed an infant first and choose rice over oatmeal. (Correct me if I'm wrong, Isaac.)
I'm not at all advocating that housewives should not be interested in politics. If you are, GREAT! As Jeff said, "I believe the most important political action is to speak your voice. On many issues, you won't have anything to say. But we all have a set of morals and values." Speak up on the ones that matter, absolutely! For me, that means trusting my husband to speak up, and to let me know when I should speak up myself. That's fine with me.
Incidentally, Jeff did NOT berate me for my ignorance. In fact, I felt unusually affirmed by his reply: "Our society needs people working on all levels, responsible motherhood definitely not being the least." It may be that as my children get older and I begin to teach them how to be productive citizens, I catch the bug myself, as it were, and find a political voice of my own. When life consists of more than nap times and pureed vegetables, I'm sure it will broaden to include more of the outside world. In the meantime, I'm happy to continue putting my energies to the small sphere in which I have the greatest influence.
Over the past week, my brother Jeff and I have had some interesting discussions of the sort I usually avoid, since I don't know anything about it. I dared to use the phrase "politically liberal," which he immediately dubbed a "phrase to eschew," as "the [liberal and conservative] platforms are so broad that they're horribly inconsistent." (I only just barely know what he's talking about.) As a way of exonerating myself from having blundered, I confessed that I pay very little attention to politics and simply vote as my husband leads. I fully expected Jeff to jump on that, berating me for my ignorance and lack of active participation. To prepare for his impending attack, I started analyzing why I am so content to let Isaac do the research and tell me how to vote.
The simple answer? I trust him. I married someone I knew I could count on to take care of the outside world for me, in a dozen different ways, from salting the icy driveway to supporting a presidential candidate. The demands of homemaking give me enough to think about: how to best spend my grocery budget, clean my house, discipline my children. I don't think Isaac expects me to start following political trends and discuss them knowledgeably, any more than I expect him to research which foods to feed an infant first and choose rice over oatmeal. (Correct me if I'm wrong, Isaac.)
I'm not at all advocating that housewives should not be interested in politics. If you are, GREAT! As Jeff said, "I believe the most important political action is to speak your voice. On many issues, you won't have anything to say. But we all have a set of morals and values." Speak up on the ones that matter, absolutely! For me, that means trusting my husband to speak up, and to let me know when I should speak up myself. That's fine with me.
Incidentally, Jeff did NOT berate me for my ignorance. In fact, I felt unusually affirmed by his reply: "Our society needs people working on all levels, responsible motherhood definitely not being the least." It may be that as my children get older and I begin to teach them how to be productive citizens, I catch the bug myself, as it were, and find a political voice of my own. When life consists of more than nap times and pureed vegetables, I'm sure it will broaden to include more of the outside world. In the meantime, I'm happy to continue putting my energies to the small sphere in which I have the greatest influence.
Jeff
Update (4/8): The more I think about it, and thanks to interesting dialogue with a very smart lady, I'm becoming aware that there are some issues about which I ought to be informed. Specifically, for the issues which pertain to the education of my children, it might be too late to wait 3-4 years to find out if I will still have the freedom to homeschool. I have some processing to do!
Christy,
ReplyDeleteI resonate with your reliance on trusting our spouses to guide us in political matters. I am so thankful I have Dad to help me discern how to vote. Although I do appreciate Jeff's ecological point of view and Brian's exploration of philosophical perspectives on select political issues. Yet, my mental energy is spent in other areas. Seems God gives us our plan and purpose for the season in front of us, mixing it up with our gifts and calling.