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Blog: Dirty Politics - Not Here in Monrovia

Challenge his/her ideas or track record - do not attack the person!

My wife and I moved to California nearly 40 years ago and my first job here was with a company that sadly no longer exists.  It was an engineering design/build firm that constructed very large projects.  It was founded by Carl Franklin Braun in the 1930's.  Mr. Braun wrote many books that he gave to his staff and his customers - I have many of them still.  The one I read the most and made a part of my personality is titled "Fair Thought and Speech".

The core of this short book involves how to challenge another engineer's design or methods of design - basically how to work with your fellow workers.  But the things he wrote until his death in 1954 apply every bit as much to politics where one person "runs against" another for some seat or position.  

Politics can be brutal and only the brave or the very foolish would ever consider putting themselves in the fishbowl for everyone to take a shot at.  But this is our system and it has worked these many years - it is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.  No one is appointed.  Everyone much earn their seat.  And all contenders must tell the public why he/she should be selected and not the other.  Let's challenge the opponent certainly, but let's be graceful and fair in how we do it.

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Personal attacks do not belong in the equation.  They demean both the recipient of the attacks as well as the person directing the attacks.  Sure, an argument may be "won" with bullying words and loud speech but the person winning this way misses the point and can be really quite lax in the process.  Better to evaluate all opponents on what they may bring to the table rather than speculate on what one takes from the table.  The message I believe is do your homework to investigate the candidate.  If there are issues that can be challenged, do so with respect for the other person as well as yourself. 

I’ll conclude this sharing of ideas with a direct quote from Mr. Braun’s book. 

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“We positively must not permit differences of opinions, irritations, injustices, affronts – any of them – to drive us into ill manners.  Stick to facts.  Lay off emotions.  Stick to courtesy.  Show deference where deference is due – to age, position, sex, or whatever else is due.  If we fail in these things, we only invite others to the same sort of conduct.  In the end, we will fail in our purpose, lose influence, make enemies, and to boot, be thoroughly ashamed of ourselves.  A fair speaking tongue will increase kind greetings (Ecclesiasticus 6. 5).”  And one more for thought and discussion - Menander (342-292 BC), “The character of a man is known from his conversations.” 

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