Last year, I shared a post about not avoiding information that makes us uncomfortable, and even I am finding it challenging to follow my own advice at this point. Whether you are a conservative, a liberal, especially a moderate, or something else on the spectrum, if you give credence to your civic responsibilities, you are probably frustrated. But why?
It is perfectly appropriate to feel passion and frustration over politics and the direction of the nation because it is a symptom of caring. Apathy is the actual transgression here. However, are we angry because we are not getting our way or our candidate is facing opposition, or are we angry and frustrated about something else?

It is important to care. It is equally important to respond and react. Fortunately, in a democracy, we have the opportunity to respond and react with our voices and our votes. Additionally, we have the privilege of choosing our candidates. This hasn’t always been the case. Prior to the Progressive Era, democracy looked quite different. We couldn’t choose our senators; the political elite chose the candidates, and once in office, officials did not always feel beholden to our thoughts, convictions, or whims. The Seventeenth Amendment (direct election of senators), primaries, referendums, and recalls addressed these things. However, after this political season, perhaps the populace can organize again to advocate for greater transparency and a more direct democracy. Primaries are convoluted at best, and the rules and outcomes vary greatly among the states and the two parties. Currently, after the primaries have taken place, candidates are jockeying for specific delegates to attend the conventions with the expectation of being able to have great influence of the outcomes of the almost inevitable multiple rounds of voting to choose a nominee. In some states, independents can vote in any primary, while in others they can vote in only one party, and yet others where they cannot vote at all in the primaries. I mention all this just to emphasize that the anger and frustration haven’t even come to a head yet. When large groups of people entitled to a vote realize their voice is being outmaneuvered, a lot of hell will be raised.

So, with a clear expectation that the worst rancor is yet to come, we should take the relative “calm before the storm” to pause, collect ourselves, and determine why we, as voters, might get a bit incensed in upcoming months. But, again, I want to reemphasize that we shouldn’t just choose not to care because it is better than feeling helpless and hopeless, and we shouldn’t throw up our hands in resignation. No matter where we fall on the political spectrum, we should lean into our discomfort so that we can 1) learn from it, and 2) responsibly act on it.

Anger and frustration can be legitimate if it is not the cart before the horse. Our reaction must come out of conscience and conviction. Getting angry because we are not getting what we want is typical of entitled, over-indulged, privileged crowds who are inconvenienced. The opposite occurs when we are fighting for something or better yet, someone. Conscience and conviction are part of our identity and personal compasses to offer protection not just for ourselves and our own, but also for others. This has allowed humanity to live in community and general harmony, at least when it has gone well. This interpretation of our conscience and conviction allows for, and actually calls for, personal sacrifice for the greater good and the elevation of others, and by elevation of others, I specifically mean honor. I have also written about honor before, so I won’t go into all the details here, but if our conscience and conviction are grounded in honor, then when we see dishonor, a lack of integrity, or denying others the right to honor and integrity, then yes, it is perfectly legitimate, appropriate, and even necessary to express our anger and frustration and then mobilize for change.

So, when we take the time to engage ourselves in this painfully frustrating political show, which I actually strongly recommend we all do, we should pay close attention to our consciences and convictions. When we feel incensed, we should absolutely respond, and when we respond, we should do so responsibly and in a way that can allow for greater justice, for greater integrity, and greater honor.