Consider This

Thank you to Liz Byer for her recent Facebook post about the need for civility in politics with a link to an article I have read, and reread, and from which I will be quoting extensively. It was written by Quinn Mecham in the Daily Herald, a newspaper covering Utah County. Mr. Mecham is a candidate for Orem City Council.

He states unhealthy negative campaigning might use the following tactics:

• “Cite “facts” that seem plausible but are untrue.
• Take things out of context by omitting timelines, people, or places that are relevant to interpreting an event.
• Falsely infer negative motivations instead of seeking to understand true motives.
• Omit sharing available contradictory evidence or the perspective of those targeted.
• Scattershot as many attacks as possible to see what might stick.
• Frame the attack as a defense of common people against self-serving elites.
• Tie the attack to national partisan issues that are irrelevant to local decisions.
• Repeat, repeat, repeat, until it sounds like it must be true.”

I can honestly say I have never been aware of doing any of those things when writing articles. However, I do recall times when I inferred motivations. I can stop doing that. Help me out here. Contribute.

I have stated before that I am new to this and welcome advice, even criticism, that would help TSS be better. And I would really plead for others to be willing to have their opinions published in The Springdale Sun. Any article I don’t write is a delight. Open, honest, un-attacking dialogue can only help. Those of you who have written articles for TSS, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You will never know how much that helps.

But, know this, not everything appropriate to be brought to light is going to make everyone happy. I expect Mayor Bruno and Randy Aton are not my biggest fans. Their animus saddens me. I have no such feelings for them. I just think, am convinced, (know????) they are not the best choice for Springdale Council at this time. They have chosen to disengage from TSS — that’s their decision — but the door is always open.

Mr Mecham also stated that the following were things we could do:

• “When you hear or read a political attack, ask yourself the following: Is this designed to trigger fear or doubt? Does it depend on assumptions and inferences instead of verifiable facts? Is it designed to create political advantage? Does it contradict common sense?
• Ask leaders, organizations, or candidates what they believe about any topic before believing representations about them, particularly if the presenter has some advantage to be gained by misrepresentation.
• Seek out information that presents all sides of any story and tries to present that information fairly by giving everyone a chance to share their perspective.
• Use positive and constructive language to share what matters to you, rather than turning first to criticism of others.
• Ask questions out of curiosity, speaking with respect and generosity, recognizing that you probably don’t have the full story.”

Comments? Corrections? If anyone believes I have not done the third one almost to the point of groveling, you have not read TSS consistently. And, of course, you have not read, nor known, the many emails I have sent to candidates requesting their input. If it hasn’t appeared in TSS, it’s because they offered anything to print.

A newspaper is healthy for Springdale. I state that as a fact. If I am not doing it well enough to reap those benefits, I will help anyone who would start one or wants to take over this one. I mean, let’s face it, The Springdale Sun is a good name. I do think I kinda nailed that.

But please, don’t disengage just because you disagree with me. Surely you still enjoy the human interest stories? Surely you care enough about Springdale to want a local newspaper — and maybe even read it — half an hour a week?

I honestly want every citizen of Springdale to be on the subscriber list. Oh, my goodness, now that’s a place Barbara Bruno would be amazing. I bet if she got on board, everyone in Springdale would be a subscriber within a month. As someone recently told me, he could envision situations where Barbara’s “skills would fit like a key in a lock.” Helping with The Springdale Sun might be such a situation. I’d gladly step back or collaborate — whatever it takes — as long as it remains a space for all citizens’ voices.

I close quoting Mr. Mecham, “I want to live in a city with leaders who elevate others, celebrate all contributions, bring people together, and resolve disputes as peacemakers. I believe that is what the large majority of our residents want, and that together we can make this aspiration a reality.”

A local newspaper will help make that happen — if we let it. When we choose to engage instead of dismiss, to participate instead of tune out, we move a little closer to the kind of community we all want to live in.