Personal Politics (9/20/03)
by Dean Hartwell
Recently, I wrote a letter to my local newspaper. I expressed my opinion that there were several good reasons to oppose the recall of California Governor Gray Davis.
I expected to get some negative responses. It seems everyone has an opinion about the recall. But I did not expect personal attacks like being called a “Socialist” or a user of “talking points” (the implication being I do not think for myself).
It made me wonder: why do we take politics so personally?
Our political viewpoints give us an identity. By merely joining a political party, for example, we become a part of a team of perhaps millions of other people.
The more we identify with our views, the less inclined we are to listen to the opinions of others. Our ability to shut out other opinions increases especially when the opposing viewpoint comes right at us, whether in person or in writing.
I remember campaigning for Michael Dukakis in his 1988 election bid against George H. W. Bush. Because I spent so much time making phone calls on the Dukakis campaign, I felt an identity, even a loyalty, to it.
Early in the second debate between Dukakis and Bush, the moderator asked Dukakis if he would favor the death penalty if someone raped and murdered his wife, Kitty. He gave a halting response which never really addressed the underlying question of how he would feel. The rest of the evening did not go much better.
The following day in one of my college classes, someone asked me which candidate I thought won. I answered, “Dukakis.”
Why had I betrayed my true opinion?
Because I took it all personally. I could not admit anything positive about Bush, a candidate I could not stand for his smugness, his ideas on issues and his involvement in the Iran-Contra Scandal, among other things. I thought that admitting Bush won the debate would be tantamount to surrendering a war about which I felt passionate.
I try to remember this lesson when I read of people disagreeing with my ideas. I choose not to fight wars with my opponents. Instead, I treat each disagreement as an opportunity to improve the clarity with which I express my beliefs.