Darla is a life-time resident of Mercersburg, PA. As I was wandering around yesterday, I had a chance to speak with her about respect, generational differences, and why political judgement goes both ways.

On why she’s a good citizen:

I try to treat people with respect and dignity, regardless of who people are, where they’re from, their race, or how much money they have. We’re all here for the same thing, and I’m going to treat you the way that I want to be treated.

Why she feels like the biggest citizenship gap is across generations:

The older generation in Mercersburg are good citizens. But I think there’s a generational gap. The younger generation, though, seems more entitled. There’s a lot of focus on instant gratification. It’s really hard to see kids not working hard, not going to work when they’re supposed to. Maybe it’s social media. But they just don’t know how to go out and socialize with people, which really constricts them (as citizens).

The moment when she was the best citizen she has been:

My ex-husband got into a motorcycle accident. He called and asked me to come up, and I helped nurse him back to health. I didn’t mind doing it, and I felt because he was a person, and I knew him, I needed to do that.

Why most people don’t judge based on politics, but some do:

I always give anyone the benefit of the doubt, and I think most people do the same. There are some people, though, for whom everything is about politics. You wouldn’t be good enough for them if you weren’t a Democrat or a Republican (it goes both ways). They’re very opinionated and very strong in their feelings, and that hinders them from seeing the whole person.

On why we all need to serve in the military:

Everyone needs to serve in the military. We need to see what’s going on in the country. Maybe not five years or three years, but a year. Not only will it show them what the real world is like, it’ll also show them what others countries are like. I think once we do that, young people would be more honed in to what America really is and what it really stands for.

On how we need to learn American history:

Any history we tell about our country needs to tell the good, the bad, the ugly. Everything has happened because people disagree, and we need to understand that. We can’t change the past, but we can talk about how we got through things like slavery, and how that made us our country today.

Why freedom is what makes America the country it is:

America should be free. It should allow people to believe whatever they want, to practice any religion or faith or schooling they want. As long as you’re not harming (others), you can do what you want.