Today’s musical dedication is for all those people who get involved in local politics, or who give support behind the scenes for one official or another: “Us and Them” by Pink Floyd.

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     Some time ago, a local resident who frequently contributes to a former newsletter and current blog that focuses on criticizing all of Brownsville’s leaders, whoever they are, paid us a visit and voiced frustrations he shared with his ultra-partisan friends. This newspaper had just published an editorial praising the City Commission on a decision it had made. Just a couple of days earlier we had taken the same commission to task on another topic.

     “We don’t know what side you’re on,” the visitor complained, obviously intending his comments as criticism.

     We saw it as a compliment, however.

     The dynamics of Valley politics is much like gang warfare, with a little less bloodshed and a lot less rhythm. Despite the fact that everybody pledges allegiance to the Democratic Party, this area has some of the most partisan fighting one will see anywhere. Different groups rally behind their respective champions and fight hard and true, through thick and thin, right or wrong.

     That’s no what we do here at The Brownsville Herald. We have yet to see a perfect official or public leader — in fact, we’d be hard pressed to name more than a couple of good ones. And just like nobody’s all good, nobody’s all bad either.

     We strive, therefore, to be as objective as possible, and judge ideas and actions on their merits, not based on the messenger.

     Good, honest officials can have bad ideas, and total snakes can make proposals that are well worth considering.

     “We’re on Brownsville’s side,” we told the critic. “We’re not interested in seeing any one official profit off his position, but we do want to see the city prosper as much as possible.”

     That answer obviously didn’t satisfy the visitor, and it might not make many people happy. But we think it’s folly to reject a good idea just because we might not like the person who presented it. It’s equally wrong to ignore wrongful acts just because we support the person who committed them.

     It’s been said that the best friend you can have is one who will tell you when you’re wrong. That’s the person who will keep you on the right track.

     Us and them? Nah. We’re all in this together. Instead of choosing sides and facing off against one another, maybe we should all face the future together, and not let allegiances cloud our vision.