At election time, the virtues of support and encouragement hold even greater significance— especially as we navigate the emotional triggers that so often dominate political discourse. In a town like Greenwich, where neighbors volunteer, serve, and support one another, it is easy to be swept up in issues that provoke strong feelings but do not contribute to the constructive dialogue needed to address our shared challenges.
As we approach Election Day next Tuesday, it is crucial to resist the allure of divisive rhetoric and to focus instead on fostering meaningful conversations that unite rather than divide. Anne Frank’s reminder that “nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world” speaks to our civic responsibility to act with purpose and positivity, particularly now. During elections, when disagreements can quickly escalate into hostility, embracing this philosophy serves as a powerful antidote to the polarizing forces that threaten to fracture our community spirit.
Election campaigns often amplify criticisms and inflame emotions. Adversaries and advocacy groups alike exploit “trigger issues” — emotionally charged topics that spark instant reactions but seldom address the deeper causes of our problems. These issues are especially potent when they invoke our children or our schools. Few subjects stir the heart more deeply, and yet, when cynically used to motivate fear or outrage, they distort the public conversation and manipulate goodwill. Parents who might otherwise work together for educational excellence are instead pulled apart by suspicion and anxiety.
We must guard against this. To use children as pawns in political games is to erode the trust that binds families to one another and to the schools they support. Greenwich has long prided itself on its tradition of civic engagement — the volunteer boards, parent associations, and town commissions that depend upon good faith. When politics intrudes into that trust, it poisons collaboration and undermines what makes our system of local self-governance work.
The tendency to embrace criticism during election time is particularly damaging in a close-knit town like ours. Political divides do not remain abstract here; they affect relationships between neighbors, colleagues, and friends. The atmosphere of suspicion and distrust fueled by constant negativity creates barriers to open communication. It discourages people from sharing diverse perspectives for fear of being met with hostility. When we allow that cycle to dominate our public discourse, we diminish our capacity for growth and alienate those who genuinely seek to serve.
We also see, too often, how groups that begin with good intentions — formed out of real concern for students, teachers, or fiscal discipline — gradually become what they once opposed. Righteousness hardens into rigidity; advocacy turns into animosity. As Eric Hoffer observed, “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.” The challenge is to remain rooted in service, not self-importance; in collaboration, not confrontation.
In contrast, focusing on support and constructive engagement can transform the election into an opportunity for collective improvement. When candidates and voters alike champion ideas rather than attack opponents, the result is a more informed and vibrant community. It becomes possible to elevate discussions beyond slogans and talking points, to address the real complexities of town government, budgeting, and education.
That spirit of cooperation — across party, neighborhood, and ideology — is the foundation of Greenwich’s strength.
Moreover, how we conduct ourselves during elections sets the tone for the years that follow. If we indulge in divisive tactics or yield to fear-driven appeals, we teach the next generation that this is how civic life operates. But if we demonstrate that disagreements can be approached with respect and that support can be extended even in the midst of debate, we foster a culture where empathy and dialogue are valued above partisanship and resentment.
As next Tuesday’s election approaches, let us remain vigilant against those who would inflame rather than inform, divide rather than unite. Let’s elevate our discourse, engage thoughtfully, and seek long-term solutions over short-term victories.
The choice between fear and civility may seem small in the heat of a campaign, but it carries lasting consequences. By choosing civility now, we strengthen both our community and the example we set for the young people who are watching us most closely.
