This maybe my Jerry Maguire moment. I am putting it out there, not sure if I should, but I am. I was lying in bed this morning just thinking. No t.v on , no radio, just my thoughts...and I started thinking about politics. To be honest I am not sure why. Maybe because we have a barrage of campaign adds going on constantly, it is top news, or maybe just because I have got America on my mind.
So, here it goes. When I turned 18 it was exciting I could vote, a voice finally. I cared a lot, still do but in a different cynical way. I dread this time of year, the messages are constant from our politicians and to me they are all in most cases the same. I was thinking to myself about a recent visit to my old High School. Walking the halls I saw all these campaing posters up. Catchy slogans of why we should vote so and so sophomore treasurer, or so and so for senior class president, why they were the right choice. It was nice. I thought there is no way the school would condone mudslinging posters on their walls. The parents would make the kids break out a new sharpie and tell their kids to start over, they would noy allow them to plaster the school walls with bad things to say about their opponent - just focus on you, and what you will do to make the school a better place to be.
Shame on you politicians for sending some of the absolute worst messages to our future generations. Where did we forget our simple values of decency and respect. This is what I try to teach my kids. Why is ok to think you will win by lack of a better word being mean and nasty. I would like to know more about you as a canadiate, why spend your money on air time with those nasty adds, and you know the ones - black and white bad images, ominous music, and switch - rainbows and sunshine for you, and to be fair both sides of the aisle do it, we are splitting hairs if we say one side does it more.
Recently in the news and on tv we have seen a heartfelt effort on behalf of greater tolerance for our kids. We plead for a bully free schools. We are trying to send a message of acceptance. I find it oddly ironic, that in the mist of this important and good message we find ok to have adds where we in some cases destroy the opponents. Are we telling our 15 year olds - be tolerant, be nice, yet if they are opposing you then you have the right to go after them, it is ok to be nasty, I am fighting for my cause. This is why many of us are disgusted with the direction of politicians these days.
I would like to stand from the roof-top (or my blog) and tell these politicians to run their campaigns as if they were in an elementary school. Difference of opinion and in depth debates are immensely important and should be constructive be respectful of your opponent (you maybe on his/her kickball team at recess). Lots of two-stepping and insult swinging is counter productive, you will turn people off. If I were a kid on a playground I would turn around and walk away from that. This is how a lot of Americans are feeling right now.
Many people feel that as a nation we are at crossroads, and we are. How we feel as Americans is personal. What I call America maybe different then what you call America, so be it. I may not even have to like it. But what we should all be working towards is a collective dignity of how we met at this crossroads. Until we figure out how, we are chasing our tails every election. Shame on you politicians for allowing and leading us in these circles.
All we ask is for honesty, have your differences, engage in them, but keep them meaningful. Simply enough don't be mean, we Americans are getting tired of it. Run your campaign as if you are running for class president, slander wil lnot be tolerated in the schools. Don't engage in slander just because your opponent does, remember the old saying - which I tell my kids a lot, 2 wrongs don't make a right.
I am proud to be an American. I believe in America, and I get choked up when I say the pledge of alligance with my 4 yr old and 7 yr old. It holds a lot of weight and a tremendous responsibility. We have the gift of freedom to choose in this country who we vote for, but the responsibility is on ourselves to run in the most honorable way possible. Shame on you politicians for forgetting that.
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