It's 5:30pm on a Thursday evening at the softball field in Norridgewock. As the regular "jocks" and "rookies" stroll in and stretch out their limbs for the upcoming softball contest, onlookers will soon notice that the participants vary in age (18-60+), shape, size, gender, athleticism, and some with physical handicaps and some with not. Another thing that is noticed, especially if you know any of them is that many are on both sides of the political spectrum. We have some, like myself, very heavily involved in local and state partisan politics that lean a little right. We have some individuals that are firmly against President Bush and the Iraq War and some that want just want the government out of their lives. Regardless of any of their political affiliations and viewpoints regarding public policy, they all share at least two things in common this day of the week, they love the competition that softball brings and of course they love the Boston Red Sox.
On the community level, softball and sports in general, is a way to bring people of all walks of life together. It can be a way to get some much needed exercise, converse with neighbors, and feel like a team member without having to see another political news commentator, Anti-Bush commercial, answer tough questions about political insights in the world or hear how the economy is doing in Maine. The game of politics gets checked in at the gate, which gets replaced by a softball game that can get pretty competitive and at the same rate, can be as fun to watch as it is to play. Can you think of the last time when the Maine Legislature was fun to watch? I'm still thinking about that one. Nope, I can't recall. This reminds me of a famous quote that stated something along the lines as, "There are two things in this world that people should never see being made. One is sausage and the other is laws". Makes you wonder if they lived in Augusta.
So maybe our leaders in Augusta and the Maine Legislature and even locally elected officials can take a message from the great citizens in my town of Norridgewock, have fun and get your political frustrations out and play a sport. A few members on each side of the aisle getting together for a pick-up game of basketball or softball or even bowling. The lessons to be learned about each other on a non-political scale and working together as a team in a different manner could be priceless. Who knows, it may actually help them work together to accomplish the goals that need to be done in the Legislature, such as cutting spending and supporting the people of Maine.
As I close, I want to urge all communities to set up their own adult co-ed sporting event such as softball, volleyball or basketball or something else. It's purpose is not to build a power house softball team or NBA franchise. The purpose is to do a number of things such as bring the community together and enjoy each others company versus whether or not they are part of a certain political party. If differing opinions can work together to win on the field or court, you can find a way to work together to build a better community or state. So how about it Governor Baldacci, are you up for a pickup game of softball in Norridgewock? I'll even let you hit it off me, if you can hit my knuckleball.
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