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Check for candidate’s
character behind all the political smoke
I read Mayor Brown’s recent
article and it got me to thinking. As we all know, there are many silver-tongued
politicians throughout this world (and locally) who have a certain genius
for their ability to blow smoke. Before we vote, citizens have the obligation
to look at the facts and not the smoke. Smoke can temporarily seem to
have substance, but just evaporates into thin air.
I rented a movie yesterday, “The Emperors Club,” and it reminded
me of two key facts to remember when selecting our candidates. First,
that slick verbal ability does not equate to the ability to make good
and selfless decisions for the benefit of others. And second, just because
a man talks about character, family values and morals, it doesn’t
mean he is a man of character and morals.
My impression is that there are two types of men in this world who choose
to step into the political arena (or any form of power be it large or
small).
Type 1: This man has an unsatisfied ego and an unmet need for approval.
On some deep-seated level, he may not approve of himself, so this approval
must be met through the approval of others. And somehow, having power
and control partially fills a painful void where love is lacking.
Type 1s have erroneously accepted the faulty assumption that power and
love are interchangeable ingredients in a fulfilling life (i.e., Read
Shakespeare’s “King Lear”). Type 1’s power and authority
are used primarily to help self while carefully crafting the façade
(believed by himself and others) that he is helping others.
Type 2: This is an emotionally healthy man of character and ability who
genuinely enjoys using his abilities to give back to the world.
Voters need to look carefully at the history of a man’s life and
the decisions he has made both publicly and privately. The pattern he
paints is often repeated. Character is a function of the degree to which
one’s conscience is pure and open to hear the values God has etched
upon the heart. And this is proportional to the degree to which a man
has true concern for his neighbor and can make beneficial decisions for
his neighbor. If, on the contrary, a man indulges himself regularly in
the vices of this world, the voice of his conscience cannot be expected
to roar; it may subside to a whisper, or vanish altogether.
A frog and a scorpion were on the river bank deciding on how to cross
the river. “Hey, let me ride over on your back,” the scorpion
suggested to the frog.
“No!, you’ll sting me and we will both drown,” replied
the frog.
“Why would I do that?” said the scorpion.
The frog shrugged and agreed to give the scorpion a ride. When they got
to the middle of the river, the scorpion gave the frog a deadly sting.
“Now why did you do that? We will both drown!” cried the frog.
And the scorpion replied, “Well I’m a scorpion.”
Indeed, a man’s character is his fate. And his character can affect
our fate as well.
If you choose to vote, please vote wisely. Look at the (council)man and
not his “smoke.”
Fred Stavely
FASTAVEL@southernco.com
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