PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.
My friend, Bentley Gilbert, responded to my post yesterday on political middle ground with these words:
“I think the problem lies with ad hominem charges directed at one another rather than giving reasoned disagreements with one another’s ideas. However, this, has been a problem since the beginning of the Republic, the beginning of democracy or the beginning of speech. The only rhetoric I can control is my own.”
Bentley is exactly right.
In the past, Bentley represented different sides in public employee union disputes in Oregon — he for the unions and me for management. But, as I remember our duels in comments with the media, we always stayed away from personal attacks. It was enough to discuss the different viewpoints on a union contract.
So, I hope all of us can take Bentley’s advice — watch your words in political issue because “the only rhetoric you can control is your own.”
Perspective from the 19th Hole 