I before e. ALWAYS.

I got an email from my cousin Diane today. She said

          I especially enjoy your election observations. You should write a blog on politics!

And I wrote back: 

I  keep thinking JUST SHUT THE  F@*# UP, LOUISE.  But I can’t. I had taken to Facebook after finding that the UnionTribune will only post a Letter to the Edior from me once a month. And in the current election cycle that's not nearly enough. 

Remembering Michelle Obamas's advise: "When they go low, we go high” I am doing my best not to make rude ad hominem attacks, but trying to “use my words” as you say to kids… Don’t throw a tantrum, describe what is happening.  But "restraint of pen and tongue" is not easy. 

I heard another piece of advise at meeting of a fellowship that encourages one to deal with one’s own shit and only meddle if it “has your name on it.” It’s “‘ i before e’… intellect before emotion” It was not meant as advise in the political  realm, but  the personal and practical. But it is surely applicable in todays election  environment where emotion has taken over to the exclusion of intellect  or even rationality and I am terrified for the country…. Did you see those people  booing the mother of a soldier at a Pence rally?  BOOING?! Really?  

This is the political climate we are in. And it has been  carefully and cynically stoked. If Trump goes around shouting that the election is rigged, why won't there be violence? That’s the end result of spewing hate, fear, and intolerance at the expense of reason.  It's not like a spigot that you can just turn off. 

I don’t see how this all does not do damage to our political system. Not if, God forbid, Donald Trump  should become president, but NOW - what about the belief in the impartiality of our judicial system, and the fairness of our elections, concepts upon which our system is built? 

I remember saying something disparaging once about "the government”  when I was young and my Aunt Mildred pulled herself up to her full Head of the Republican Women of Montana stature and said:  “Never say “the  government”  Say “US. It’s always us." A different breed of Republican…  

Well, Diane. Here we go.