EDITORIAL: Time to move ahead without acrimony
The election's over, but there's work to be done
Regardless of whether your musical tastes ran to “Yes We Can” or “Raising McCain” this election, there’s one song you weren’t likely to hear on the 2008 campaign trail: “Kum Ba Yah.”
Things got rough and tumble in a few places this year, not only in the White House race but also in some state contests. Although it’s not unusual for elections to feature more mud than a monster truck rally, memories can be short when the wounds are fresh. Still, the question remains:
It’s Nov. 5. Now what?
No doubt, some folks will come away from this election ecstatic and others will feel disappointed. In the end, though, we all have to coexist. That goes not just for the public, but the politicians.
It would be naïve and unrealistic to say it’s time for putting aside differences. Our system of government — multiple parties, checks and balances — has differences as a key ingredient.
Besides, no one expects that politicians will suddenly suppress their skepticism, their competitiveness and their ambition with a simple flip of a calendar page. These are human qualities, and despite the near-divine status some folks ascribe to them, elected officials remain just as human as the rest of us. Humans disagree. But it’s through the process of disagreement and debate that we reach some of our better-informed conclusions.
Of course, every debate has room for civility, and few things define this country like our regard for fair play. The opposing sides give up nothing if they treat one another with basic courtesy and respect — and may the better ideas win.
Many elections turn negative at some point. This year was no different. Emotions ran high on both sides in many hotly contested races. When the races end, however, it’s time to move forward. And even though we don’t have to do it in perfect harmony, we still have the choice to limit the acrimony.
