(a 4 minute read)  A close friend and I were watching one of the singing competitions where the public gets to vote for who wins. The announcer, at the beginning of the show, said “All voting methods are now open”. And the conversation went something like this;

• Am I missing something?

What are you talking about?

• All voting methods are open at the top of the show? Really?

Dah, all the talent shows do that man, and have been for some time. They want to have more votes. There is nothing to it. It is just to get more votes.

• I know I know, it just hit me now though. Stick with me on this; the judges on the show judge each week based on the talent that is performed that week, correct?

Yes of course.

• And at some point, you and I, the public, are handed the baton from the judges to continue.

You are now talking to me like a 3 year old that knows nothing about this show, come on man.

• No, no, I don’t mean it that way. Hang in there with me, please. What would you do if let’s say this show in the weeks when the judges have control, the announcer tells the judges, “place your vote at any time throughout the show.” What would you think?

I would not watch that show, for if a judge is allowed to use their votes before the show is over, then it is no longer about the talent but rather about whom the judges favor.

• Yet, here we are, you and I sitting here voting during the show, then sitting on pins and needles awaiting the results………… I feel duped.

It is an entertainment show man, lighten up, have fun, don’t be like that.

• I look at our society and how divided it is on so many levels. The main force in division is pitting one group against the other. ‘They’ are and ‘We’ are, is a contagious and infectious virus. Each new-comer automatically feels the need to join the ‘one’ or the ‘other’ camp, regardless of the topic.The new-comer will pick the group with their ‘favorite’ people in it.

  Maybe inadvertently, but it is not about merit anymore, it is not about talent any longer. I even once heard a prominent figure say, “It is not about the ‘facts’ rather about how people ‘feel’ about what they hear.”

  So when you and I participate in this process, we are simply duped into thinking we are voting for the best talent while we are simply caught up into picking camps. I say duped as it is a subtle but very dangerous and treacherous path.

See what you made me do now!! …………….. You made me feel like I am being duped too. Here, I’ve changed the channel and next week is the finale man……….. See what you made me do??

• My dear friend, you chose to do that. As you know, it is more about what is happening around us and how we are being pitted against each other.Division creates anger, which festers animosity and then transforms into hatred.

  Division is a virus and to combat it, just like a virus, we need to

  – step back

  – take a deep breath

  – allow our mind to examine

  – examine the what and the why; dig for the facts; it takes work

  – then vote for the talent, the merit, the fact and not for your favorite person or persons

What’s the difference if I’ll end up joining a camp anyways??

• The difference is vast my dear friend, almost infinite. You’d be able to agree to disagree rather than hate ‘them’ for what ‘they’ believe.

My Creator and my Lord, You definitely taught us that You have no favorites; that we are all brothers and sisters. We all know that You do not desire division, anger, animosity and hatred. May I and we ask the pertinent question; why do we have this animosity against the ‘other’? May I and we truly seek you for guidance on how to agree to disagree and not name call ‘them’ when ‘they’ are not around. I love You and thank You my God. Amen.