In my upbringing, back in the 1940s in Prospect, I learned from my mother, father, preachers and teachers.

They taught me to be a good boy, to always try my best, to do the right thing, to be kind and not hurt others, that I was no better than anyone else, and no one was better than me. They taught me tons more about life and my place in the world. They taught me the Golden Rule.

The truth is, you take one look at Donald Trump and at who he is as a human being, turn and look 180-degrees the other direction, and you’ll see me. In fact, you’ll likely also see most of my fellow Prospectors, who were my childhood friends and who had good parents like mine and the same preachers and teachers all through our formative years and were taught the same things I was.

Ironically, most of them voted for Donald Trump, according to the election report for Prospect.

A Butler Eagle reporter phoned me to ask me why I voted for Joe Biden. I talked with him for about 10 minutes, during which time I gave him about 20% of my reasons, all based on my knowledge of Donald Trump’s behavior the past several decades and, mostly, the past four years. The following is the most important reason and one I didn’t mention: Joe Biden embodies all the attributes and personal qualities I was taught in Prospect as a child were honorable and virtuous and which I worked hard to adopt. Donald Trump, none of them.

Nov. 3 was a no-brainer for me.

But I don’t yet understand my fellow citizens’ vote.

Notwithstanding, our country is in big trouble now and we all have to get beyond the election and come together to heal, mostly for the sake of our children who asked for none of this, but who are being severely impacted.

Roger Roth,

Prospect