It's About Respect - Let's Embrace Our Differences and Work Together for a Better Future

WHEELING, WV, March 04, 2013

I am still attempting to accept events of November 7, 2012 - the day after the general election. No, it's not the election results that causes me concern. It's the intensely negative reactions of those whose views were not adopted by the majority of voters. The stock market took a large hit with the Dow Jones plummeting over 300 points. Murray Energy Corporation announced it was laying off more than 150 employees with its president and CEO, Robert E. Murray directly linking the move to the results of the presidential election. More disturbing was a report that a local McDonalds was flying the American flag upside down and at half mast - the signal for extreme duress - the day after the election. While the McDonald's owner claims it was a mistake, local veterans were not so sure. Part of what makes this country great is the freedom and privilege to disagree. It is a freedom our veterans have fought and died for. Many of us have not paid the price of that freedom as our veterans have; however their sacrifice bestows on the rest of us the responsibility to respectfully accept all election results and differences of opinion and work together to unite rather than continue to divide this great country of ours.

Knee-jerk reactions such as those exhibited on November 7, 2012 are not productive and serve only to polarize our country further. Respect for our electoral process demands no less than accepting the results and working with the elected to attempt to improve our society. Respecting the process means giving the newly elected or reelected a chance. The intense reactions to the election results remind me of eight years ago when West Virginia elected a Republican to its Supreme Court after years of a Democratically controlled court. Many thought it was the end of the West Virginia judicial system and were not hesitant to express their opinions. I had the unique opportunity of being a part of that change from the inside. I remember telling the critics just wait and see what happens; give the guy a chance before declaring an irreversible catastrophe. As his voting record developed, many of the initial critics retracted their earlier doomsday predictions. Then, four years later, another election brought change again to the West Virginia Supreme Court. Again, I believe, the preconceived notions of who the newly-elected justices would be were not entirely accurate. The November 6, 2012 election brings us yet another new justice to the West Virginia Supreme Court and two new justices to the Ohio Supreme Court. These newly elected justices, like all those receiving the majority of votes on November 6, 2012, from President down to local county commissioner, deserve a chance to act before being demonized for what some believe they may or may not do in the future. Respect for our electoral system demands no less. If the predictions come true - then work for change in the next election, but respect the process enough to give the newly elected the opportunity to govern.

I also fear the reactions of November 7, 2012 signal a less tolerant American society. We are fast approaching a holiday season where cultural differences will be highlighted. As Americans gather for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, perhaps we should all remember the principles that make this country great - respect for differing religious and political views. By respecting that with which we disagree, perhaps we can put the polarizing elections of 2012 behind us, set aside our differences and come together to work for a better future for all.

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