Respect the voting process and other voters

Each of us who goes to the polls votes as we feel is right in our “gut.” There’s no right or wrong answer— how we feel about our candidate of choice is highly personal and depends on the shoes we are in and how we therefore see the world.

We each have a right to our opinions and thanks to our Constitution, we not only have the right to vote but also have the freedom to speak up about our individual truths.

Ideally, we speak our truth respectfully, but that’s not how many are expressing themselves currently. We are behaving worse than children on the playground, because children have a much greater capacity to put differences behind them and move on. We are angrily and increasingly divisively ( instead of conversationally) carrying on about why our choice is right and the other choice is wrong.

All I can do is speakmy truth frommy “shoes” while respecting others with different views in different “shoes” ( shoes that I could be in given different circumstances). How others convey their opinions is out ofmy hands and entirely up to them. The more I wish others would behave respectfully, the less they do so. I’mremembering to focus on the only person’s behavior I have any control over: mine.

I will respect whoever becomes our next president. I have complete faith in a big picture we don’t see. Therefore, come what may, I know we will all grow and ultimately become ever closer together throughout our shared experiences here on planet earth.

I have a clear idea of who I want to be the next president and am exercising my right to vote and speak up; however, I know that God ultimately decides, not me. Michelle Sullivan, Springfield

Admirable balance

Kudos to Fran Spielman for her account of the city’s $ 100 million plan to invest in neighborhoods. She showed admirable restraint and balance in her description of what the politicians plan to do with money from dramatically increased taxes. Ms. Spielman described the plan without once using the words “squander” or “boondoggle.” Richard A. Crane, Lincoln Park