Winning and Losing Online

It's nearly here. This long campaign season culminates tomorrow in the election. Until now there has only been conflict between the positions. Tomorrow there will be winners and losers.

There aren't many conflicts where ultimate winners and losers are decided. Even when a team loses in sports, there's always the hope for next year or the explanation of how circumstances conspired to cause the defeat. But after the voting tomorrow, there will (most likely) be official, uncontrovertible winners and losers declared.

Winning

Remember that if your initiative, referendum or candidate wins on Tuesday that doesn't make you right. It just means you chose to vote the same way that others did. Our political process is about a cycle of dialog and action. We've been through the dialog, now we're approaching the time for action. Winning the election doesn't mean the dialog is over, just paused for a time while action can happen. We'll take up the conversation again, evaluate the action and figure out the best way to move forward. It's what we do. 

But winning the election doesn't make you better than the people who lost. It just puts you on the side of the people who are now empowered to act. 

Losing

Remember that if your vote is cast on the losing side Tuesday, that doesn't make you wrong. It just means you chose to vote the way that others did. In the process of dialog and action, now is your time to reflect for further dialog. The people chose a different plan from what you think is right. Now we're going to test that plan in the fire of action. But the dialog isn't over, we're just putting it on hold for a time. We need you to keep the conversation going so we can fairly evaluate our actions.

Losing the election doesn't make you worse than the people who won. It just puts you on the side of the people who are now needed to evaluate.

Acting

So many people have poured time and effort in to winning on election day. But what we need is engagement after that. We need all the voices to be a part of the dialog going forward and all the hands to be a part of the action. 

No matter how you voted regarding marriage, we need to you to continue working to make marriages healthy. Work in your community with the people around you to build strong marriages. 

No matter how you voted regarding the President, we need you to continue working to strengthen the economy and help people without jobs. 

No matter how you voted regarding abortion, we need to you to continue working to help prevent unwanted pregnancy and to provide clear, healthy, safe options for women. 

No matter how you voted, no matter who or what wins, we need you to keep working. Your vote isn't the most important thing you can give, your life is. Devote your actions to the issues that you're so passionately campaigning for right now.