Rob's blog

It has become the national pastime to criticize and berate the things we don't like. Whether it is the president, the economy, congress, big business, foriegn countries, religious groups, celebrities, races or whatever, it has become easy for us to use our freedom of speech to choose to speak on what we find wrong with the world around us. That is our right as citizens of the great republic that we live in, but as the old saying goes, "you find what you look for."

If you are always looking for problems, corruption, bad people or bad things, you will eventually find what you are looking for - there is no question that they do exist, and our perception of the world around us influences what we see. Many of us choose to dwell on the negative, seeing it in what we don't like. Others choose to see the best in things - often these people are called naive, pollyannas, optimists, fools, or other similar labels. The question as it relates to politics is how does a person's world-view affect their perception of how government functions and their satisfaction with the quality of life they enjoy in the place that they choose to live.

I have recently come across a quote that I thought was worth sharing. Whether a person is faith-based or not, the comments of great men and women no matter what race, religion or creed should not automatically invalidate what they have to say. Being as this is Utah and the person being quoted is prominent, some will have an automatic reaction to what is said, but I think in especially a political context, this comment bears examination and reflection:

"There is a terrible ailment of pessimism in the land. It's almost endemic. We're constantly fed a steady and sour diet of character assassination, fault finding, evil-speaking one of another . . . The tragedy is that this spirit of negativity seems to prevail throughout the country . . .

 

"This spirit has infected the atmosphere on university campuses and the workplace . . . The snide remark, the sarcastic jibe, the cutting down of associates - these too often are the essence of our conversation. . .

 

". . . I'm not asking that all criticism be silent . . . I am not suggesting that our conversation be all honey . . . What I am suggesting and asking is that we turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good in the land and times in which we live; that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults; that optimism replaces pessimism."

 

Gordon B. Hinckley, 1994

 

I must admit that I have been guilty of this at times. Politics brings out strong emotions, and people do not always agree. Wars have been fought, blood has been spilled, families broken and feelings hurt by the criticism and negativity we see in others or originates in ourselves. It has taken a concerted effort for me to find a different way to look at things and people and be less critical and judgemental and more open and understanding of other people and their viewpoints. I still may not agree with the logic or emotion of a person's stance, but I can still respect them as a person and be grateful that they trust me enough to confide in me their concerns or questions.

It is difficult to be a politician and live in a land where we put such high expectations of perfection, performance with zero mistakes, and second-guessing and mind-reading of thoughts, words and actions made both inside and outside of the public eye. Few people these days are willing to submit themselves to it. I believe it takes a certain kind of person - either those who like the power and authority or the ability to bestow favors on those they feel deserve it, or those who would prefer to be out of the limelight and just want to serve their people to the best of the abilities they have. I would hope we can find people who aren't perfect (we will never find one) who have good ideas, look with optimism and open mindedness at the issues, problems and opportunities we have as a people, and bring out the best in all of us as they lead for a time until the next leader appears on the scene with those same attributes we hope all of our elected officials will have - not perfection, but the best and brightest of what we can be.