Politics
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What is integrity?
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” ~C.S. Lewis With so much turmoil unfolding in our country lately, I’ve been thinking about the word integrity. Growing up, I was taught to believe that integrity was an essential quality to expect in leaders of business and government. Integrity was also something to consider (without compromise) when choosing my friends and life partner. So what does integrity really mean? Here’s how Merriam-Webster defines it: 1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility. 2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness. 3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness.…
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Never assume
“If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that sometimes our assumptions and preconceived notions are wrong, and therefore, our interpretation of events is incorrect. This causes us to overreact, to take things personally, or to judge people unfairly.” ~Elizabeth Thornton, Scottish author of historical fiction Things aren’t always as they seem. As every good magician knows, people interpret everything they see and hear through the filter of their own experience and beliefs. And sometimes they see and hear only what they wish to see and hear. It’s sobering, really, when you consider how easily any situation could be misjudged or misunderstood. It’s never a good idea to…
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Get out and vote!
“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” ~Larry Sabato, political scientist Today is an especially critical Election Day — yet I’m not seeing as many lawn signs in my neighborhood this time around. And no wonder. For past the few years, there’s been a palpable sense of anxiety hovering like a thundercloud cloud over any conversation that threatens to turn political, even among old friends and neighbors. These are stormy times, and ours is a volatile, divided nation. Political attack ads on TV are uglier than the back end of a baboon, and for that reason alone, I’ll be relieved when this midterm election is over. These…
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Election season
“It doesn’t matter what you say you believe — it only matters what you do.” ~Robert Fulghum As if Halloween weren’t scary enough, election season is in full swing. Our mail-in ballots arrived and lawn signs are sprouting everywhere. Politicians are making promises, right and left, and I’ve been studying the issues to make sure I’m making educated choices. I’ve never trusted folks — not just politicians — who tell me what they think I want to hear. So, right now I’m asking a lot of questions. What issues are most important to my community as a whole — not just to me? How much experience do the candidates have?…
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Truth-seeking
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” ~Thomas Jefferson Deep down, most of us know the difference between right and wrong, truth and lies. Yet in today’s political culture, too many folks in power don’t respect the truth. Worse yet, their followers don’t seem to mind, listening only to what they want to hear. Here’s a true thing: It takes time and willpower to research the facts, examine all sides of an issue, set aside your own biases, and consider the consequences of all potential outcomes. Thinking for yourself is hard work. At the end of the day, though, you can rest knowing you’ve tried your best…
