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A MEMO FROM THE MAYOR Strive to Stay Civil and Respectful
A MEMO FROM THE MAYOR Strive to Stay Civil and Respectful
By Bridge Littleton
As we stand on the other side of the 2024 elections, it feels timely to think about what’s next for our own community.
By their very nature, elections are charged with passion, conviction, and at times, contention. Each vote cast reflects a person’s hopes, values, and vision for the future. And while this democratic process is essential, it can also leave behind an after taste of division. Now that the election is over, whether your chosen candidate won or lost, the most important thing we can do is to come together with civility and mutual respect.
Civility doesn’t mean we’ll always agree on every issue—far from it. But it does mean we approach our differences with an open mind and a willingness to listen.
That notion can so easily get lost in the hyped up, information overloaded world we now live in. But let’s remember that the person on the other side of the debate is not an opponent to be vanquished, but a neighbor with their own set of experiences. With our community’s sense of respect, we foster an environment where ideas can succeed, solutions can be found, and we all prosper.
Many of us are still processing the outcome of the election. Emotions continue to run high, and that’s natural. Passionate debate is a cornerstone of our political process, but it can also leave scars, and we have a choice in how we move forward.
We can either choose to deepen the divides, or we can choose to bring them together. We all know of our community’s capacity for kindness, compromise, and connection. I’ve seen it time and again when faced with challenges—from economic setbacks to community losses. Each time, we’ve chosen to come together, and always come out the better for it.
Our community is strong not because we all think the same way, but because we support one another, especially during challenging times. Civility fosters understanding and reminds us that, while we may have disagreed at the ballot box, we all share common goals: a town where everyone feels welcome, and we care about, and for, our neighbors. Those moments are what define us, not partisan yard signs or bumper stickers.
It’s natural to feel either joy or disappointment after an election, depending on the outcome. But now that the results are in and the election is over, let’s shift our focus from what divides us to what unites us.
