New York Presidential Primary

                        For the first time in many years, the New York State Presidential Primary has become a critical benchmark in the American electoral process. Both the Democrat and the Republican Parties are engaged in spirited contests here and which way New York votes, matters. When these contests get heated, the rhetoric gets just as animated. Media-borne charges, and counter charges, fly back and forth like bullets in an infantry battle. What is one to believe?

                   Firstly, I think we have to look at the cast of supporters. Who is supporting whom? Based on past experience, we usually can get a sense of who is involved for the right motives and who is just along for the ride. Like, spots on a leopard, people don’t change from year to year. If you believe in someone, you tend to lay more credence to their beliefs and endorsements than others.

                    One thing I do know is that most of the players in this American drama, believe in what they are doing. People react to differing stimuli because of a dozen or so prisms that make up who and what they are. Age, gender, race, religion, orientation, education, geography and economic circumstance are but some of the many filters through which people see the same set of facts and draw differing conclusions. How can this be, you ask? Facts are after all facts. But, are they? These many filters color the facts of any given situation and draw differing interpretations to the same set of actions.

                     I am mindful of an ancient parable that described  six, sight-challenged individuals holding on to different parts of an elephant and describing to others what “an elephant” was made of. There were six interpretations, based on what part of the animal an individual held onto. Politics is no different. We all hold onto differing parts of the same animal and wonder why others describe the beast separately.

                      We need to trust what we feel in these matters, but respect the interpretation of others as well. The impressions and senses of others are colored by differing filters, which we have to respect. When someone sees “another elephant” than you do, it doesn’t make them any less intelligent or motive challenged, it just means that they see things differently than you do. Respect their right to see things that way, even if you think they are way off the mark in their interpretation.

                      I also much respect all of the people who have taken the time and energy to get involved in the process. It is these civic-minded citizens that deserve our accolade for caring what is going to happen in any election. They are among the few that decided to put themselves on the line for what they believe in. God Bless them every one.

                     And when the process is finished, and the results are in, we shall see what “vox populi” has decided. You may or may not like the results. But, it is our American process and the way we decide things in this great big Republic of ours. My ancestors used to say “vote early and often,” back in the days when you could do such things. Now, I suggest that you vote your conscience and respect the right of others to do the same. And, we will live with the results, as the Republic has always done, for these last two hundred and forty years.

                                             -30-

                                  Joseph Xavier Martin