In the spirit of the thing

Once, long ago, when managing a Junior Babe Ruth team (13-15 years old), I drafted a young man of limited talent and one arm. There were a couple of competing managers who gave me that “you’re a good, brave man, but boy are you stupid!” look. For the next two years, I struggled to get him the playing time the league demanded, and yes there were times that he was unable to make plays because of his handicap, but only twice in two years (32 games) was his handicap instrumental in losses.

Before the season after his fifteenth birthday, he contacted me about the upcoming season in the following manner:

“Coach, I know we’re not as good a team when I’m in the game, and if I’m on the roster, I know I have to get in the game. If I’m the bat boy, do you have to play me?’

I wish with all my heart I had said, “Nonsense, you’re a member of this team, and you’ll play like every other member.” I wish I’d said that, but I didn’t. Instead, I complimented his character, and indicated that we could have him work with the team in a variety of other ways. He spent that summer with the team as an assistant coach and equipment manager building morale with his positive attitude.

In our nation, there are those of superior intellect, extraordinary talent and striking perseverance. That being said, what we’re really seeking in our leadership are those qualities stirred with a strong sense of ethics, a dash of humor, empathy for the weak among us, courage to meet adversaries and the tact to develop friendships...and the wisdom to know the difference.

It is the most bizarre nature of American politics that a citizen is either a conservative or a liberal, and that “... neither the twain shall meet.” In fact, most of my friends are a mixture of conservative and liberal philosophies. Nobody I know is sending back their Social Security check, but they like to bash the loony socialists. And, nobody I know likes to pay taxes, but few condemn free public education.

Does it not occur to anyone that political labels rarely reveal the worth and ability of the individual? In 1848, a young man was elected to the House of Representatives only to be unceremoniously booted out by the voters two years later for being unpatriotic — Abraham Lincoln.

Sought by human rights organizations to mediate confrontational opponents, winner of a Nobel Peace prize, and thought by many to be the best ex-President in our history, Jimmy Carter enjoys the highest regard around the world for his integrity and at home for his concern for the poor.

It seems to be popular these days to treat those with whom we have political differences in an increasingly vitriolic and bitter manner which deems our opponents as enemies, and deprives our country the use of their talents in so many other areas on which we agree. These days we need the best among us serving where their talents are needed regardless of political labels. Being mean-spirited and vengeful will be most expensive in the future.