To the editor:

I’m so blessed to have good friends on the left and good friends on the right.

The fact that I’m in the middle both annoys and often amuses both sets of friends. Each side eagerly pointing out the other’s demerits and bringing attention to their own merits, as we debate and discuss political issues.

On Saturday, a friend from the right shared with me that women of my character were negatively portrayed in a letter to the editor, saying it in a teasing having fun with you tone. This same friend had recently read the newly released Hometown Heroes book. In the book an old friend had stated that I had the tenacity of a pit bull. Same word usage “Pit Bull” that Mary Knight addressed in her Sept. 6 letter to the editor.

The pit bull issue is very similar to politics as there are two sides. One side praising and advocating for them while the other side is pointing out the need to be cautious and stating that they are not to be trusted! As in most issues there is some truth in what both are saying and the one thing I think that they would all agree upon is that pit bulls are tenacious.

One resource that I use in leadership training is the work of John C. Maxwell. In his book “The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player” one of the qualities is being TENACIOUS. It states being tenacious means:

Giving All That You Have, Not More Than You Have

Working with Determination, Not Waiting on Destiny

Quitting When the Job Is Done, Not When You’re Tired

When my old friend used the word I’m pretty sure she meant it as compliment when Mary expressed her opinion of the word I felt, oh my that isn’t me! It showed me once again that it really does depend on an individual’s perception of the same word. The very reason we have two sides to every issue.

Kathy McLaughlin

Clinton