Neutrality is a concept foreign to many ears. It seems unthinkable that a person could not have an opinion on a matter. That someone could be neither for nor against it. It is widely viewed that silence equals acceptance, however, the funny thing about silence on a matter is that people on both sides treat you as if you are ‘for’ the other side.
moral; adjective
concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character.
political; noun
the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.
neutral; adjective
not helping or supporting either side in a conflict, disagreement, etc.; impartial.
When issues become political, as is typically the case when they hit the news cycle, then a person who wants to remain neutral in the affairs of politics gets forced into an unfortunate state. This is the state I find myself in on a regular basis.
You see I do not want to be involved in politics in any form, so I endeavor to remain neutral in all things. Not supporting one side/party/group over another. Today issues that are not only political but also moral are in the news cycle.
I believe that murder is morally wrong; I believe that rape is morally wrong; I believe that child abuse is morally wrong. However, when these things happen it is not treated as a matter of morals, but of politics. The two shouldn’t be mixed. If a person is murdered it is incredibly sad and the emotional dominos that fall in that person’s family cannot be denied as sad and heart-wrenching. It is a deplorable thing to happen to anyone.
My heart goes out to all the families of men, women, and children who have had their lives snuffed out by someone. I am deeply saddened by the news. It is just one more piece of evidence that the world is increasingly violent and polarized. Those with political agendas will latch onto the story and raise it as a symbolic flag for their cause.
They may view their cause as just and valiant and wish to defend their position vigorously. The so-called ‘opposing’ side may very likely feel the same and have their own flags to raise. Even a third or fourth group could rise up and challenge the positions of the others. Where does that leave me?
As someone neutral in political affairs, I cannot side with ‘A’ or ‘B’. However, it becomes a real problem for me when the idea of political neutrality is not understood, or even disagreed with. Group ‘A’ will tell me that my silence in their rally cry equates to my approval of the position of group ‘B’. Group ‘B’ will make the same claim against me as well.
When I remain politically neutral group ‘A’ claims I am for ‘B’, and group ‘B’ claims I am for ‘A’. We are thusly at an impasse without a fundamental step in education.
Having a moral opinion does not equal having a political opinion.
Just as an in an atom, the electron has a negative charge and the proton has a positive charge a third particle exists, the neutron, that does not possess a charge. It is neither positive nor negative. The world around us is polarized, they only think that there are two possible positions to any issue. However, even the fundamental physics of the universe tells us that there are three states of charge, not two.
This is a concept that I wish more people would grasp. It would make my life a whole lot easier. Do I think that murder is wrong? Yes. Yes, I do. Do I think that the murder of someone is a political platform for demanding something? I will not engage in that topic. Do I think that the rape of someone is unconscionable? Yes. Yes, I do. Will I attack or defend the political platforms that argue over it. No, I will not engage. Because, the moment I do, I am choosing one side over the other.
Do not forget the neutral option. God is impartial, he has a moral opinion but does not have a political opinion. Acts 10:34,35 says so. He only requires that you follow his moral standards, and he does not prefer one race, nationality, language, culture, nor group over another. God is truly impartial, or as the definition says: neutral. I’ll keep my moral opinions because I want to be like him, but I will stay out of politics.