If I asked you to volunteer, would you want to know more?
If I said that you would be an integral part of the community, you might be interested.
If I said that your opinion would have a lasting impact on the community for decades to come, you might raise your hand.
Now, what if I said, that from day one, everything will be your fault? What if I said that from day one, everyone will accuse you of wrongdoing, call you a greedy shyster and say you are only out for yourself?
Are you still interested?
I have been in journalism for a little more than a decade now and, like most of us in the industry, I like to uncover wrong doing, get to the truth of the matter and, above all else, keep those in power honest.
So, when I see a post accusing a local politician of being out for themselves, I check it out. From time-to-time I have even responded with questions, only to learn that it is someone’s hunch, feeling or the “heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend.”
I remember the good ol’ days when rumors and accusations were confined tothe coffee shop. When men and women made claims they couldn’t support but did so with their full identity exposed. Now, with social media, anyone can be a keyboard warrior. Everyone can even be multiple keyboard warriors at the same time.
In a little more than a month from now, Lawtonians will once again be asked to choose their elected leaders. Is it too much to ask that we give them a chance to succeed before lamenting them with failure, fraud and complete nonsense?
I implore all of us to stand up against frivolous and petty attacks.
Let us all come together and offer real solutions. Let us leave the accusations to those best equipped to investigate them.
Above all else, let’s engage.