A girl can dream…

 

And so it’s arrived; election day 2012.  I’m not sure what I’m more excited about; finally seeing who wins or being able to peruse Facebook without getting banged in the head by outrageous, insulting posts about “the other guy”.

Here’s what I propose on the eve of either retaining our current President or beginning a new administration.  Stop with the reasons the other guy/party sucks.  Give both candidates a few props.  They are both well-educated, accomplished men.  You may disagree with them on certain (or for some, ALL) issues, but they’ve both fulfilled aspects of the American Dream.

Put aside the snarky political spin about the end of life as we know it, should one or the other be elected.  Stop picking apart every sentence they utter.  Look at their lives as something to be admired and yes, respected.

Both are well-educated via elite institutions.  Both went out and did the hard work necessary to find themselves vying to be leader of the free world.  Both seem to be stellar husbands and fathers.  Their life experience is probably a little different than yours, but it doesn’t make it invalid.

I’ve heard so much bitching and complaining about what a rotten choice we have this year to lead our nation.  That’s unfair.  They took risks; they put their reputations and lives out there for all to see and endlessly dissect.  They have achieved vastly more than most of us Monday morning quarterbacks who sit on our couch clutching the remote, trashing them.

I get it.  Tomorrow at this time, there is an excellent chance that about 49 percent of us will be feeling emotions ranging from disappointment to blind, white rage about the results.  The other 51% will be tempted to taunt and do a victory dance.  Try a little tenderness; on both sides.  Let it sink in.  Don’t take it personally.  The sun will rise in the east and we’ll march on as a nation.

Look, I know that politics is a dirty, corrupt business.  Quite honestly, I’m agnostic about this election, which could be why I am so piously lecturing about remaining calm as we see the results of the most expensive campaign of all time.  But, I find myself in a place of relaxed pragmatism; one guy has to win and we all have to live with it. Period.

The past few months of this election have been painful to watch as friends, families and co-workers have chosen sides.  Politics has become a blood sport and it’s easy to get sucked in.  There’s an epidemic of bruised relationships over a couple of guys that really don’t have a personal stake in our lives.  Honestly, WE are in charge.  Let’s take back control and make an attempt to accept the results.  We’re better than the campaigns think we are.  Aren’t we?