Can't We All Just Get Along?

What seems like a life time ago, a Hamilton County Republican Chairman got the winners of one of the most contentious Republican primaries in Carmel's history in the same room. The purpose of that pow-wow was to try to unify the Party in Carmel. Feelings were bruised-egos trashed. In fact, some of the winners didn't bother to show up. Maybe the "no-shows" were afraid they'd be asked to donate blood to a fellow Republican.

That was sixteen years ago and nobody died as a result of the meeting. There was no Kumbaya singing either. Since no real opposition from other political parties exists in Hamilton County, hard feelings and elections go together in Carmel like love and marriage. Ronald Reagan said, "Never speak ill of a fellow Republican" because he never experienced a Carmel Republican caucus. If he had, the Reagan rule might never have been penned. Why can't we all just get along?

A recent article from The Christian Science Monitor might provide the most insight. The writer disagreed with another person's approach on a project they were working on together. He tried to get the other to see things his way. So the writer prayed hoping to hear God's direction more than his own opinion.

God's message, according to "The Monitor" was to stop being argumentative and combative – that there was something better to contribute. Focus on the things that this person and he agreed on. And to go forward in a positive way.

So, to those who's candidates lost in the primary, we are asking you to support your Party's nominees. We need you to remain a Republican. If a Republican decides to leave the Party and run as an Independent or Libertarian they will lose. The cost to them will be more than the dollars spent in a losing effort. Most of all, it's not going forward in a positive way. Perhaps we can't get along because we are unwilling to ease up on our argument and focus on the similarities.

Cleaning up our conversations, with others or with ourselves, isn't about just being nice. It contributes to changing our community and Party - and getting along.