Voting, veterans & virtue

“In essentials, unity, in non-essentials, liberty, and in all things, charity.”

Puritan Richard Baxter promoted this maxim in his day, and it still has relevance for us as citizens today.

In order to have a functioning government, practicing civility is a necessity, an essential. We are now in the season of campaigning and voting for some of our local, state, and national leaders.

So when and where do we practice civility? In all our interactions with other citizens, especially those of a different political persuasion, we treat people with respect. We don’t have to agree, but can agree to disagree. Disagreeing doesn’t mean we are entitled to be rude or insulting, however. To those campaigning who come to our doors, a simple “Thank you, but I don’t have time now” and closing (not slamming) the door is a way to end the encounter civilly. Maybe the campaign material given will end up in the trash, but the other person wasn’t “trashed”!

Another time and place to practice civility is at the polling place. Having recruited poll workers for three different elections in Hamilton County, I know what a VERY long day is required for those who accept a position at the polls. If a question, mistake, or challenging situation should come up, that issue would be directed to a person who could help resolve it. We may feel frustrated at times if we believe we are not getting our due in some way. But we can calm down, practice self-control and still treat poll workers with civility and that could help resolve the issue without lingering animosity. We are all human, less than perfect, and we may do well to give ourselves and others some grace.

Undoubtedly, most citizens in our county are being civil with each other as we engage in the election process.

Important to note also, is that it is not essential that we persuade others to vote for our choices. We have the liberty to vote for the candidates we think would best reflect our values and perform the duties of their elected office with competency, dedication, and integrity, embodying civility in what they say and do.

Many of us have had family members or friends who served in the military, or who are veterans themselves. My father was in the Army in WWII, trained at Camp Atterbury here in Indiana, fought and was captured and spent months in a German POW camp before being liberated. Consequently, I have some knowledge of what suffering veterans and their families have endured to preserve our freedoms, including the freedom to vote. All the veterans I know fought in Viet Nam. Most of them were not treated with civility and respect when they returned stateside. But now we have the opportunity to thank them, to attend ceremonies that honor them, to donate to reliable veterans organizations that support veterans, and hopefully, provide resources that can provide housing, mental and emotional support and end the tragedy of veteran suicide.

Who among us does not want to be understood? to belong? to be loved? To me, “charity” IS love, and is the foundation of “civility.” I don’t think of love necessarily as an emotion. I think sometimes it is a decision to care about another person. To treat that one as we want to be treated with dignity and respect.

Charity is a virtue to permeate all our words and actions. If it does, the practice of civility can become commonplace. We can all do our part to make it so.

Nancy Kelly Smith is a retired English professor and published author. She is also an Ambassador for the national civility organization Civic Renaissance. Learn more at civic-renaissance.com.