Article October 15, 1984 Issue

Loving those politicians!

ROSALIE E. DUNBAR

National and international politics often arouse intense emotions—especially during election years or times of tension between countries. Deeply held views can sometimes overwhelm people's usual peaceful tendencies. On the international level this sometimes is illustrated by vitriolic exchanges between leaders of nations. A similar phenomenon may occur between candidates for political office and their supporters.

Such high-pitched emotions can lead us to feel we could never support "so-and-so" or that we would give anything to get "him" out or keep "him" out of office. It doesn't take a whole lot of thought to realize that such a charged atmosphere isn't helpful to the leaders or the candidates, especially when they are seeking solutions to difficult challenges.

In an unexpected way, a woman found that she had been harboring such feelings without even realizing it. One day a complete stranger came up to her on the street and smilingly told her he knew the leader of their country would be killed during an international trip he would be taking shortly. The woman had never approved of the leader's political outlook and had frequently criticized him bitterly. Still, she had no desire—she thought—to have him killed and, saying so, tried to avoid the stranger by crossing the street. The man followed her, still speaking of the expected assassination. When she finally got away from him, she was quite shaken by his confidence that it would take place.

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