Information comes in all forms, shapes and sizes.
I try my very best to make sure what I publish is accurate, not fabricated and straight from the mouth of those pertinent to the story. I’m seeing a lot of things shared on social media, especially with regards to local elections just down right disturbing.
Based on information I’ve seen Andy Griffith has been arrested for murder, while campaigning for council. Gieco the gecko is running for mayor in six different towns. I’ve seen videos of cats campaigning in the streets for their favorite candidate.
There are anonymous posts after anonymous posts alleging this candidate cooked cabbage with somebody's raccoon the other night. There are posts under the names of twiddle dee and twiddle dumb accusing candidates of all sorts of wrong doings.
Criminals are even taking sides. I saw a video of an opossum in the garbage can last night saying his candidate was best suited for cleaning up the streets.
All this social media and backroom polyticking is downright woeful. I’ve never seen it this bad and I don’t know why.
What happened to direct conversations and debate? What has happened to make sure the information we are sharing is accurate or coming from “lion’s mouth.” Almost all of the wrong information I have seen is hidden behind fake and anonymous profiles.
It’s disheartening.
We may not all agree with everything they say and that is OK. If we did agree with every word, action or proposal from a potential candidate we need to check ourselves. We don’t all have twins out there.
How many of us can say we agree with everything our significant other says or does? Yes we should greatly align on most things. If we are in perfect agreement, one of us is misspeaking.
I have never fully agreed with any political candidate I spoke with. I have agreed with some more than others.
Do you agree with everything done and said by everyone in your church or friend group?
One thing is for sure. I’m more apt to support a candidate who can explain how they got to a position through the information they have gained over months and years.
I can see where they are coming from.
I’d bet the same is true with our church and friends.
Accurate and correct information is right there in front of us. We just have to work a little instead of hiding behind a keyboard and screen.
Look to the newspapers who speak with the candidates directly.
My challenge to the voting public is look past the venomous remarks spoken by those hidden by a veil online. Speak with the principals themselves.
Everywhere I look I see babies being kissed and grandmas getting hugs by those same people campaigning for office. I see political candidates for municipal, county and state elections greeting the public.
These events and door-to-door knocking are the perfect time to see what is for real and what is not.
By following the challenge, voters will make a better informed choice in a civil matter that won’t leave us all worked up.
The best part of it is, we will select candidates who have the same aspirations as us — to see our communities grow and prosper.
Cliff Williams is the news editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.’s Elmore County newspapers. He can be reached at cliff.williams@thewetumpkaherald.com.
