What Ugly Politics Does to Kids

I don't have television reception where I live, and chose not to spend money on cable or dish.  I do miss it sometimes, because it's not all banality.  It's a good escape when I need laughter and it's often educational.  "Frasier" taught me lots of new words.  And one episode of "House" might have saved my cousin's life when she found what she thought was a wild carrot in her garden (which may have actually been the deadly plant hemlock).

But not until I was recently hospitalized in a room with cable TV did I realize the best gift I had received by not having network television access at home: freedom from negative political advertisements. Three months before a presidential and congressional election, I'm surprised they have any time for actual programming.

The percentage of political ads that are negative - that is, attacking the opponent rather than focusing on one's own accomplishments - varies depending on the part of the country in which you live.  According to the New York Times, during the last week before Florida's Republican primary election, 92 percent of political ads were negative...92 percent!  And it's getting worse from both major parties, with the Miami Herald reporting that 7 out of 10 ads this year have been negative, a huge leap from only about 9 percent negative ads in the 2008 presidential race.

I've been thinking about the large amount of time children are exposed to television, and how they must be taking in a lot of these ads. Can you imagine if children learned and practiced the behaviors they see in these ads?  Not only are we teaching our kids to hate their peers, colleagues, and opponents, but worse, we are teaching them to make excuses for their behavior, and to deflect responsibility by blaming others for their wrongdoings. 

"I know I cheated on this test, Ms. Johnson, but if you review the records of my classmate Robert, he has cheated nearly every week, for his own gain, while I only did it once...and that was to ensure our school would receive much-needed No Child Left Behind funding!"

"Four years ago my rival for head cheerleader botched a cartwheel during the most important football game of our school's season.  Is that the kind of "leader" we want, or would you rather have someone who has never botched a cartwheel in her life?"

"Yes, I did hit my sister, Mom, but if you are a patriotic American, don't you agree that a strong home defense is necessary for peace and unity?"

I was inadvertently taught to hate politicians before I really understood what politics even were.  I remember a January day when I was in the sixth grade. Living in a region predominantly populated with Democrats, we children had spent the past few months listening to negative ads and listening to our parents complain about President Ronald Reagan.  So when an aide came into our classroom to tell us that President Reagan had been shot, in our stupid 11-year-old naivete, we all started to cheer, celebrate, and high-five each other.  

Our otherwise kind and gentle teacher, Elaine Armendariz, slammed her hand down on the desk to shut us up, and proceeded to give us an almost minute-by-minute accounting of what it was like the day President John F. Kennedy was killed. It was a very healthy dose of shame I have never forgotten, no matter how badly I may dislike whomever holds a public office.

I will tell you whom I plan to vote for and why, and I may tell you why I disagree with my candidate's opponent, but never will you see me make a joke about killing a candidate, or a bumper sticker on my car alluding to a racial slur, or hear me say cheap shots about a candidate's family, looks, religion, or wardrobe.  They cheapen us all.

Whether it is through programs like debate clubs, public speaking training, morality education through religious institutions, strong parenting, or other means, we must teach our children to fight fair and fight civilly, even against people at the polar opposite of their own beliefs.  And perhaps more importantly, we shouldn't measure someone's goodness on the worse things that other people do.  

If you voted for McCain...

Date Originally Posted: November 5, 2008

Dear Family and Friends Who Supported McCain/Palin,

As happy as I am that Barack Obama won the election, I am also sorry for your disappointment and the pain that you might be feeling now. For as much as we disagree politically, we are still friends and I care about your feelings.

I know that many of you might think that the country is doomed, but I hope that in the coming weeks and months, as the wound of this loss heals, you will come to realize that those kinds of thoughts will doom our country much more than any man in any office could do. Clinging to resentment, fear, or anger over these election results will doom our country. What will save our country? Unity. If you can find it in your heart to get behind this new American leadership team, then we can really start to get great things done, for all of us.

If you voted for McCain/Palin because you felt that they were stronger Christians, and/or that it was your Christian duty to vote for them, I hope you will remember that the Bible tells us to pray for our leaders - not just the leaders that we personally like, but all of our leaders. That doesn't mean that you have to agree with every decision that the president makes, but it does mean that you should ask God to strengthen the president, to protect his safety and health, and to guide him with wisdom and discernment when difficult decisions are presented to him.

One thing that we can all celebrate is that we have elected our first African-American president, scarcely 40-50 years after a time when people of color weren't even allowed to sit in public places with white people. What an amazing accomplishment, and an incredible transformation for our nation! We still have a long way to go to completely eradicate racism from our country and from our hearts, but what a giant step forward we took today.

Another thing that I hope you will understand and cling to, is that things are going to be different now. For many of us who are struggling, financially and personally, that could mean better job opportunities, better education, better healthcare...new ways, new roads, new horizons for all of us. The less we fight each other and the more we unite with each other, the more likely we are to make these promises come true.

The record-breaking voter turnout sent a clear message to the world. Whether Republican, Democrat, another party, or no party at all, we are all eager for change. We are all excited to participate in this historic event. We are all ready for a new future. Some issues, you and I will never agree on. But one thing we have always agreed on and always will agree on: We love our country and we want the best for her. We can make the best happen if we find that unity of purpose that we have been able to find in times of crisis, and hold on to it this time.

Until today, McCain was your candidate; Obama was not your candidate. But today, and for the next several years, Obama is your president. Obama is our president. He achieved that office through the democratic process that you love and support. Let's show the rest of the world what they might have forgotten: The United States of America is the strongest nation on earth, a beacon of hope and a shining light of freedom to the rest of the planet, and when we stand together, there is nothing we cannot do. Please, stand with me today and for the next four years.