With early voting in Midland underway, I’m reminded of my grandparents, and a world not so very long ago when U.S. politics weren’t nearly so divisive.
My maternal grandfather, a farmer and lifelong Democrat, was overjoyed when President Jimmy Carter got elected our 39th commander-in-chief. “I never thought I’d see the day we would have a peanut farmer for president,” he said, as my 8-year-old ears recall from our nation’s bicentennial year.
Not so happy was his lifelong loving wife, my grandmother the staunch Republican. My grandma, who passed weeks shy of her 100th birthday, liked to say, “there’s nothing better than a Baptist Republican.” She would always chuckle, so maybe it was mostly in jest?
Even though their politics were different and grandpa rarely went to church with her, theirs was a peaceful, nurturing and happy marriage. He enjoyed farming; she liked to cook and sew. They both found pleasure in pets, farm-fresh meals, ice cream and of course their two granddaughters.
Unlike most U.S. journalists today who won’t report unbiased news, I have always set aside personal politics, covering news with fairness and integrity. Though retired early over a decade ago, I was sometimes called a “bleeding heart liberal,” (among other choice labels,) referencing certain news stories. Such comments always made me laugh.
Little did they know ...
Long before I could vote, yours truly became a Republican at age 12. The plight of U.S. hostages held 444 days by Iranian terrorists was reported on TV news every night. The tragic ordeal ended within minutes of President Ronald Reagan’s inauguration. That’s when I knew my party was the GOP. I say this to be honest with our readers, (also, this is a column, not a news report.)
Both major parties have changed over the decades, and maybe not for the better. Many Democrats have become Republicans to get elected — that seems apparent in local and statewide elections. The opposite is true elsewhere, as party-switching goes both ways to benefit candidates or keep them in office.
At the end of every day, and every election, all U.S. citizens have more in common than not. Just like my grandparents, who lived happily ever after.
Shanna (Sissom) Iverson is former longtime city editor of the Midland Reporter-Telegram, and served as managing editor of its sister Hearst Newspaper, the Plainview (Texas) Herald.