When I began this column-writing endeavor — resumed, really — after an almost two-decade hiatus, back in December of 2010, I promised myself to refrain from writing directly about things in the political realm.

You see, as I have expressed on occasion in the past, what I may think about things political is of little interest and no significance to most anyone else.

Some years ago I even stopped sharing early morning gatherings — you know, those men who are regular habitues at those restaurants or stores around town and in the community-at-large — where the palaver is often of a political nature. Because of the “demographics” of most of those who are regulars at these places, there’s pretty much a unanimity of political philosophy. That’s okay. It’s just not for me. I’m not — in thought, at least — a part of the angry-older-white-male segment of the populace. It’s hard for some, however, to accept that we are becoming a more diverse and multicultural society.

As I’ve also expressed on occasion, I believe that, often, when someone asks me a political question they really do so in order to then tell me what it is they think, and what they think about what I think. So, I think it’s best for me to try and avoid being placed in such environments. Often, some will tell me what they think I think, without me having said a word at all. And then there are those who just come out with their views with total disregard for what another may think.

Well. Enough of this. Let me just add that those who become angry with anyone who doesn’t fully agree with their views have little or no appreciation for, or understanding of, one of the most priceless precepts of a democratic form of government. That being, different viewpoints should not only be tolerated, they should be encouraged. Such diversity of thought is the essence of democracy, of freedom itself.

When only one view is allowed or sanctioned in a nation, one can be assured there’s no democracy in that land.

Probably I should have simply said, at the outset, that we all should celebrate our form of governing by encouraging a “free enterprise” of political expression of all kinds, and eschew demonizing those who don’t agree wholly with us.

You know. Agree to disagree agreeably.

Not going to happen.

APROPOS — “Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people’s idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage.”

Sir Winston Churchill

House of Commons, 1943