SHAMEFUL CHARACTER

“In all tests of character, when two viewpoints are pitted against one another, in the final analysis the thing that will strike you the most, is not who was right or wrong, strong or weak, wise or foolish…. but who would go to the greatest lengths in considering the other’s perspective.” ― Mike Dooley

I find the current political process to be disheartening. The presidential candidates treatment of one another (in both parties) is shameful – a continual barrage of belittling, degrading, and insulting each other. When children act this way at home or school they are immediately disciplined; when employees exhibit such conduct in the workplace they are written up or terminated; and when this type of behavior is demonstrated out in the community people are often ticketed or arrested.

So why do we put up with this when it comes to politics? Why is some of the worst behavior tolerated by those who are supposed to be our most esteemed public servants? And why do we the people accept this, applaud this, and endorse this week after week as it is aired over national television.

This is absolutely shameful and so is our approval of it. Shouldn’t the current and upcoming President of the United States, as well as every other public servant at the federal, state, and local levels, represent the best of character and attest to the highest virtues of humanity? Yet, where is compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience being displayed by these candidates? Where is common courtesy? Where is the ability to disagree without becoming disagreeable? Instead, we have name-calling, mud-slinging, and party-bashing. A shameful demonstration of character, yet nobody seems to care.

Don’t all of us have better things to do, and don’t these candidates have jobs to attend to? Just think if all of the money, time, effort, energy, and hot air being spent on campaigning (and the reporting of it) were used to help hurting people in our nation and around the world? Certainly a great deal of good would be done, rather than this nonsense.