The Responsibility Of Speech, Freedom & Politicians

De$ignating a dis$rict 'hi$toric' may increa$e economic activity and property value...or it may not.

When you think of politicians, what comes to mind?

Good or bad?, greedy or generous?, self-serving or selfless?, arrogant or humble?, smart or stupid?

What they all are is this: people, just like you and me.

Politicians are human beings, just like you and me.

They are people despite how their personification is characterized in the news by the opinions and judgments of others.

One politician, for example, may know everything about the law, whether civil and/or criminal, the different court systems and jurisdictions, or focus on a particular field within the law.

This is the field of jurists, lawyers, judges, law professors, etc..

Another politician may be an expert in history and the history of all prior governments.

This is the field of historians, historical scholars, political scienctists, etc..

Yet another politician may be an expert in how the economic markets work.

This is the field of business men who know how to grow money, or economists who study the science of money's movement.

Another politician may be an expert in how best to provide for the needs of the poor in society.

This is the field sociologists, humanitarians, pastors, priests and ministers, etc..

Depending on the individual politician one would look at, they may be an expert in one or several of these vocations mentioned...or none at all, but possibly an expert in other ways not mentioned here.

Some politicians were some of these vocations previously and/or graduated into politics from these vocations.

Some politicians are accused at being experts at getting elected...and re-elected.

Other politicians are accused of being experts at saying very sarcastic or offensive things.

Some politicians, it could also be said, are experts making people very afraid or to hate other people.

Yet some others, it may seem, are good at making a bad thing not sound so bad, or good at seeing the good that may come out of a bad situation.

We may know of politicians who are experts at being polite in every instance and situation, cordial no matter what offense is thrown at them.

What all of these examples have in common is this: they are all human beings like the rest of us.

In places like the United States, a person from a not very influential family can rise to become a local, regional or national politician.

The U.S. has seen presidents who were born into poverty and broken (or less than perceivably ideal) homes.

The U.S. has also seen presidents who were born into wealthy families with seemingly great upbringings and the best schools.

But does an obscure upbringing, or by contrast an affluent upbringing, have a bearing on 'who' the person is as a politician?

Does a wealthy upbringing = a noble character and a good heart (or the opposite)?

Does a poor upbringing = an ignoble character and a bad heart (or the opposite)?

Is wealth, or by contrast poverty, a cast that forever predicts a person's character or a fixed personality?

Not every politician in the U.S., or throughout the world, is a 'bad' person...but unfortunately we see many of examples of bad words, bad deeds and bad examples coming from politicians.

Not every politician is phony, or puts themselves first...but we do see these examples at times.

Although some may not seem like it (or believe it), every politician does have feelings of some kind.

Every politician is apt to being offended, hurt and dismayed.

Just because they may not 'show it', doesn't mean they don't feel it inside.

Every politician, just like you and me, is our brother, sister and distant cousin.

It is easy to give honor where honor is obviously due, and very challenging to our pride to give honor where nothing honorable is being exemplified.

Silence is sometimes the greatest expression.

But what about places where silence is the rule, not a right?

Some places on earth exist where an individual does NOT have an option to disagree with their politicians.

Instead, they silently are expected to agree (always publicly and seldom privately) with those who are politicians, or those who manage people and resources.

The individual that lives in a place where they can openly express their dislike for the manners, words and actions of their country's politicians, should be very grateful for that freedom.

With freedoms come responsibility.

Unfortunately, many times people express their opinions of people instead of issues, like the list of vocations I mentioned above and how those vocations affect people's lives.

For those who do not live in places where they can share, whether honest or truthful sentiments regarding their politicians or political reality, they do not enjoy the responsibility in expressing themselves.

Perhaps they are able to express an opinion about policy, but not politicians...but each person in each place on earth knows whether the two are seen as the same, or how fine the line is between these two distinctions.

There is a responsible way to express one's dismay for policy and those who hold temporal power.

This is, I think, the premise of living in a 'free society': to express oneself intelligently, precisely and always according to the issue...not to the personality or politician behind the issue / policy / problem.

Yet in places where this freedom is not enjoyed (or allowed / upheld by law), there is little to no responsibility on the part of the politician nor the public they 'serve' / rule.

Be grateful, wherever you reside on earth, that your thoughts are still your own...and perhaps be a bit more grateful if you can openly express without fear of government reprisal.