Political Junkie Wannabees”

By

Gerry Niskern

I think I’ve told the story before of  my first exposure to politics. When I was around a year and a half-old and just learning to talk, I was dropped off at my grandmother’s house. My mother’s brothers, all strong union members, did their best to teach me to say, “Vote for Roosevelt”, because FDR was running. When my folks came to pick me up my Republican dad was treated to my political stump speech as a result of my uncles coaching. It was all in good fun, but my dad was a guy who believed his politics were his own affair; as by the way, many others do today.

Just think, it’s now full speed ahead for the presidential election with four months to go. I don’t know if I can take much more election grind with all the debates and constant challenges from friends and even total strangers.

Even at the workplace  where most people spend the major part of their lives, there is tension.  Of course, people and their fellow personnel need to converse during the day; there are lots of topics that work. Sports, music, family and books are good for starters. If there is some kidding around about favorite teams, its great. But many people become very passionate and too aggressive about some subjects. Politics is one of them. You know, there is a federal law that employers can enforce that deals with what is and what is not allowed in conversation in the workplace. The four “no nos’ are: money, sex, religion and politics. Any of these at any time can cause discomfort and disruption.

The trouble with allowing political discourse is that people always think that the other person is mistaken and if they will just listen they can convince them to change their minds.

Do you sometimes suspect that political junkies want to show off their newfound knowledge on a particular issue? Hence, the aggressive questioning of others political persuasion has become the norm today.  Sure politics makes for exciting conversation. But, we all need to observe some civility and restraint.

I know a hair stylist friend who is shocked these days by the number of people who plop down in her chair and demand to know, “Well, what are you, Republican or Democrat?”  Everyone needs to remember that others may also be up on the issues and have strong personal opinions.  And that should be their right and privilege to keep their decision private.

Sure we are subject to hateful, derogatory images and dialogue on social media, but that and usually the source, can be easily deleted. Face to face confrontations are another story.

We all realize and dislike how polarized this country has become in the last several years. Let’s don’t take it a step further and become even more polarized within our parties and among our friends and even family. One suggestion would be for everyone to sit down and read an accurate history of our country. It will do wonders for your new found political education that “talking heads” on television, radio and social media won’t do.

Sure we’ll all remember this year of 2016 as an unusual campaign with the excitement  and antagonism seldom seen in recent decades, but let’s lower the dialogue.  Friendships weave the strong fabric of our community and nation, but lets also keep in mind the thread of friendships is precious and fragile.