Motherly advice before you vote in your first presidential election

Dear Zach and Marissa,

I want to give you some motherly advice on the upcoming election.  Sometimes it is all so mind-boggling.  The frequent-fast-flying-facts are so contradictory it is nearly impossible to form a decision.  Do your best to study the facts and then…go with your gut.

I don't know about you, but the contention surrounding the upcoming election is giving me chest pain.  I am not referring to the contention in the media (that is just funny).  I don't mean the contention in the debates (Fight! Fight! Fight!).  I am mainly referring to the contention between friends, families and neighbors.  I hear it at the store, I see it on Facebook.  It is everywhere.  I wonder if people even realize they are being rude and abrasive. 

Are you adding to the problem?  I don't think you are. But remember, before you decide to post something on Facebook or say something to a group of people, try to know what you are talking about.  Don't just repeat something because Glenn Beck or Jon Stewart said it.  You realize they all say things out of context? It seems to me that the louder, more obnoxious and emphatic people are the more they don't know what they are talking about.  If they really knew what they were talking about they would just say what they have to say with calmness and civility.

It is okay to have an opinion.  Just be mature in how you express your opinion.  When you "like" a disparaging photo or comment posted on Facebook by someone such as "A Million Marching Mothers for/against Mitt" or "Billions of Buff Bald Buddies for/against Barrack" you are attaching yourself to that group.  A friend of a friend may see that you liked those extreme groups and then, guess what?  Yes! You might end up looking narrow-minded and uninformed.

I am not going to tell you how to vote.  We live in a democracy.  You get to choose for whom you vote.  You don't have to answer to your parents, your friends or your fellow church members.  You just have to answer to yourself.  All I ask is that you be smart and behave in a civil manner.  Not everyone believes as you. Don't assume they do.  There are many good people that are Democrats. There are many good people that are Republicans.  There are many good people that fall somewhere in between. 

The 12^th Article of Faith states; "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."  I don't think that means we must be full-fledged supporters of the president.  It does mean that we should treat the president with respect. 

On November 6^th there will be a winner and loser of the election.  Regardless of who that may be, remember that we are all winners.  We win because we have the opportunity to vote.  We have the opportunity to live in the United States of America.  We have the right to be unhappy about our government.  We have the right to express our opinions about the election.  We have the right to be obnoxious jerks about the outcome of the election.

We have the right to be obnoxious, but that doesn't mean we should be. Don't be a sore winner or loser.

I love you!

Mom

P.S. …remember…all of those promises the 2013-2017 President made?  Well, they won't all come to pass.  It takes a group effort to get things done.  The group in Washington doesn't cooperate.  Keep that in mind when you vote for other elected officials.