Dear Editor:

Most of us remember the famous 1841 Loch Lomond Scottish song and its chorus – “O ye'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road, and I'll be in Scotland afore ye”. The song is so well recognized that we no doubt have the same “definition” of what is the high road versus the low road.

Remember the famous 2000 Florida presidential vote where the documentary movie “Recount” was filmed? This was a prime example of a high road to take and a low road taken. While the lead democrat attorney elected the high road, others were tempted like the republican to take the low road to be “safe.” Remember — “All is fair in love and war” — and both require winning — but not at any cost.

The song indicates there is a moral high road selected for good reasons and a moral low road made for wrong reasons. Law should lead to the high road, but science adds fear that complicates high road-low road decisions. Two post-election studies show that had the recount proceeded peaceably, Gore would have been President. To the degree President Bush knew that to be fact, a lot more fear-factor pressure was placed on him when faced with critical decisions.

Fear of perceived safety often leads us to take the “low road.” We frequently do not recognize that fear is the driver. We know what is right and wrong, but we use “self-defense” to justify the road we took. Simple decisions like registering to vote, or going to vote take us on the high road of participating in decisions about our own governance. All who joined their neighbors on the high road to the voting booth knew that their vote mattered on November 3.

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb