Marcia Lewis: We treat politics like we are still in middle school, bullying

To The Daily Sun,

Where is our dignity and respect?

I would love for our political discourse to stop being like that of middle school children. I'm so tired of the many, many "funny" degrading jokes and sarcastic comments toward those wishing to represent our country. I hear people focusing on the opponent and making light, and fun of that person instead of focusing on the issues and the future of our country. I don't think stating the negative of the opponent is a bad idea, but i think that stating those things in a straightforward way is much more respectable and meaningful.

If we could take a step back from all that is happening in politics, and see from the outside in, we look foolish, and just like middle school children bullying others. It is so embarrassing that we are not mature enough to focus on issues and what we want our country to be.

We have degraded the political process. We have degraded the offices of president and senator.

I look at all the troubled people out there, especially our youth, and I think to myself, what are we teaching them and what kind of examples are we being?

We have to do better. We need strong leaders who have morals and dignity, not leaders who pick on and make fun of each other. We need great leadership, and the process of choosing those leaders, to be examples to those watching and learning. I can just feel the lessons lost, and the damage that has, and is still being done to our youth who look to us for knowledge and security.

We need journalists that aren't sarcastic, and know the seriousness of the opportunity it is to vote, and cover those running for office in a respectful and truthful way.

We each need to represent our ideas and thoughts in a respectful way. Our discussion should not be to shoot each other down, or the opponent down, but use those opportunities to discuss important issues and our wishes toward our country. We can agree to disagree in a respectful manner.

Again if we can take a step back, we should be embarrassed by what we see, and what we are representing to the world.

We must stop. We must take things much more seriously. Voting for our country's leadership is a gift, and we need to respect it.

Marcia Lewis

Sanbornton