I am a 16-year-old and I have considered myself an independent since I first began paying attention to politics. With that has come the belief that all elected officials, regardless of party affiliation, deserve the respect of the public.

I thought it would be interesting to accompany my mom to the Thursday, Oct. 14, public forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. The political debates were interesting and sometimes heated, living up to my expectations; however, the actions of the people attending fell far short.

I was appalled to see grown men and women behaving like kindergartners, laughing and making snide comments at the Republicans speaking, most proudly wearing their LWV pins and whatnot. The group calls themselves non-partisan, which I almost laughed out loud at. They hassled the Republican candidates and cheered for the Democrats; they also passed over audience members who were well-known Republicans for questions. I have seen second-graders behave better in public than this group of people. Nonpartisan, I think not.

As I continued to dive into politics head-first, I was on my way to the LWV’s Anacortes forum on Oct. 19 where, I am proud to announce, I saw adults behaving as such. When my mom was informed that Democrats and Republicans were in some sort of a scuffle on the corner of Pioneer and Highway 20 we showed up to hear that a large woman proudly sporting an Oak Harbor High School sweatshirt, was sign waving for local Democrats, and had been swearing at Republicans who were on the same corner. Hooting, hollering, and making and all-around fool of herself, this woman is quickly assisting the Oak Harbor LWV in making me a Republican.

Lauren Cribb

Oak Harbor