Choose Integrity - walk the talk

Words have integrity, too, and we should use them carefully.

I know it’s hard. When you step up to serve for any position, you expect disagreement — but not cruelty. I’ve been called a Nazi, a racist, MAGA, a bigot, a fascist, a terrorist, and worse, and I’ve been attacked in a similar vein, in person, too.

That’s what can happen to ordinary people who’ve worked hard, raised families, and now want to give back. We find ourselves up against a machine that attacks mercilessly — with armies on social media, networks on the ground that try to shame and silence anyone who raises a hand. And when your kids are still in school, it’s even more nerve-racking.

And that’s why so many decent and creative people stay away from politics. But then — how will we find leaders who can move us beyond the distractions, focus on what unites us: our children, our shared future, and find better solutions. With better solutions, we build better schools — and a better country, not through nasty or dirty politics, but through integrity, truth, and service.

For more on my views on this topic, see Fighting Smears.