Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Convictions are strange things.
In the shadows of reclusivity, fanned by the fervour of fellow zealots, they’d ignited into a blaze of enlightenment and moral justification.
But tonight the winds of opposition are causing the flames to flicker; wider intellectual debate is dampening the embers, and showers of derision threaten to extinguish them altogether.
People drift out onto the car-park, muttering disillusionment.
“Wait,” he cries from the platform, “I’m a man of conviction…”
“You’re supposed to be a politician…” says his deputy.
“But I have these convictions…”
His team shuffle awkwardly.
“Do you,” says the deputy, “have any others that might suit better?”
This website is a politics-free zone; the story is inspired solely by Rochelle’s photo prompt. 😉 Hope everyone is well and raring to take part in this week’s Friday Fictioneers get-together. After rigorous ducking and weaving, I’ve finally succumbed to the cold virus that has cocooned my husband for six days now. Inevitable I suppose, but I really thought I was going to get away with it after this long. 😦
castelsarrasin 
Very clever – and very true. I hope you feel better soon Sandra.
LikeLike
Thanks Louise, on both counts. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Sandra,
Your cold hasn’t effected your ability to write, although I’m sorry to hear you’re un-well. It says a lot when there’s a divide between a politician and a man of conviction. That’s a universal problem, isn’t it? Well done as always. Take care of yourself.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thanks Rochelle. Digging in for the long haul here, if my husband’s progress is anything to go by. Eight days and counting. And believe me, I’ve counted everyone of them… 😦
LikeLike
Is a ex-con a man of conviction too?
Good piece.
LikeLike
I think an ex-con might have something in common with many politicans. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Crowds are fickle things. Here today gone tomorrow back on Tuesday. We blame the politicians but really it is we the crowd who insist on the process.
LikeLike
We like to build them up so we can knock them down, I guess. All human life is in politics.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed it is. When once we come to that truth it is easier to relax.
LikeLike
Convinced politician is an oxymoron, isn’t it? 🙂 Glad they all drifted away 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for reading. 🙂
LikeLike
Brilliant…….
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Ha! A lovely gritty story and so true of many politicians …
LikeLike
Indeed so! 🙂 Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always s pleasure Sandra
LikeLike
Aha, fantasy fiction!
Now I get it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Thanks for dropping by CE.
LikeLike
I think a politicians conviction is a suit to suit the populace.. 🙂 brilliantly told, hope the cold won’t affect you too bad.
LikeLike
Thanks Bjorn. I’m ploughing on.
LikeLike
You have my sympathy regarding the cold. Went to London to see David Gilmour at the Royal Albert Hall 3 weeks ago, came back with a cold and I’m still having the odd sniffle. Enjoyed the story!
LikeLike
Hope you’re back on top form soon, Paul. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Apparently your conviction not to succumb to the virus wasn’t strong enough. This is a timely piece whilst the U.S. non-presidential debates are going on and on and on and no one is saying anything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have some similarities over here at the moment, Tracey. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to hear about the cold, but I’m glad it hasn’t effected your writing ability! No sure whether I like the man or not, but I loved your telling of his story, an the last line is just perfect.
LikeLike
Thanks Jen. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
excellent piece as always. if you’re unwell, i hope you feel better soon.
LikeLike
Thanks Plaridel. I hope to. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe it’s time for a woman of conviction to enter the stage 🙂 Nice one.
LikeLike
I’m not sure the opposite sex make too much of an impact on the ego of your average politician.
LikeLike
I’m with Tracey – this so reminded me of what’s happening (or not) here in the US. Wonderful take on the prompt. Love the way you used the “stormy” words for descriptions.
LikeLike
Thanks Alicia. I watch your politics with interest. 🙂
LikeLike
Reminds me of the movie “The Candidate”, an early Robert Redford movie. As I recall, he was a man of convictions, but by the time the political machine of his party got done, he was a politician. Too bad there are so few who are both.
Lovely story. Not so lovely to hear you succumbed. I’m finally feeling mostly better but still a bit tired. Get well quickly!
janet
LikeLike
Glad you’re feeling better Janet. And thanks for reading and your good wishes.
LikeLike
Am now hearing about your cold and my own head is filled with congestion. I feel your pain, Sandra. And yet, you managed to write another great one!
LikeLike
Hope you feel better soon Dale. And thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sandra. Hope you do as well.
LikeLike
An excellent and pertinent story. Beautifully narrated — I love this line: “People drift out onto the car-park, muttering disillusionment.”
Reminds me of that W.B. Yeats line in “The Second Coming”: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”
LikeLike
I love that line. Thanks for visiting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure!
LikeLike
Hmmm. Most topical, in the UK at least. Well done.
LikeLike
Yes. I’m watching with exasperation and dread at the moment. Seems that those who don’t remember history are condemned to repeat it. 😦
LikeLike
Well done on the prompt. I hope you’re feeling better!
LikeLike
Thank you Karen. 🙂
LikeLike
Politics and convictions….don´t go hand in hand, unfortunately. Great story, plus it wasn´t political since you didn´t name a particular party.
LikeLike
🙂 Diplomat or what? Thanks for visiting.
LikeLike
Convictions indeed are odd things. They are worthless if formed in a vacuum, but on the other hand to change one’s mind too easily, be swayed by popular opinion isn’t a good thing either. Interesting piece.
Hope you’re feeling better.
LikeLike
Thank you, much better. 🙂
LikeLike
Great story spot on for our weekend here in Canada, we have election on Monday. Sending you virtual hugs and chicken broth and hot ginger, honey and lemon. Be well soon!
LikeLike
Thank you Oliana. Hope your elections go smoothly. 🙂
LikeLike
We are in an election here in Canada right now. I wish our politicians have conviction!
Lily
LikeLike
And hopefully not misplaced convictions.
LikeLike
Enlightened politicians? What’s the world coming to? Amazing take, and I hope you get better soon.
LikeLike
Thank you, on the mend now I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A timely story, Sandra.
Sorry to hear you’re under the weather. Perk up soon.
All my best,
MG
LikeLike
Thanks for visiting Marie-Gail.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate when a cold waits so ling to pounce. It’s as if it is saying “When you least expect it, expect it!”.
Good job writing about politics while keeping your blog free of politics.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Dawn. Yes, six days led me to take a more optimistic view of my resistance. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great piece. I’d like to think politicians are motivated their convictions. You gotta have faith. I hope you’re feeling better, Sandra! Get well soon.
LikeLike
Thanks Amy. I’d like to think their convictions were well-founded too. On the mend now.
LikeLike
Glad to hear you’re feeling better, Sandra.
LikeLike
Very nice… and it is still a politcal free zone, as you didn’t mention any thoughts on what the politician’s thoughts were 🙂 Hope you mange to win the fight against the cold soonest!
LikeLike
I’m nothing if not politically correct about being anti-political on here. 🙂 Thanks for your good wishes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stick to his guns or change his views to suit the masses? Quite the decision for “a man of conviction”. Great story!
LikeLike
I’m sure many of our politicians overcome that minor ‘problem’. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great take on the prompt – politicians have a hard job trying to keep to their convictions soon goes out of the window in this day and age.
LikeLike
Sorry to hear you’re ill. Sandra. Good story. It looks like the speaker didn’t do well with that crowd. His convictions didn’t seem to mesh with their’s. Well done. I hope you’re better soon. 🙂 — Suzabbe
LikeLike
If this is what comes from politics, then this shouldn’t be a politics free zone! Sharp, witty and beautiful fantastic word usage. Hope you feel better quickly, Sandra.
LikeLike
Great story!
LikeLike
He’ll need to develop some more flexible convictions if he’s to succeed, I suspect. Great descriptions – I love your weather imagery.
LikeLike
A good one! He’ll never make a politician. Mind you, some of our local specimens seem to dodge convictions for malpractices rather than have any of their own.
LikeLike