Presidential campaigns have been pretty unpleasant lately.
And it’s only going to get worse.
All the name-calling and mud slinging of the Republican and Democratic primaries could soon be winding down.
And all the name-calling and mud slinging of the general election season is about to begin.
This ugly primary season has showed us how divided we are, how stupid – if not downright evil – the other candidates are.
We’re angry, so the political pundits gleefully keep telling us.
So, maybe now is a good time to ponder Blanche Dubois’ famous line from “A Streetcar Named Desire,” about how she had always depended on the kindness of strangers.
People we don’t know aren’t just election enemies. They are people we rely on every day of our lives.
More Top Picks Dog Food
We all depend on the kindness of strangers.
Let me explain:
While driving, we depend on the kindness of the stranger on the cross street, that we can proceed safely on the green light because he will stop on the red and not smash into us and kill or maim us.
We depend upon the kindness of the stranger who sells us a TV set that it will run.
We depend on the stranger walking next to us on the street that he will not punch us – or pull a gun and shoot us.
We depend upon the stranger who serves us our bacon and eggs that he/she didn’t poison it.
And on and on. You get my drift.
There are millions of strangers who haven’t hurt us.
At least not yet.
Maybe we should have a more upbeat attitude toward our friend the stranger.
And perhaps that attitude could carry over to the upcoming general election.
Because, remember, we depend upon the strangers – no matter for whom they vote – but who nevertheless abide by the election results.
In some countries, people who don’t like an election’s outcome revolt and start shooting their opposition.
Now, that’s really unpleasant.
Paul Sassone is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.