There are not many people I would willingly cross party lines for. Apparently, my dentist is one of them.
Cyrus Javadi has been my dentist for years. When he first ran for the Oregon Legislature as a Republican, I was a Democrat—and I voted for him anyway.
That wasn’t because I had suddenly misplaced my political beliefs somewhere between the waiting room and the dental chair. I voted for Cyrus because I knew him. I thought he was smart, qualified, practical and, most importantly, a no-nonsense kind of guy who would work hard and do the job.
Now Cyrus has switched parties and become a Democrat.
Well, that certainly makes things less complicated.
But the funny thing is, the letter after his name was never the reason I voted for him in the first place. I crossed party lines because I believed character and competence mattered more than party loyalty. I still do.
We spend an awful lot of time these days being told that we should automatically distrust anyone on the “other side.” I think that’s part of what has gone wrong with politics. Sometimes the better question isn’t, Is there a D or an R after the name? It’s, Is this someone I trust to do the job?
I trusted Cyrus when he was a Republican. I trust him now that he’s a Democrat.
And after years of letting the man come at me with sharp instruments while I’m flat on my back and unable to talk, I figure that ought to count for something.
I supported Cyrus Javadi then. I’m happy to support him now.
The fact that we finally belong to the same political party?
That’s just something to smile about.
Barbara Billstine
Tillamook, Oregon
