How "Not Voting" Could Help Subvert American Racism: A Response to Anthony Smith's post on Emergent Village
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
I want to respond to a post over at Emergent Village by Anthony Smith that I can only assume was directed at a previous post of mine on "Not Voting as an Act of Christian Discernment." Anthony's post was entitled "Not Voting As Violence".
First, thanks to Anthony for the post. I have read and admired his work (over here) for a long while. My friend Brian McLaren picked up on Anthony's post over at his blog and added some good thoughts. The conversation in the comments on these two posts has been outstanding. I consider myself blessed to be brought into a conversation like this with Anthony.
Second, I think it is fair to say that if you're not black you just cannot know how to speak to the black situation in America. I also think it is fair to say that if you're not black, you cannot even know what your words might mean in a context you've never inhabited, whose history you cannot speak out of. I agree with Anthony's basic sentiment "why I get suspicious when white men tell me not to vote." That is why, despite teaching at a seminary where the student body is 40% African American, I try to avoid speaking directly into African American political ecclesial situations. When I do, I try to speak humbly upon request and offer it in service to Christ. Of course when I wrote the post, that Anthony referred to, I was not speaking specifically to the black church. I was not a white guy telling African Americans not to vote (in fact I wasn't telling anyone not to vote, just discern it. In fact, I ended up myself discerning to vote for Obama!). I was speaking to the church at large and more specifically to the emerging church (which is way too white male) of which I consider myself a part (as long as they'll have me). Nonetheless, I believe all races are part of the one race: the people of God in his church, and so it is fair of Anthony to infer that a white man is telling him not to vote because indeed he is also a part of the emerging church I was hoping to speak to.
But this gets right to the heart of the matter for me. For it appears that in Anthony's post, race and participation in the American political process (or "conversation" as Anthony referred to it) has become the pre-eminent domain that polices this conversation about "not voting." I name here a.) race and b.) the American political process as one domain on purpose. For I believe that the American political process makes it impossible to not speak of race. They are intertwined. The American process by its nature divides us by any number of means in order to separate, make appeals to and win a particular constituency's vote over another. In the same way the American democratic (dare I say voting) process divides us into races. In this respect then I might even say "voting is a racist act." It can perpetuate racism. I contend that the very philosophical underpinnings of liberal democracy, founded upon the Enlightenment, underwrite racism. In other words, the terms set down for us in democracy, including autonomous individual rights and "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," divide us into "rights" categories and life ideals that encode the cultural mores of white supremacy. I don't have space here to unpack this last statement, but I offer Cornel West's and J. Kameron Carter's exposition of it. What all this means is that as long as we allow the American political process (i.e. democracy and capitalism) to set the terms for how we speak about justice, we are indeed forced to be divided by race.
I don't believe however, that Anthony is wrong to speak from this place of racial location because in a very real sense "this is all we have." This is all we have precisely because we do not have an alternative counter politic to this situation. The tragic situation that exists in the American nation state is that the church is not sufficient enough of a Christian politic so as to make "race," and the divisions it speaks into being, impossible. This is why I believe there will be times when "not voting" will be a much more subversive political act than voting. It will in effect create a counter political location for the exposing of race as an encoding into our very politics of America.
Of course, the very sad reality is that not only is race still a problem in America, it remains encoded in the very politic that has become the Christian church in America. One of the reasons why the church and America look so much alike on this matter of race is again because they are both built on the same foundation: individual autonomy, self assurance, rationalism, personal faith (not public) and what Milbank calls the "ontology of violence." Structurally all of these premises of liberal democracy and capitalism sound "race neutral" to us white folks, but have in recent times been shown to encode a white supremacy. This sad political situation means that sometimes we have to make a choice, whether to continue hoping the Nation State will change its own foundations or whether to call the church to be faithful to hers. Since I take United States of America not to be built on the premises of Christ and the reconciliation he has won in the cross and the resurrection (indeed I believe the so-called "Christian Nation" to be an ideological object that in fact is used to keep us from the true work on justice as his people in the world), sometimes we will need to engage in acts of subversive withdrawal in order that we might indeed call the church back to faithfulness as well as show the nation another better way. This means there will be times we have to discern whether "not-voting" is a better course of action as opposed to encouraging the State that it is on the right path by voting. And likewise, "not voting" as a subversive political act of withdrawal, may be the best means to counter the indemic racism in our society.
I don't know that any of this should come as a surprise to the black church. And I do not desire to "tell the black church anything about their heritage." I can only ask questions. Is there not already a tradition of withdrawal type activism in the black church/political communities that withdraw from other things just as precious as voting? Indeed as a commentator said at Brian's blog last week: "the civil rights movement was a movement organized and implemented outside of the electoral system." Did not the civil rights movement germinate from the black church using subversive non violent means to subvert the existing System? Since then, has there not been a history of economic boycotts by several African American civil rights leaders? Just this week one of the great black church leaders of Chicago's south side is withdrawing the children from the pubic schools after years of getting nowhere on school funding for the south side. The opportunity for an education (long denied African-Americans) has to be at least as precious as voting to African-Americans. Yet I think Meeks is finally getting something done here for justice on this issue of school funding after many attempts. Could "not voting" be the same kind of tool, maybe not now, but some day?
The symbolic victory of electing an African-American to the presidency is huge for all of us. I believe wholeheartedly that Barack Obama is an unusual, brilliant, and most importantly good man. (I vehemently disagree with him on abortion yet I still prefer his politics to the Republican alternative). For every black man and woman, there is unquestioned meaning and importance here that I would never want to diminish. For me, there is also a great sense of relief that the Bush administration's policies are coming to an end. I have resisted pres. Bush's policies from day one. Yet I fear we face a not too dissimilar fate, we who put our hopes in this political process one more time. I think Christians should be discerning it. I thank Anthony Smith, Brian McLaren, and emergent village for starting this conversation. I join the other voices who urge Emergent Village to put together a conference on political theology because this issue is so important for our future as the church and justice in America. I know Tony Jones has already been thinking about this. I look forward to the continuing discussion.
In an upcoming post, I hope to blog on the potential ways Barack Obama could be used as a "sublime object of ideology" (a tool for the further entrenching of) for the ongoing corporatist powers of the American System and what if anything he or we could do about it.
In the meantime I am open to any rants, public rebukes or helpful conversation on the comments that follow this blog post. Blessings!
BTW, for further reflection on the "not voting" stance, I offer the picture above from the most recent Focus on The Family magazine. Any thoughts?
Posted by David Fitch | 11:31 AM
COMMENTS:
I had to delete this post and redo it because I couldn't get the picture to work (I still don't know if its working - probably if you have an Apple) Anyways,Anthony left a comment to start things out that I had to delete as well. Here it is below. Thanks Anthony!
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David,
Wow bro.. Thanks for this very thoughtful and challenging reflection. As one who has deep affinity with a Yoderian/Anabaptistic/post liberal reading of the church's complicity with Constantinianism I concur with most if not all of what you say here. I want to post something on my blog that would serve as both a affirmation and response to your thoughts here. Thank you for taking the time to really think through this matter. Most don't, unfortunately.
11:43 AM
The image is working fine now, although another part of me wishes I wasn't seeing it!
I think that the key thing here is that a serious grappling of ecclesiology and politics is occurring. Sure, there are some knee-jerk reactions of idiocy (aren't there always?), but what is incipient in both David and Anthony's posts is that our politics as the church must be different from the politics of the society we find ourselves in, which means dredging up an uncomfortable tradition of Christian political accommodation along the way.
7:56 PM
I really have a hard time taking the argument not to vote seriously. (I.e, I believe in voting.)
This is the summary of my thinking:
1) Not voting is anarchistic.
2) In an anarchy, the powerful get their way by force.
Even if you think--and I do not--that our democratic system necessarily encourages the rich and powerful to oppress the poor and powerless, I certainly can see an argument that anarchy will improve that situation.
About the issue of race, I understand the reticence to speak with authority about racial issues (like David, I'm white), but that should call toward more engagement, attempting mutual understanding. I think we are only "forced to be divided by race" as long as we buy into the notion that we too different to speak one another meaningfully.
It's not that I trust government or democracy to bring us together, but I don't believe it necessarily pulls us apart.
11:15 PM
This issue of "not voting" has now made its way to Scot McKnight's blog check it out (http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=4272)
Thanks for the comments thus far. I think Matt says it exactly right ... this is an issue of grappling with ecclesiology and politics.
DF
8:49 AM
After reading your 2 posts and Anthony's, I'm not sure what is meant by 'voting'. I am not sure if voting is meant as a 11/4 activity or a 24/7/365 activtiy. The Church helped bring change in society 'by not voting' (marching, praying, conversing), but that also affected laws passed by elected officials (voting).
My position is that voting enables a 51%/49% domination rather than some type of oligarchy. As it is, certain demographics in certain states are a lot more politically valued than me in a state that is already locked in to one of the candidates. And often, when all the votes are counted, there is relative deadlock where neither party gets to run rampant over the other.
I am not voting to "preserve creation" or to "make a Christian nation". It is my opportunity to participate in my community-society-country in which I base my judgment for a civil leader on my understanding of being a world Christian.
(off topic) While it is frustrating when church leadership mirrors political forms, you will be hard pressed to find the exception to this around the world. Why? because the Church is within culture not super-culture. I think that's why my church uses English instead of Hebrew/Aramaic.
8:56 AM
I'm most concerned about the racism that's reared its head in this campaign among those who are deciding to vote. Anyone who is prima facie "skeptical" of white men is clearly racist and/or sexist. Perhaps their racism has foundation, if they personally have suffered immediate, negative consequences due to abuse by those of other races. But it is unjust to blame all people of that race for the hurt, and even more unjust to perpetuate those stereotypes and continue to judge people by the color of their skin. As for the lofty hopes that electing black person or a woman to the presidency will somehow solve our political problems, they could not be more mistaken. It may change perceptions, which is no small thing, but it will not lead to greater political decision-making. In the present situation, the candidates are not equal with regard to the specific qualifications of president. Because of that, there is no good reason for someone with ethically conservative convictions to vote for a staunch ethical liberal.
10:38 AM
When I said,
"I certainly can see an argument that anarchy will improve that situation,"
what I meant to says was:
I certainly can see no argument that anarchy will improve that situation.
1:10 PM
David,
Thanks for keeping the conversation going on these important issues. As an African American Christian passionate about the Missional Church let me make a couple of observations.
1.) I think you are right to point out the history in the Afr-Am Church of seeking subversive instruments (beyond voting) to counter the State. Non-voting makes alot of theological sense to me if it becomes a way to invest greater effort in those other instruments (boycotting, organizing, institution-building, etc.) Christopher Lasch does an insightful critique of the civil rights movement's use of these subversive measures to offer its people a greater dignity. And I think dignity is the keyword for African Americans when it comes to voting. Think of those now famous "I Am a Man!" signs that marchers often carried.
2.) Recognizing our alternative Polis as Christians is also important, but how well have we tended to that Polis in our denominations and Congregations? Is the experience of ethnic minorities in our Polis that much better than their experience in our political system? In both word and deed we need to define how Kingdom citizenship/Alternative Polis will be different from the divisiveness we see in our society. Given our cultural context, I find it hard to see how non-voting points effectively to the alternative Polis without the "handoff" between refusing a broken way and taking up a new one.
The big indicator for me is how the person or group that rejects voting then handles their responsibility toward the least of these. Knowing that the vote (or lack thereof) relates to the bread and butter issues of those on the margins, how will the Christian Non-voter stand in solidarity with the vulnerable and give them dignity and empowerment in Christ to tackle daily living?
If non-voting is to mean anything but abdication, it must answer the question, "What makes the Church as Polis any better?"
I'm interested to hear how others respond to these questions.
12:59 PM
Joe makes the point that keeps running through my mind: While David's arguments for discerning the issue of voting/not voting are persuasive, how will anyone else distinguish between those who are simply apathetic and those who are making a principled stand?
I felt I was in a bind when having to choose between Bush and Kerry in 2004. I wanted another option. So I voted for Ralph Nader. This wasn't because I thought Ralph represented me, but simple to do something that was "counted" as "not voting for the establishment options."
What are some other ways that people who choose not to vote can make their "non-vote" be counted and heard?
9:52 AM
joe , Matthew, everybody ... I quite agree with the potential to confuse not voting with apathy. I really cannot offer the means to insure this does not happen. I don't really know if that should be a consideration? Someone told me recently, that when he doesn't vote... he feels that he has in essence accomplished nothing and opted out ... essentially because not enough have done so to make it mean anything or accomplish anything... but is this not how every revolutionary act begins ... that we have to trust in initial acts of faithfulness to be used by God in His Mission?...that we canot pretend to control the future? once we have not voted... I suggest that provides then the opportunity to talk about why we did not vote... which will then become the basis for a counter politics ..
joe makes the essential point ... thst we need to tend to the work of nurturing a church as a politic. In some of my current work I isolate how "the Christian Nation" has become a sublime object of ideology that in essence keeps the church caught up in its spectral gaze that continually keeps us from focusing energy and attention towards being the politic that ushers in the justice of God. I always get the question ever foisted at Hauerwas' theology, where is this church that can be the basis of an ethic in the world? Which to me does not disqualify the church as God's means to work justice in the world, it simply tells us we have dropped the ball in tending to the right things.
Thanks to everyone ... and Awesome conversation!!
10:18 AM
hey there Mr. Fitch...this is Tim's friend Ben from your nephew Steve's wedding...your posts have really shaped the way I think and I appreciate it...
SO I tend to agree with you to an extent about not voting, and I've decided not to vote for either major candidate since neither candidate really comes close to representing the kind of leader I want to associate my vote with...
but there are so many issues that are on these ballots that deserve our vote...school levies, local elections, state issues, etc., not to mention the whole jury duty aspect of voting
it seems to me that in a "democracy" we're born with a job to govern to a tiny extent and to simply not do it seems irresponsible to me...so why not show up, vote for people and issues we feel comfortable giving our seal of approval to, and simply not voting for those we don't feel comfortable with
with all of that in mind I can't for the life of me figure out if Jesus would have voted or not
6:56 AM
I can certainly support a cogent and logical argument for not voting when given unpalatable selections...as I believe we have been given and are given in most national elections. I do not believe the same for local elections and local governance where individual participation CAN have a high level of impact...even after the election. Yet, I am suspecious of anyone who argues on the subject of voting/non-voting when the object of their support is in fact a particular candidate. I am not voting for either B H Obama or J S McCain because voting for the lesser of two evils is still a vote FOR evil...regardless the "system." You're thoughts on not participating in the obvious 'worldly' system of US national govenrment would have more credibility if you weren't supporting the obvious 'worldly' character of B H Obama.
DJ
AMDG
12:48 PM
Isn't always possible to write in a candidate for an office? American politics has the problem of a basic two party system. Other countries have multiple parties. A two party system simplifies the choices, but maybe it would be better to have another choice.
Voting is only the beginning of our responsibilities. Most of our governing responsibilities lie in the 'non-voting' arena. No matter who gets voted in, they can always change their mind about issues. And they may very well do so based on 'non-voting' activities such as letter writing, town hall meetings,and such like all the way to boycotting. When we vote for candidates that gives the 'non-voting' activities more power; we are able to leverage our voting power because the candidate knows we care.
I think it is good to have a healthy critical mind towards politics. However, criticism needs to be tempered with a heavy dose of grace. Until the day comes when the church can fulfill the roll the state does, and do it more effectively, I think it would be prudent to fulfill our responsibilities as citizens to the greatest extent of the law.
6:41 PM
dj and ben, I quite agree with you on your emphasis upon local politics. I quite agree, these grass roots involvements with neighborhoods, school councils, community organizing orgnaizations make total sense. Witness and justice is relational... and I certainly see local politics as a place to work for Christian reconciiation and renewal...
Blessings
6:35 PM
I agree with Maria that voting is one of many governing duties (opportunities) we have as USAmericans to effect where our tax dollars go. Now if you really want to talk about not playing Caesar's game, we could talk about refusing taxation, like Thoreau tried for awhile.
One of the things I wanted to point out in my earlier post is that whenever I hear Christians argue for not voting or voting for "less government" they usually punctuate it with, "the Church ought to do this kind of thing." And to be fair there are Christians making those arguments that do step up to the plate, opening up their pocketbooks and lives to be in solidarity with the Other.
But there's another story here. The losers in US History have often been the losers in Church History. That fact is not lost on vulnerable minorities. And they might rightly ask, why should we believe your offers of assistance? Will your help be sufficient to tackle the problems before us? There is a history of abandonment and shortchanging in the Church that needs to be reconciled and overcome if acts like "not-voting" are to be more than stunts that make those of us privileged enoug feel better while leaving real issues and real suffering unattended.
9:54 AM
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