Your community is better than what Washington wants to use it for

Someone asked me what I am grateful/thankful for. The list is too long to go into right now...

but I am deeply....devoutly....exceedingly grateful that after tomorrow election season is over for at least a few months. (Before they start ramping up for 2016.)

Whatever you think of your candidate, the other candidate, the people in office and not running.....don't buy into the lies that all parties put out, don't buy into the hatred that all parties attempt to influence you with...and don't buy into the divide.

Because in most cases, throughout American, average people, be they Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent or Green party live in the same communities and interact just fine. You all support your local high school kids. You all want good educations, safe neighborhoods, good jobs, fun recreation, loving families and enjoyable community events. You sit on the same PTAs, you all pitch in to make your cities the better, you turn out at the same parades, you root for the same teams, often you sit next to each other in Church, you shop at the same stores, you welcome troops home together.

The divide, for the most part, is in Washington. And it is in their interests, from both parties, to keep stirring the pot. Because that manufactures outrage at perceived differences with our neighbors, instead of all of us united in outrage at our politicians' wretched performances.

So go vote. Do your civic duty.

And then remember to love your neighbor (no matter their political affiliation) as yourself, and mend some fences. Your community is better than what Washington wants to use it for; it is your home and those people are part of your extended family. Treat them as such.

-Beth Haynes Butler