Student feels privileged to vote

To The Eagle:

I’m a student in twelfth grade, and being 18, I was privileged to vote in the election for the first time. I understand that not everyone will be pleased with the outcome of some of the elections, but I believe it is admirable if we respect those in authority over us, whether we voted for them or not.

The Bible tells us, in Romans 13:1-7, to respect our leaders. Ultimately God sets up our rulers for our protection, and if we show disrespect for our leaders, we are actually being disrespectful to God.

We may ask ourselves, “What about the leaders who are less than ideal?” I was surprised to discover that the book of Romans (referenced above) was written to people living under the reign of Emperor Nero, one of the worst kings in history. If God instructed citizens back then to respect such a tyrant, obviously we ought to respect our leaders, regardless of their shortcomings. We can use courteous words to voice our complaints.

Choosing to respect all those in power is a practical step that all of us can take toward improving our community and learning to be thankful and polite citizens.

Anna Zimmerman, Grays River