Controversy is Essential

When my husband, Kevin attended a political forum recently, he came home frustrated. He turned his thoughts into a post on his blog, Jesus in the Real World, and then a letter to the editor. I thought you may be interested in reading what he had to say:

POLITICAL CONTROVERSY

Last night we had a forum of candidates from both parties for local offices in our community. The opportunity to present questions to the candidates was given, but I didn’t turn one in. Why? Because they said they weren’t going to read any controversial questions.

What’s the matter with controversy? If there were no controversies, there would be no politics at all. Has political correctness gotten so out of hand that we can only bring certain things to the table in an election? There is no such hands-off attitude by politicians after they are elected. Once in government they legislate with regard to every area of our lives and finances, but we are not to probe into the thinking of our candidates before we give them a license to make or enforce laws?

Such meetings are something in the nature of a job interview. Since when was an employer kept back from asking the questions of an applicant pertinent to ascertaining whether the applicant is in synch with what his company was doing? We are electing people, not platforms. Our government officials are doing our business. It is only right that we see if they are qualified to do it the way we want it done. Not only that, but I think it would be a good idea if there would be an open mike at such a meeting where the citizens could express themselves on their thoughts and preferences to the candidates rather than just letting the candidates speak. Government has become too unilateral. It’s time to get it back to being a two way street.

Let us not shy from controversy. Euphemisms destroy perception and never touch reality. The issues don’t ever stop being controversial. We don’t really know what people think if we don’t force the controversy into the open. If a candidate is in the public arena, he or she has, in a sense, a responsibility, as if they had taken an oath, to tell the whole truth about not only their skills and experience, but also about their thinking.

--copyright, Kevin Don Levellie

Do you shy away from controversy? Or do you feel it's needed in this case? What questions would you ask your political candidates?



Wanna Win a Bloggiversary Prize?

This month I'm celebrating one year of blogging bliss! I began co-blogging with my husband Kevin one year ago with "Custom Made Grace." After realizing our paths were wending in different directions--imagine that!--I gifted the original blog to him and created "Audience of ONE." Kevin changed his blog's name to "Jesus in the Real World," where he posts on a plethora of subjects, all pointing to his love for the Savior.

I have been saving books, cd's and other nifty gifts for this party, and I hope you win one! Here are the rules:

Everyone who comments on a post this month will have their name put in my prize basket to receive a gift. One comment per post, please. On random days throughout the month, I will draw several names and announce the winners.

If you are not a follower and you join this month, you will get your name put in the basket twice. This is in addition to the comments you post.

If you put a link to one of my posts during this month on your blog, I will enter your name again. Please email me at jeanettelevellie(at)gmail(dot)com to inform me of the link.

Thank you, wonderful bloggers, for all I've learned from you, for the many ways I've grown as a writer by reading your stellar prose, and for being my buddies. If not for you, my successes this last year would be lonely and hollow.

Do you enjoy parties, or do you prefer a quiet evening at home with your family?