Voting in the United States is not just a political action.  It is how each citizen has the right to help create policies which provide the opportunity for all to Live the Golden Rule.  Christians and non-Christians live by this “rule” of ethical reciprocity: “Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do To You.”

Jesus summed up all the Law and Prophets with this basic understanding of God’s intention for human behavior. (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31) But the Golden Rule is not just a Judeo-Christian creed. It is found in every major religion around the world, and all these religions exist in the United States. It may be expressed differently in Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Judaism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism and more!  Yet all hold this as a universal truth.

The United States is the one place in the World where a country was formed precisely to allow ALL RELIGIONS to be freely expressed. Our founding fathers created a rule of law with our Constitution, rather than the rule of law of a Monarch.  The very first and foremost important rule, the First Amendment, states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”.  

The founders understood that to be a healthy democracy we would treat others as we would like to be treated, to follow the Golden Rule: including treating others as we would want to be treated regarding Voting Rights. However, voting rights were initially limited to white males who owned land. It took nearly 190 years to finally allow citizens of all genders, colors and creeds the right to vote. There are those today who wish to once again limit voting rights as part of making America a “Christian Nation.” If we were to become a “Christian Nation”, whose version of Christianity would we establish?

How can we continue to honor our founding fathers who formed a new way of being a country when in 2024, voting rights are in danger of being stripped from people who profess diverse forms of religion? We are called to “make some noise” to help our brothers and sisters keep their voice and vote.

I’m reminded of the many ways Americans “made some noise” in the 1960’s during the Civil Rights movement for Voting Rights of all citizens. In addition to marches and protests, prophetic speeches and prayers Americans with different talents presented protests against discrimination through comedy, music, and art.  Iconic “Americana” artist, Norman Rockwell painted pieces with the intention of raising awareness of discrimination.   One such painting expressed the Golden Rule as revealed in America.

In a 1961 painting Rockwell addressed the need for healing across difference with Civil Rights. His painting of the United States population depicts people from all world religions in one beautiful, colorful, citizenry. We are not a melting pot of all becoming the same mushy soup, rather a bouquet of distinct flowers enhancing one another’s uniqueness.  The painting includes his own white male portrait amid colorful men, women and children, dressed in religious garb. On it is imprinted: Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You. For more information see https://www.nrm.org/pdfs/Norman_Rockwell_Museum_Golden_Rule_painting_information_sheet.pdf

UN Photo/Rick Bajornas, https://media.un.org/photo/en/asset/oun7/oun7139927