Rabbi Lipman's Monthly Message
Rabbi Lipman's Message
November, 2004
Beware! Look out! This is going to be a Political Column. In all my years of following the political situation in the United States, I have never seen such a politically-divided nation. Every poll has shown that the Vast Majority (whether you believe it's as high as 96% is a different matter) of voting Americans decided on this year's presidential election before either convention. That is unheard of. There has been almost no room for any political discussions about the candidates. Folks are just oo polarized.
In Arizona we have the bizarre polarization about Proposition 200. The majority of polled regular folks are for this proposition. But all of our congressional candidates and state legislator delegates are opposed to Proposition 200. (I know; I personally and publicly polled all of them.) This is historic. To have all Republican, Libertarian, and Democrat candidates unanimously against a Proposition is significant, but it's happened before. To have them unanimously against a Proposition ahd have the majority of the polled populace in favor of the measure is unheard of.
So what do we do about these huge political rifts, this deep divisive split in our country? What does Judaism have to say about this situation? Very simple. It is our absolute imperative to vote on November 2. Any one of voting age who does not take the time to cast his/her vote has committed an Avayra, a sin. For twelve hundred years we desperately tried everything possible to receive some kind of recognition (and rights) as citizens. We got it for the first time when the colonies became the United States. We got it for the first time in Europe in 1807.
In 1912, an estimated 96% of all eligible Jewish voters voted. It was a mitzvah; it was a celebration; it was a declaration of our wholeness as citizens. We reveled in the miracle of being able to have a say in our country's governance. In 1980, 59% of all eligible Jewish voters voted. We were confident in our being considered full Americans, and we responded by not bothering to vote. I don't know what percentage of all eligible Jewish voters voted in 2000, but I know that only 51% of the populace voted.
At a time when we are so clearly divided in our political positions, it is the absolute responsibility of every one of us to vote November 2. Every one of us is responsible for the outcome of this election. It is a mitzvah to let our position(s) be known. Vote. But, unlike Chicago in the 1960's, do so only once. Then come have soup and dessert at Temple.
Rabbi Lipman's October, 2004 Message
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