Put Your Nose Back on Your Face

Yesterday I celebrated Independence Day with friends at a BBQ.  We scarfed down hot dogs, chicken, and ribs (burp), and enjoyed a hot summer day while the kids splashed around in the pool and we grownups dipped in the hot tub.  We also chatted about the state of the Union, and agreed that there are a lot of faces without noses in Washington, D. C.

When I was a kid I threatened more than once to run away from home because I didn’t like the restrictions my parents put on me.  “Anything must be better than this,” I thought.

In response to my threats my mother always said, “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”

“That’s ridiculous,” I thought. Fortunately, I never actually ran away, or experienced losing the food and shelter that my parents provided. I didn’t make my own situation worse to make a point.  My nose stayed attached to my face.

But what about all those political faces in Washington, D.C.?  Maybe it started with the election of Barack Obama and the stated mission of Mitch McConnell who said, “Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny president Obama a second term.”

I assume that meant that if the economy suffered, if more people lost their jobs, and if education continued to go down the drain, then the party out of power would benefit. The thinking, then and now, seems to be that if I cut off your nose you will vote for my face.

My purpose here is not to take sides.  Like a caring parent, I don’t care who started the fight, I only want my children to get along with each other.  I want them to realize that while they will have separate points of view and different interests and abilities, they are part of a single family and can accomplish more together than separately.

If Senator McConnell’s wish had come true, then perhaps Mitt Romney would be president today.  And then Harry Reid, in charge of the Democrats in the United States Senate, might work to undermine President Romney’s policies and announce, “Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Romney a second term.”

Isn’t this more than a little childish?  Doesn’t a “scorched earth” policy invite little more than retaliation?  Isn’t it just like my eight-year-old threat to run away, to cut off my nose to spite my face?

So while public servants in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere are returning from their own celebrations of Independence Day, I suggest that they consider earning their salaries by serving the public instead of sabotaging anyone who disagrees with them.  How about volunteering one day a week at a school or hospital to set a good example?  How about having a live two-hour podcast with their constituents once a week to listen to and publically respond to the people’s concerns?  How about helping us out, rather than snipping noses?

Many voters in America have talked about running away to another country (New Zealand, anyone?) if one candidate or the other becomes president.  I say let’s stay right here and continue, as many of us do, to help each other out.

This is why my belated Independence Day message to all elected officials is this:

Your job is to help us.  So both this year and next compromise with the other party and actually accomplish something affirmative.  Put your nose back on your face, and we will be happy to vote for you again.

Alan