Perhaps the way the publishing schedule for this fair rag has the Gods of City Politics frowning, or more likely they are laughing, as we go to press mere hours before the results of the fateful day, that we have waited for, some patiently, and some not so patiently for months, or in some cases years. Nevermind, we will not be able to comment on the ‘lection results of ‘16 until next issue. So what is an observer to do? Well, observe, of course.
Rarely do we get a chance to sit back and muse on the process without knowing the outcome. But here we can look at just what have we learned over this campaign season. What lessons are there to collect and, most confounding, where do we go from here.
Kumbaya with the counting
Seems that each cycle of the common voter being influenced by the candidates to determine who is the best, the brightest, and who will advance the cause of the greater good better’n the others, gets more tawdry every day. The national campaigns, begun more than two years ago, have been a textbook on disrespect and anti-civility. Statewide contests have not been much better. But when we talk about local politics, City Politics as we say, there are lessons to be learned.
Newcomers with new ideas and new approaches to age-old problems were few and far between. Where are the young and up and coming? Will the retreads just continue the march to mediocrity that has been a hallmark of our fair Swampville. Does it take a rockstar persona, ala W or Barry O., to be the perfect candidate that all can gather ‘round? Seems like it.
But we can learn a valuable lesson from this election cycle. We need to look at similarities, instead of dwelling on our differences. We need to pull together to make this a better community and a better place for ALL of us, no matter our gender, color, ethnicity or, for that matter, political party.
Some of us here in Froggy Bottom can recall when the upcoming Border Battle, the annual UM/OSU rivalry was fun and the competition was about a game. We can recall when a candidate we supported was defeated and then lent their support to the victorious opponent to move the entire lot of us forward, without cries of retribution and nasty remarks.
Unification and Healing
Let’s look at how each of us, down to the last elector, can set aside our differences and begin to foster understanding to advance the cause for all of us. If Mother Earth is getting smaller, T-Town is a mere tiny berg. But the flapping of a butterfly’s wings… can carry winds of change long and far, or so it is said.
Each of us can do a little, which could add up to a lot, to be more understanding, more compassionate, more respectful of the feelings and needs of our fellow T-Town dwellers.
Frankly speaking, it is the only way this can work. The constant spiral of talking down to those that don’t think exactly as we do is, well, getting old. And not getting any of us very far.
It is time for healing and not judging. As Thumper Rabbit told Bambi ( and hunting season is upon us), ‘If you don’t have nothing nice to say, don’t say nothing at all.’
