Decision 2016: Quack, quack, quack

I have friends who are Never Trump, Reluctantly Trump and Members of the Trump Advisory Team. I understand the reasons behind these positions. I intend now to speak only for myself, and not for the Ruth Institute, which of course, does not take positions on political candidates.

My dream in life is that every child be welcomed into life to a loving home with a married mother and father. My life goal is to create a Christ-like mass social movement to end the agony and injustice of family breakdown. From this perspective, both major candidates are deeply flawed. I did not vote for either in the primary.

(PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

However, the third debate cemented my belief that the choice between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is a choice between a sworn enemy of all I believe in, and an uncertain ally. Their exchange on abortion removed all doubt. Clinton has never seen an abortion she wouldn’t support. Trump described late term abortions graphically, and declared them “terrible,” something “nobody has the right” to do.

I do not find this a difficult choice. I realize that some people find Trump so morally repugnant that they won’t vote for him. So, let me tell you what I plan to do.

1. Between now and the election, I do not plan to excuse, defend, “endorse” or “support” Trump. Nor do I plan to agonize, wring my hands or clutch my pearls over how to vote.
2. On Election Day, I plan to go into the voting booth and pull the lever for Trump. I plan to give it no further thought. I will leave the voting booth, and go right back to doing my primary vocation.
3. Before, during and after Election Day, I plan to not lose any friends over Trump. If people feel they must “unfriend” me, I can’t stop them. But I will not attack my friends for making a different decision than I do. I am opposed in principle, to circular firing squads.

I am not the slightest bit concerned about any new “revelations” coming up between now and November 8. Such “revelations” will tell us nothing we did not already know. These October “surprises” are calculated to manipulate our emotions. I decline to turn off my brain because somebody punched my buttons.

I have my hands full fulfilling my own mission. Defending the rights of children to their own parents, helping people heal from the Sexual Revolution: this work keeps me busy more than full-time. This election is taking up far too much bandwidth.

For example, my most recent column on this site, pointed out the well-documented risks of abuse for children whose mothers cohabit with their boyfriends. This information could literally save lives. The story got a handful of shares, and over on our Facebook wall, no one was interested. If I had posted about Donald or Hillary, on the other hand, well, draw your own conclusions.

My vote and my influence over other people’s votes is not significant enough to matter. Neither is yours. On the other hand, my activity, time and attention to my primary vocation, is literally irreplaceable. I bet yours is too. And if it is not, ask yourself why it is not, and what you could do differently. I am quite clear that influencing federal elections is not on my short list of how to create a world of justice for children.

I do offer one final suggestion, for those whose social circle makes it awkward to admit to voting for Trump.

When people ask for whom you voted, say, “Donald,” and make a quacking noise. They can draw their own conclusions. You don’t need to correct them. If that helps you save face, I think you can be forgiven for slightly misleading your friends. Then move on, and do something that matters.

But if you go home and wait four years for the next election, don’t whine about the choices on offer. The choices will only get worse in 2020, if good people don’t get off the couch and get seriously engaged.

That will be true, no matter who wins in 2016.

Jennifer Roback Morse Ph.D. is Founder and President of the Ruth Institute, a global non-profit organization, dedicated to creating a Christ-like solution to family breakdown. Visit at www.ruthinstitute.org or facebook.com/TheRuthInstitute/ To hear more from Dr. Morse, sign up for her e-newsletter here and receive a free gift.

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