Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual — or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.
-Samuel Adams
A mature, responsible American voter will not:
1. Adopt a position just because his party did.
2. Encourage contempt for members of the other party.
3. Select a candidate based on personality rather than policies.
4. Presume the ability to read another person’s motives.
5. Resort to throwing out useless labels like “no good”, “liar”, or “hater.”
6. Refuse to reexamine the way she’s expressing her position.
7. Attempt to silence opposing viewpoints.
8. Presume all members of any particular group think or act the same way.
9. Take unexamined positions because of unexamined anger.
10. Dismiss an opinion only because it came via a spokesman from the other party.
Memo to those feeling these standards are too grown up: Would you consider leaving political discourse to the adults?
Comments
wyolaramie | Mar 15, 2016
Joe, your last sentence to us saying "Memo" I could not understand. What did that sentence or two mean? I agree....assigning blame or criticism re: party designations is hard. It is so easy to see most Democrats as "wrong".
Robert Russell | Mar 16, 2016
Joe:
I appreciate the list and I believe I am grown up enough to engage in the political process. I struggle with number 8 somewhat, that said, you left off number 11...what to do if there are no viable candidate to vote for....abstain?
Lynne Everest | Mar 24, 2016
I understood your last line, no question there. But what is interesting to me is your use of the masculine and feminine pronouns in #1 and #5 respectively, with gender neutrality in the rest of your points. I wonder what Freud would say about that. But that would make him guilty of #4, I think. LOL
Really good post Joe! I'm totally sharing these wise sentiments!
Lynne Everest | Mar 25, 2016
HaHa - good one Joe! No, I wouldn't turn Freud on my worst enemy let alone a good guy like you!
p.s. I made an error in my comment and can't find the edit button. I should have written that you used the feminine pronoun in #6, not #5. I just wanted to clear that up! Have a great Easter holiday!
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