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Fr. Ziliak, Courier & Press article, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004
Why is it that we have 50 contestants for Miss America, and only
two (actually four) for President? Just a thought.
In just a few days, on Tuesday Nov. 2, citizens of our country will
be going to the polling booths to elect a President and Vice President
to lead the United States for the next four years.
Many other local, state and national offices will be presented to
the voting public. Officials are telling us of a great interest this
year among those eligible to vote. Apparently greater numbers of requests
are being received for absentee ballots than in other voting years.
That is great news! High numbers of voters indicates a high interest.
The results will be much more valid than if only a low percent of
votes turn out. We all tend to feel "at least I had my say"
if our candidate does not win in the face of a heavy voting turnout.
If our candidate wins, we can feel good about being on the winning
side.
Unless I'm mistaken, it seems as though our elections are putting
a squeeze on us and our moral consciences more than ever. In the years
before I was able to vote, and then in the years of voting, social
issues, and justice issues were common, but not as sharply focused
as today.
Education, health care and medical support, fair and open housing,
safety nets for retirement benefits, minimum wages and fair salaries,
welfare, disability supports, equal treatment of rights among the
sexes and environmental issues were all very important topics. Hot
and heavy have been arguments for and against these topics.
Brothers and friends could spend hours in discussion on many of these
issues and find themselves in varying degrees of agreement or disagreement.
Families could gather and spend exciting times of discussion and leave,
exhilarated but still friends and close in family ties. I don't know
that we are doing that as much these days.
I believe that the Supreme Court Decision to allow abortion did a
great deal to drive wedges between law-abiding citizens. I still believe
that the country was caught off guard. The Court's decision had not
been preceded by a national debate or discussion. We simply found
out that fateful Monday, Jan. 22, 1972, that the deal was done.
Back and forth we've been fighting ever since. It is with us front
and center this election.
War and loss of human life justified by that war are also topics central
to virtually each speech given by the major candidates.
The task of each of us is to line up the various issues that we view
as significant and important. Then we try to verify the positions
of the various candidates. Seek beyond the 10-second sound bites that
are supposed to inform the public. Judiciously view the advertising
and eliminate the untrue nuances.
Make sure to vote. I believe that our country will be the stronger,
the more people speak their due rights as citizens. Then we move ahead.
At the same time, say a prayer, not only for the candidates and those
who will be elected as our officials, but also for all of us, and
our friends across the globe. Peace, justice, union of human purpose
are still the goals we are compelled to pursue. Anything less is unworthy
of those who believe in the unity of men and women here and throughout
the world.
Father Joseph L. Ziliak is pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic
Parish in Newburgh, IN.
