DY: In Just a Few Words (#14)

To run or not to run. That is the question.

When I started this blog several months ago, I promised myself I wouldn’t get caught up in serious subjects such as national politics. There’s plenty of bloggers out there sitting at computer keyboards pounding away on topics people are tired of reading about. I don’t want to do that.

Recently, however, a number of good people have approached me about running for President in 2024. At first, I just dismissed them as some sort of crazy cult. But, as their numbers have increased steadily, I feel that as a loyal American I need to give some serious thought to what they are asking of me.

If I were to run for our highest office, the very last thing I would undertake would be to shine a light on misdeeds of my opponents. We need to bring our country back together again and attacking others is not the way to do that.

For example, there’s been a lot of talk about Senator Do-Goody being a potential candidate despite the fact he’s been identified by a number of anonymous sources as somewhat of a party animal. One of the grocery store tabloids did a story that Senator Do-Goody was seen at the State of the Union speech with white powder residue on his face. Far be it from me to suggest he is a cocaine addict, but many others certainly are saying that. There won’t be any talk of Senator Do-Goody and his possible addiction issues in my campaign. I wish him well in his recovery.

Likewise, I will never associate my good name with rumor mongering. Here’s an example of what I won’t do if I run. Everyone knows there are rumors out there to the effect that Senator Wishbone was caught by a security camera exiting a men’s room at a Washington, D.C. hotel having not washed his hands. If it turns out that’s a legitimate photo - and nobody has said it isn’t - he has some explaining to do. We’re fighting a pandemic and a Senator who doesn’t wash his hands needs to explain why. I have no idea if that rumor is true or not, but I do know you won’t find me talking about any of Senator Wishbone’s alleged hygiene issues.

This gets me to something I feel I should be upfront about with the American public. It’s far better for me to bring this up now than to leave it to an unscrupulous opponent to dig into my past and exploit what he finds.

In the fifth grade at my elementary school in Altadena, California I was chosen to be a Squad Leader. This is a high honor and those tapped for this prestigious position are expected to set a good example for their peers. Squad Leaders then - and perhaps even now - were identified by a red kerchief draped over their left shoulder. It was a badge of honor.

I was a model of good behavior except for one thing. I talked a lot in class. My teacher didn’t approve of that. She accused me of talking again and again one day and made me turn in my red kerchief. Mind you, there was no judicial process, no witnesses to speak for me, no time to adequately prepare a defense. Perhaps most egregious was the fact I was not allowed to retain a lawyer. I felt then and feel now that I was smarter than the average fifth grader and that what I had to say to a seatmate was far more important than anything a teacher might say. The bottom line is that I was impeached as a Squad Leader.

I still remember how divisive that was for the class. Students who had courage spoke up for me. Others not wanting to jeopardize future college recommendations sided with the teacher. A fifth grade class split right down the middle. How sad.

After a month or so, I was reinstated as a Squad Leader. My red kerchief was returned and I was allowed to wear it. But, to this day, some 70 years later, this spirit-crushing experience remains an open wound. Whatever either Senator Do-Goody or Senator Wishbone may have done - and more is coming out every day - I’m not going to throw dirt on them. They have every right to defend themselves in the court of public opinion. I hope that eventually each of them will get his red kerchief back.

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DY: In Just a Few Words is a blog that comes out when something needs to be said or every Tuesday - whichever comes first. Davis Young is a communications professional who adds 50+ years of experience and perspective to issues of the day. His emphasis in DY: In Just a Few Words will be humor (a touch of sarcasm here, a pinch of facetiousness there...). Once in a while, he will touch on something a bit more serious - but hopefully not too deep or depressing.

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