On the Nov. 5 Election

By Shlomo Maital    

   David French is a near life-long Republican, person of faith, Christian, who writes in today’s on-line New York Times about his “Nine Years of Being Never Trump”.

    He makes a simple point.  I find it worth repeating.  As an Israeli, I am reluctant to write about US politics and elections.  But French’s insight applies to my own country – and virtually every democratic country.

     Basically:  When you vote, what is the question?

      Is it, hmmm,  whom do I hate?   Trump hates the Democrats.  They are the enemy within. Maybe if he is elected he will sic the US military on them, arrest them all.  If you hate Democrats, you must love Republicans.  All of them.  Including the deranged. And vote for them. 

       But maybe the question is,  whom do I love?   Do you love your country, and the people who live in it?  Do you love the people of the world, including the poor, the ill, the downtrodden, the oppressed – and are willing to share you incredible good fortune with them?  If so,  vote for those who share your value. 

          I belong to a Conservative congregation here in Israel.  Our name is drawn from the Bible precept, love thy neighbor as thyself.  We try to practice it.  It works pretty well.  But, I admit, in my country, it is having a rather hard time at present.  Hard to love those who want to kill you, even if they are neighbors.

           Whom do you hate?  Or – whom do you love?   I think this is a simple guide to how to vote.   Love trumps hate. Always. On Nov. 5, too.