@bethvogt
People are talking about both of the who’s and all of the what ifs of the upcoming presidential election.
I’m not going to be one of those people. Not here on this blog. Not on any social media platform. And very rarely with family and friends.
There’s the oft-repeated saying, “Never talk about politics or religion in polite company.” Maybe it’s because too often all semblance of politeness disintegrates the longer any conversation about politics lasts.
At least, that’s been my experience.
Everyone has their opinions about politics. Drive through your neighborhood and you’ll see a variety of “Vote for (fill in the blank)” signs in front yards. I choose not to comment on political signs, and I also choose not to post signs in my front yard. While I have the freedom to do so, it’s a bit like joining the conversation for me, in a non-verbal way.
Not talking about politics doesn’t mean I don’t think about politics. Not talking about politics doesn’t mean I don’t care about the election or about my country.
Not talking about politics does mean I care about relationships more than convincing you about my political point of view – and yes, it also means I care about relationships more than listening to you convincing me about your political point of view.
I know some people enjoy a good debate. I applaud those who can stay within the boundaries of “friendly” and “healthy” and “respectful” and “two-sided” when it comes to discussing politics. But all too often, people consider a difference of opinion a personal affront and go about attacking and unfriending others, in both virtual and real ways.
Sigh.
The presidential election is in 34 days.
Everyone who can vote, should vote.
And no, I don’t want to know who you’re voting for and why.
One candidate is going to win. One candidate is going to lose.
Some of us will be happy with the results. Some of us won’t be.
We are not in control of any of the candidates or the outcome of the presidential election – except that we can and should vote.
Please, consider this: Besides voting, what we do we control during the next 34 days are our words and our actions.
Maybe it’s time to remember another oft-repeated saying: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” And that quote, my friends, is attributed to Thumper, the bunny rabbit in Walt Disney’s Bambi.
I’m not saying your opinions and your values don’t matter.
But I do believe kindness matters more – that our opinions and our values should be undergirded with compassion and gentleness.
Choosing Kindness Over Being Right When It Comes to Politics https://bit.ly/33fqjdo #perspective #bekind #2020election Share on X ''It's better to be kind than to be right.' Quote by @ANNELAMOTT https://bit.ly/33fqjdo #kindness #2020election Share on X
Comments 8
It’s funny that the fates we find
are oft not the favoured picks;
the parrot on my Rolex dined,
and now, well, Polly ticks.
The cat that use to haunt his cage,
a-hopin’ for a tasty meal
is now upon another page,
as his shock-wide eyes reveal.
And Polly, he is much the same,
eyes never gave a flicker,
and I think he likes the fame
of an extra ticker,
but I don’t know if he’ll be smilin’
on the day when he needs windin’.
Author
Such an intriguing sonnet this morning, Andrew, with all sorts of symbolism woven through. Well played. Well played.
Sometimes I just have too much fun for it to be legal.
Author
🙂 Go right ahead.
This is a very important timely post. Two elections back we had a political sign in the yard of my town home in a homeowners’ assn. The secy. leader got irate over many things to the point of becoming ill sometimes. Without saying anything to me, he pulled up and confiscated my sign which we later found out was illegal as in our particular assn., we each did own the literal land. Strong emotions, no dialogue–offering nothing constructive to the health and welfare of a nation. I think it would be even more incendiary to put a sign in my yard now, so I have not. In general, it has been interesting to notice the signs in rural areas in MN and MS and in between versus in the cities. Great quote!
Author
Thanks for your insights, Dee. I always want to err on the side of kindness because no matter what the topic of discussion is, people will always disagree on who is right and who is wrong.
I agree that kindness matters.
Author
Thank you, Denise. I’m not surprised that you do.