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Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’

I’m not one for political talk. A decade or so ago, sure. But since becoming a Mum, I’ve discovered that pre-polling (because voting is compulsory here in Australia) is awesome. Forgo the sausage sizzles and cake stalls, sure – but it’s worth it for the shorter queue. Less time trying to distract young children.

And so, having voted usually a week or so before the actual election day, everything after my slips of paper hit the bottoms of their respective voting barrels, becomes meaningless to me. I’ve done my bit, and my ability to influence the outcome becomes negligible. As does my interest in the matter, as well.

These last few months have been overly political too, in my opinion. What with the dramas on American soil, and then #Brexit, the fates of the Labor, Coalition and Greens parties here in Australia over the past ten days or so have been the straw that broke my political patience. [Give me voting for Ellen Reed in #TheVoiceAU any day!!!]

1747917718_7d941b5441_mBut I think what irates me the most (yes, I know I just made up a verb *cheesy grin*) is that the people in charge think that they can get away with hypocrisy. Saying one thing then doing the opposite is what we all teach our kids to NOT do, yeah? So why then is it seen as acceptable behaviour for our political leaders? Because when it all boils down to it, that’s where the majority of the problems come from, wouldn’t you agree?

The Bible records Jesus as saying, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37, during what is now known as the ‘Sermon on the Mount’) and his brother James also wrote about this, in his letter to the Jews: “let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation” (5:12).

I’m guilty of ‘gushing’ myself. I want to demonstrate how appreciative I am, so I exaggerate. Or convince others of my happiness, so I use multitudinous exclamation marks. Whether I like it or not, such effusiveness is not a true representation of the way I feel – so therefore, it is false. White lies, yes?

How hard it must be, for those in the business of trying to convince others, to not ‘gush’. To simply let their ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and their ‘no’, ‘no’.

I get it.

But that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow when its from the mouths of our political leaders.

They, most of all, need to scrutinise their words before they say them. Because after, is too late. And votes have been cast due to poor word choice. And millions of lives are affected.

Just my two cents worth.

Dear reader, my wish for you is that you enjoy a lovely day today – wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.

— KRidwyn

CC image courtesy Anne-Lise Heinrichs on flickr