Humanity Over Politics

To the Editor:

I am an independent voter. I distrust both parties and believe that most politicians have forgotten the reason we the voters have put them in office. I believe we must all fight for our convictions, but we cannot allow politics to get in the way of our humanity.

I have known the Ewald [Kubota] family (John and his dad) for many years from their store in Seguin. They are fine folks who want to help farmers no matter what their politics. In all the years I have known their sales and service staff, I have never known them to take sides in a political discussion. Read their dealership history online. I don’t believe they knew the Democrats sign was going to be posted on a billboard on their property. The sign company puts up signs where and when they are paid to do so.

Voters in this election are all citizens and we must all remember that after the election (no matter who wins), we are still neighbors. The people who do not vote the same way you do will not disappear after Election day. We need to find a way to live together. This county has a super majority of Republicans. Why would anyone think there should not be Democrats or Independents? Does the fear of thoughts cause fear in you? Are you at risk for what you read or hear? If so, ask yourself why.

Rational people know how to think. There was a time when we all listened to three networks and read local papers. We exchanged thoughts and arrived at our own conclusions. Today too many people only listen to one political side and ignore the other. At least in a newspaper, they might read another person’s viewpoint.

To make threats against a company is an act of aggression. Americans do not leave their fellow citizens on the battlefield, just because they are wounded. On the battlefield of politics, we are all citizens and not opponents. We all want what is best for America even if we have different thoughts on the way to get there. The aggressors are the countries who oppress freedom and democracy, who direct people to listen to their propaganda and not allow freedom of speech.

Did the people who made threats against Ewald Tractor give their names? No. If not, why not? At least the person who writes articles expressing why someone should vote Democratic or Republican have their name given at the bottom of each opinion. How would you feel if someone made anonymous threats against your family?

I hope the aggressors, the people who want to see just one side of an issue and those who are afraid of open discussion will be the ones who the rest of us ignore. They are the problem, not the political label some of us carry. They are not monsters; they are humans acting out of their insecurity. We all need to realize that we are neighbors. Learn your neighbor’s story.

David E. Will Schulenburg