Democracy can be depressing at times and now is one of those times.  Democracy is always contentious and we are going thru an extended, non-stop period of battle.  A presidential election is always a long, long fight to the finish and this time the finish did not come on time.  The fight continued, and continued, and continued.  

Then in a flash it was over.  But no, it is not over, it is never over!  Time was when any president had a brief time of euphoria, the opposition quieted down and time for him to reflect, get his feet on the ground and have a little time to change his focus to the fruits and obligations of the prize from the long exhausting process of getting the prize.  

Not so this time.  While many democrats are still fighting the vote count, most others picked up immediately on the next fight, members of the cabinet.  One is down officially, (some went down before they surfaced) and others may get the same smack down before it is over.  The current target is John Ashcroft… yes, John Ashcroft.  Everybody accepts that he is honest, trustworthy, competent, a man of his word, good family man but in today’s political world that is not enough.  So what is his sin?  He is a Christian, not just a Christian, but also a Christian that takes his faith seriously.  It is not a Sunday morning only type of faith; he takes it seriously and actually lives out his faith seven days a week! 

Many Christians feel that they just do not get respect in this world, and they are right, in one way.  They are put down, ridiculed and in many parts of the world still physically persecuted.   What did you expect?  The bible says it will be so. 

But in a special way, the Christian gets respect.  He is feared.  John Ashcroft is feared.  How else can you explain the opposition to this good and decent man?  If you look at the hottest political fights lately it is around biblical principles, abortion, homosexuality, personal responsibility. 

 Abortion and homosexual rights being out the most ferocious of interest groups.  The bible is pretty clear on these issues.  Oh, some would blur the interpretations but any reasoned reading will come to the same conclusion, it is against them!  As to personal responsibility you can weave the welfare fight, social security, health care into that arena.  The bible is pretty clear there also; if you want to eat, work!  The bible does not make provisions for those that will not work; it does make provisions for those that can’t. 

The political argument has become that if you don’t think like me you cannot do the job.  But this denies the fact that there are two points of view on abortion, homosexuality, missile defense and on an on.  Take the abortion issue.  About as many approve as disapprove abortion.   Many do not see protecting the “Woman’s right to choose” as primary, but protecting the baby’s right to live as the important point. 

But if that idea was carried to it’s eventual conclusion, only those that have no opinion would get the opportunity to govern.  It would lead to a government with no passion and no compassion and that would be a sorry state.  We would wind up with a bland bowl of oatmeal.

 But I digress.  The point I would like to make is that we need a rest.  Football teams get time outs and half time to regroup and rest up for the next fight.  By it’s nature, democracy is always a constant fight, but how about a time out?  I would propose that after the Super Bowl that we have a two-week time out.  The political fight has gone on too long.  When the argument goes on too long the reasoning is tired, flawed and just becomes flailing.  The new president needs to get used to the White House and the Oval Office, find all the neat things available.  The new senators and congressmen need to find the restrooms and we need a rest.