Climbing a Hill on a
Hot Day
by Christopher Dodson,
Executive Director, North Dakota Catholic Conference
October 2004
I lived in Oakland, California while I attended law school.
My neighborhood consisted of steep hills, the kind of which
most of us associate with nearby San Francisco.
On an election day, I walked up one of those inclines to
the voting precinct at the top of the hill. It was hot and
sunny that day and by the time I got to the top, I felt as
though I had finished a mild workout.
While up there, some others and I heard someone calling for
help. Outside, lying in the street was a very old and frail
looking woman. She, too, had walked up the hill to vote and
had tripped while crossing the street. She probably had
twisted her ankle, but in case it was worse, we concluded
that she should not move and someone went to call the
paramedics.
She began to protest and tried to get up. Somebody told her
not to move until the paramedics had looked at her. She
became more distraught. At first, I assumed that she did
not want to see the paramedics and just wanted to go home.
That, however, was not why she was upset. She wanted to
vote.
I went into the voting precinct and asked if someone could
bring a ballot to her. The precinct workers did not
hesitate and grabbed the paperwork.
There, lying injured on the hot pavement, this woman cast
her vote.
I do not remember what issues were on the ballot that day.
I do not remember who ran in any of the races. I hope,
however, I never forget the image of her in the middle of
the street exercising her right to vote.
I met with Catholics throughout the state this election
season. Their interest in the elections seems much higher
than usual. Yet, at the same time, Catholics expressed to
me great dissatisfaction with the candidates and especially
the political parties.
In one sense, I see this as a good response. It is
unfortunate that so many Catholics do not feel comfortable
with the candidates or “at home” with a
political party. However, dissatisfied citizens typically
lose interest in politics and the elections. Instead,
Catholics seem more attentive and committed than ever
before to exercising their political responsibility.
Perhaps all the discussion, debate, and argument about the
war in Iraq, John Kerry and communion, same-sex
“marriage,” and how Catholics should vote, has,
despite some anger and hurt feelings, moved Catholics to
take their faith and political responsibility more
seriously than before.
The Simon and Garfunkle song says: “Laugh about it,
shout about it; When you've got to choose; Every way you
look at it, you lose.” The lyric contains some truth.
We rarely win in every respect. It is not a perfect world,
with perfect candidates, and perfect political parties.
Yet we do not lose merely because our choices are not
perfect. When we struggle with the issues, face the
difficult choices of voting, and even laugh and shout about
it, we gain something. We exercise our Catholic political
responsibility. We take another step in our on-going
conversion. Ultimately, this is much more important than
who gets the most votes.
It may be difficult. In a spiritual sense, voting may seem
like climbing a hill on a hot day, falling, and lying in
pain in the middle of the street. Yet, she did it. So can
we.
