I generally remain quiet on political issues outside my sphere of close friends. My reasons are selfish - I often find it hard to debate the issues without extreme anger creeping in at which point it no longer becomes a healthy debate - just an arguement where no one wins. So, these points are directed toward me as much as anyone else. Here is my one and only rant to the wider world for this election year:
1. I am unapologetically conservative, just as you are unapologetically whatever you have chosen to be.
2. Whatever your political (or moral, for that matter) leanings, it is not in the best interest of your viewpoint to attack my intelligence or make assumptions about my level of education just because I do not agree with you. You will gain far fewer converts to your way of thinking – if gaining converts is your goal.
3. State your beliefs from the standpoint of one who is trying to persuade and not one who is on the political or moral high ground.
4. Just as it is your right to believe and practice politics, faith, morals as you see fit, so it is mine. Your lack of respect for anyone's rights in this area is wrong.
5. Don’t rant, vote.
6. If you are an advocate of 'tolerance' - prove it. Far too many people tout the virtues of 'tolerance' until it comes to something they stringently disagree with (again politics, faith, morals).
7. Just because I disagree with you on one (OK maybe all) of the hot-button issues, don't assume that I consider myself better than you in some way. I am better than no one, anywhere, ever.
8. Support your candidate; support your faith - know why you do both if someone asks and if they then share a differing view point don't immediately speak to them in some condescending tone because certainly they ‘must not be able to comprehend’ what is obviously the ‘correct’ way to live, vote or believe.
9. You have facts to back up your reason for choosing a certain candidate – so do I. Don’t immediately assume that my facts are somehow inferior to yours. Hmmm…maybe both sets of facts (yours AND mine) are at worst made up and at best embellished. Impasse – move on.
10. BOTH sides of the aisle campaign in the negative – it is a fact of life. Deal with it.
11. If you do not vote, shut up.
12. Wait, let me say that again – if you do not vote, SHUT UP.
13. If you do not vote – WHY? There is no excuse for apathy in this area - go register today and vote your conscience. It is your responsibility as an American citizen. Do it.
