“…it’s eroding the foundations of our community, if not our country at large”
By Thor Schuson, Wellsville, Allegany County
I’ve been wondering recently what kind of message we’re sending to youth about elections. I didn’t pay much attention to politics as a child, but I wasn’t unaware of what the grown-ups around me thought about Bill Clinton.
One thing impressed on me, elections were a serious, almost sacred event. It was important to know where a candidate stood on the issues, and just as important to know when those candidates were lying or pandering to their supporters. You could joke about the candidates, but keep it classy around the kids.
The election that really made me sit up and pay attention was the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. A teenager, I actually understood what was being discussed at this point, and the role of the President in our government. The 2004 election, Bush against Kerry, was when some of my friends, being a year older than me, voted for the first time.
That was a heated election to be sure. Our “War on Terror” was still in full swing, and both sides of the political spectrum had lots to say not just against their opponent, but about their candidate too. Stances on issues, and proposed policies were discussed passionately, but those conversations didn’t bleed over to all aspects of everyday life.
The first election I could vote in was in 2008 between Barack Obama and John McCain. I remember being excited and proud watching the debates. Obama was and is a great public speaker, regardless of your personal thoughts towards him, and McCain also spoke with knowledge and conviction. There was a mutual respect between the two, and both candidates smiled as they shook hands.
The debates in the 2012 election between Obama and Mitt Romney were also educational and respectful, though perhaps not quite as much. Still, it was nice to watch the debates (plural, there have been multiple debates between candidates for as long as I can remember) and know what each candidate wanted to do for our country. The debate between Vice President candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan were different in tone, it seemed the VPs could be the attack dogs for their candidates, laughing and rolling eyes at each other’s remarks. At the time, it was amusing to see the VPs show disrespect, it made a “fun” contrast to the seriousness of Obama and Romney.
We all know how the 2016 and 2020 elections went, well most of us anyway. And that brings me to the point I wanted to make with this, American elections have become ridiculous.
I’m not going to discuss my thoughts and feelings on our candidates this cycle, though of course I, like many, have strong opinions. No, I want to discuss how we treat elections and debates now, and more importantly, how we are treating each other.
We are not a largely populated county, we aren’t considered by the “movers and shakers” of the state and federal government. Let’s not kid ourselves, neither candidate knows or cares for our green hills and valleys.
The issue seems to me to boil down to two factors: America’s love of teams, and America’s love of reality TV. We are obsessed with not just rooting for our team, but actively jeering, booing, and insulting the opposing team. Our media is flooded with gameshows, dating shows, and people joining all sorts of outlandish competitions to win money (and internet fame).
Somehow, these two American pastimes have made their way into our politics. It’s no longer a matter of policy vs. policy, it’s insult vs. insult. The amount of mudslinging and name calling is ridiculous. Where are the grown-ups?
It seems that people no longer support a candidate for their ideas, it’s about sensationalism. It’s about the drama, the next “must watch” clip, the reaction to reactions, the “zings” and the “burns” and the “take thats”. And again I ask, where are the grown-ups?
I see people cheer when these politicians “go after” each other. The insults, lies, and problematic rhetoric used and celebrated is alarming to say the least. That these remarks are celebrated is an understatement. The amount of money that’s being made off of hats, t-shirts, bumper stickers, and the like must be astounding.
I struggle to recall another election where people made their politics their whole personality, at least to the level we’re seeing now. And it’s eroding the foundations of our community, if not our country at large. Our predisposition to pick a team combined with the addictive nature of 24-hour entertainment networks masquerading as news, has caused many to revert back to school yard arguments such as “I know you are but what am I?” We insult anyone who has different views, we laugh and actively wish misfortune on the “other team”. We proudly display profanity, flaunt criminal behavior, lament that “the shooter missed”, and make sexualized jokes, all in front of the next generation of voters.
Is this really the example we want to set? That it’s okay to mock and threaten anyone who might have a different point of view? More than okay, that it’s American, Patriotic even, to loudly hate anyone different? That debating viewpoints, with both passion and facts, is no longer an option in this day and age? If you say it loud enough, it must be true? If you make jokes about small…crowd sizes…that it’s okay because going high when they go low isn’t feasible this election?
Regardless of what November brings, we will all still be neighbors, we’ll still live in this county. It’s time for us all (red, blue, yellow, green, the whole political party rainbow), to remember…we were raised better than this. Our parents and grandparents, our teachers, pastors, coaches, Sunday School teachers, PBS, they all taught us better.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Share your toys. If you bring snacks, make sure you bring enough for everyone. Don’t push others out of line. Keep our hands to ourselves. Do not tell lies. Don’t cheat, or copy from others. Say please, thank you, your welcome. Help the kids that are smaller than you. Pass the ball. Win or lose, you high-five the other team. Spend time in thought and prayer before big decisions. Be true to your word. Love thy neighbor.
Let us strive to rise above the us against them mentality, we’re all in this together. We’re all human, all trying each day to be better than yesterday, and live a happy and healthy life with our loved ones. Let us remember who “the other side” really is, our Neighbors. There’s Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Christians, atheists, immigrants, homosexuals, and transgender people right here in Allegany County. Let’s take care of each other, let’s help each other rise up. Instead of reading that local Democrats ran a food drive and getting mad, let’s ask ourselves how we can help out too. When families affected by the recent flooding get help and donations from the community, instead of any snide remarks about what political flags they fly, let’s once again ask, what can I do to help?
Just something to maybe keep in mind as we get closer to November, cause it’s only going to escalate from here. Remember who your neighbors are, and remember to be excellent to each other.
