Political Actions
Why - or Who Am I
Why even post a page of political issues - because for the most part, it is my right. But unfortunately, it sometimes injures relationships that I treasure. I recently received the following from a friend:
"Jim, many of my friends have ask me to take you off my E-mail list, but I kept thinking you would understand it is better to trust something that can't hurt you than to spend all your time trying to prove someone wrong. I hope you find something up North that will make you want to stay as you sure don't seem to think too much of the people down South. I pray that God will draw you to Him so you will know the real God."
I hate to lose him as a friend, but I also hate that he refuses to participate in 2-way discussions and seems a bit close minded. But here are my general positions on chain emails, scare emails, and political discussions.
Why put this page on the web? See item 5 below. Once someone publishes their positions, we can hold them to those positions, or explain to them when they are not continuing to be true to what they have written.
If you find me to not be following the positions I state below, please let me know as I need to reconsider!
1. I do not forward chain emails. I have found that only 5 of the thousands I received have been true. They clog up the Internet and grossly mislead too many people. I check out each such e-mail for validity. If you send me one and it is wrong, I will reply with a link with information about the e-mail and I do so with "Reply All" in order to stop the chain from continuing if at all possible and to let others know of the various sites that should be used to guarantee validity. I think that if we wish others to respect our positions, we have to not obviously try to mislead them with erroneous emails. I am amazed when people get upset when I reply with truth. One of my most respected friend made the following comment concerning false emails: "If I sent something containing a hoax I want to know about it. You can't pick a fight by telling me about them. ;-) "
2. I am lucky enough to live in South Carolina most of the year, but spend summers in Upstate NY in a small cottage there and I have a 'fantasy vacation' helping on a farm in North Dakota every year. These connections allow me to keep my wonderful friends in different parts of the country, and to learn from their varied opinions. I have wonderful friends from all political and religious backgrounds. About half of my life has been lived in the north and half in the southern US. I am incredibly lucky to have close family and social friends in Norway and the Netherlands and have shared vacations and physical work with them.
3. I am involved in politics - I believe it is an American responsibility to do so and am very dismayed that such a small percentage of Americans even vote. The world depends on us, or has until this point, and we need to shoulder that responsibility by electing world-class leaders. If you don't vote, don't complain about anything.
4. Believe it or not - I am religious. But, I do not believe any religion has it all figured out, nor do I. I respect all religions and do not base relationships on religions and ask you to accept me as I am. Your political position or sexual preference better not have any effect on my respect for you as a person.
5. I love to read books and listen to radio broadcasts from around the world. I read all the books by political candidates as I think it is great that through their documentation, we can hope to understand their positions and if elected, hold them to those positions. Those that do not document their positions in such books should not be trusted. Those who do not study candidates should not expect us to respect their one-sided political standing.
At this point in the campaign, I fully support John Edwards.
See the link on the left "Jim Winsness meets John Edwards"
Jim