In a column for SuperTalk Mississippi Media, contributor Ferguson said they cast their first presidential ballot at 18, after registering to vote as part of a high school civics class that assigned a test grade for registration.
Ferguson wrote their birthday that year fell 10 days before graduation and that the A+ earned for registering likely helped them pass the class. They said their academic performance suffered because they spent time socializing with friends named Dean, Terry, Chuck, David and Steve, adding they remain in contact with some and mourn the deaths of others.
Ferguson listed the presidents they have voted through — Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Trump again — and wrote that, at times, people described each as either the downfall of the nation or its savior. Ferguson said they once saw the worst in some leaders but now believes each president was both good and bad and that none was perfect.
Ferguson wrote they still vote and try to choose the candidate they believe will be best for the country, but acknowledged they do not always get it right. They said personal responsibility matters more than politics and that they try to live by the golden rule. Ferguson cited Luke 6:31 (CSB): “Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.”
Ferguson wrote that kindness can improve relationships at home and work and suggested elected officials should adopt the same approach. SuperTalk Mississippi Media noted the views expressed are those of the contributor and not the outlet.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
