Halloween is a scary time for all of us. Not only are we preparing for the fright of ghosts and goblins, but we also have to deal with the frightening prospect of election season! Now don’t get me wrong, I know what it’s like and I take the election of our local, state and national leaders very seriously. But sometimes I think we need to relax and recognize that politics isn’t the end all be all of our daily lives. In fact, I would argue that we need to look to the season of Halloween and All Souls Day to find greater meaning during this scary time of the year.
If you’ve listened to KDCE lately or turned on the television, I’m sure you’ve been greeted by a barrage of political ads. Like a torrential pelting of hot coals in your face, they come, and you try to dodge and dart around them. You change the channel only to find more of them. It’s almost as if you’ve entered a scary circus hall of mirrors. Wherever you go, there they are! There is no escaping them. Like a jack in the box, you hear what horrible things the opponent did or why this one is better equipped to lead. The rhetoric makes the hair on your neck stand at attention. You almost feel like Frankenstein with your arms stretched out in front you—blockheaded and angry. Ready to destroy a small village without even knowing why. Just get these commercials out of the way.
The important thing to remember about all of these commercials is that if politicians aren’t scaring you, they are not doing their jobs. Just like Halloween is a holiday built on the backing and support of the “chocolate money” that multinational candy conglomerates have pumped into the holiday scam, politicians fulfill their role as “vampires” by scaring the pants off of people such as you and me. Whether it’s what their opponent is going to take away from you or which candy the other is going to give you, fear plays an important role in your decision-making process. If there is no crisis, there is no purpose.
Lucky for those of us in the Valley, however, we have a different perspective. Sometimes we peak up from what we’re doing to take note of the commercials and vitriol. But mostly, we stick to ourselves and the daily needs of a grateful life. We are blessed to be part of a community that needs our local and national leaders. But we value our own capacity to decide for ourselves. We hold in higher regard what is best for us than what others think is best for us. Those commercials mean little. Independent and strong, we don’t need the bickering or hate. Instead, we choose a better path.
Let me close with the the words that inspired me to write this today. It reminds me of my own mom. And it reminds me of our Valley as she cradles each of us in times of need. Some of you may know, I am a big Notre Dame fan. I love the Fighting Irish and I love the lessons they continue to teach me. I received this email, and it couldn’t be more perfectly stated or timed. Allow me to share it with you…
“The shortening hours of daylight remind us..of the coming change of seasons and of the passage of time. It may also remind us of the relative brevity of our lives and our calling to make the most of the time we have been given. As we approach the Feast of All Souls, we again invite you to remember in prayer those who have died and yet remain dear to you. Perhaps it was their example of faith, steadfastness in difficult times, or courage in uncertainty that you now know to be such a gift.”
During this beautiful fall season as we transition to winter and a new political era, remember those who have passed. Remember what they have taught you and revel in their strength and spirit. Allow them to speak to you and give you the courage and direction to make the decisions that are right for you and your family. Because in the end, family is all we have. Whether alive or living in spirit, they guide us through thick and thin. They push our hands forward to create and build. They guide our thoughts, and they inspire our future. They are the people for whom we fight. They are the souls for whom we endure. Thanks to them, we create the strong-willed, independent and loyal community of people willing to create a better tomorrow with better leaders. Don’t be easily frightened by the Halloween ghosts or goblins. And don’t be told what to do by scary political ads either.
Javier Sánchez is the former mayor of the City of Española, NM, and the co-owner of La Cocina New Mexican Restaurant.