NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 139
I am going back more than a
couple of years, imagining my
schoolyard at recess and how I
looked forward to playing there
from the moment I got up. When the
recess bell finally sounded, I couldn’t
wait to get outside. Generally, things
were positive, yet since we were
young, not everything went well.
I remember times that someone
called a foul on me when I knew
they were wrong, which led to a
“disagreement” that at times escalated
into a rather loud and unruly shouting
match that involved name-calling and
a variety of accusations. At that point,
a teacher usually stepped in with the
admonition, “Let’s play nice!”
Now, things seem similar among
those in our political playgrounds. We
hear a lot of arguing followed by sharp
disagreements in the form of shouting,
name-calling and false charges. Soon the
argument is all that matters, and no one
wants to resolve anything. That’s why I
want to shout, “Play nice.”
Both sides have lost their sense of
reason. I was hoping that when one party
occupied the House and the other the
Senate, they would realize the need for
negotiation. Instead, we continually see
disagreement and downright opposition
on both sides. It is either you are for or
against something with no middle ground
being accepted. My thinking is that the
politicians who were elected to serve the
people are only serving themselves and
their particular agendas.
No matter how detrimental that may be
for the public, we know the story of the boy
who cried wolf. Yet somehow, people seem
to think if you say something often enough,
it will be accepted as the truth, while in
fact the opposite is happening and no one
listens anymore. We must learn to talk to
each other nicely. Yelling back and forth
is not negotiation – and it accomplishes
nothing. People who disagree can still
respect each other, agree to disagree and
then try to move forward.
We have the greatest country
in the world. Instead of all the
vitriol, we should be sharing pride
in our accomplishments. We can
have disagreements and still move
forward. The disagreements should
not be answered with violence and
threats. On September 11th, the Wall
Street Journal had an ad reminding
us that 18 years ago we were not a
nation of red states and blue states.
We were the United States.
For days following the horrendous
attack on the World Trade Center in
2001, we could debate and not hate.
We felt American pride and American
togetherness. Unfortunately, that did
not last, and we went back to the namecalling
and hateful rhetoric that is so
unproductive.
That’s why I say, “Let’s play nice!” 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dick Crippen, a staple
in Tampa Bay broadcasting for more than
40 years, is a senior adviser for the Tampa Bay
Rays, and works extensively with the military.
He is active in the world of charity fundraising
and sits on numerous boards for nonprofit
organizations.
COMMAERNTTARY
PLAY NICE
By Dick Crippen
Dick Crippen