They are moments that make you shake your head in disbelief. And yet, they seem to be getting all too common.
· A Rand Paul supporter steps on the head of a woman protesting at a campaign rally. She ends up with a concussion. When the man is asked about the incident, he says SHE should apologize.
· Firefighters in Tennessee stand and watch a man’s house burn because he failed to pay an annual $75 fee for fire protection. The man offered to pay the fee and more to save his house. The firefighters, by the order of the mayor, refused. His house burned to the ground with his pets still inside (three dogs and a cat).
· Closer to home, a debate between incumbent Representative Jim Oberstar and his challenger, Chip Cravaack, is disrupted by shouts of “Liar” and “Obama, Jr.”
When did we get to be such an angry culture? And when did to become OK to treat our neighbors… our fellow Americans… with such contempt?
One of the hallmarks of the American political system has always been the peaceful transfer of power. We settle our differences at the polls, and at the end of the day we accept the results of the election and move forward as a country. But more and more, the idea of putting America first seems to be losing out to putting political party, personal prejudices, or even hatred and anger first.
I’m not naïve enough to think that rude, self-centered behavior is new in this country. I know that we have always had our share of racists, homophobes, misogynists, etc. What I find particularly alarming today is not that we have these people among us, but rather that they seem to be so accepted.
There are lines in public discourse that should not be crossed. We seem to be trampling them now without a second thought.
When Rep. Joe Wilson interrupted President Obama’s State of the Union Address by shouting, “You lie!” he was hailed as a hero by some. It wasn’t long ago an outburst like that would have been political suicide. Today Joe Wilson has become something of a role model, spawning imitators (like those in the 8th District) who now think interrupting politicians with shouts of “Liar!” is acceptable discourse.
There was a time when carrying an overtly racist sign at a political rally would have brought immediate reproach from all sides of the political spectrum. Candidates would have denounced the behavior. Groups encouraging this kind of activity would have been universally scorned and driven underground (see: KKK). Today we have political rallies where people carry racist signs openly, without fear of retribution. And the Tea Party, which is at least accepting this behavior if not openly promoting it, is being hailed as a fresh, powerful voice in politics.
Perhaps we are going through a phase. Maybe the election of Obama stirred up some of the racism and ugliness in our country that we needed to unearth in order to properly deal with it. That’s the optimist in me coming out.
The pessimistic side of me fears that we have actually lost our way.
When a mayor will order firefighters to let a house burn to make a political point, that’s not a sign of a healthy society. When a sitting Congresswoman calls on the news media to investigate which members of Congress are “pro America” and which are “anti America” and she is not reprimanded but is rather poised for re-election, it harkens back to some of the darkest eras of our country’s history. And when candidates can routinely vilify Muslims or homosexuals, and still be leading in the polls, our claims to be a “loving society” ring hollow at best.
We’ve had moments of turmoil before in this country, and we’ve always displayed a remarkable ability to come together when it counts, to put the interests of America first. Sadly, I don’t know that we’ve got it in us this time.
We have some serious problems to deal with right now. We are struggling to meet the most basic needs of our citizens (jobs, education, health care, opportunity), and we need bold leadership to get us moving in the right direction again.
When the votes are counted on Tuesday, and the election results are announced, will we have the strength and the will to work together to solve these problems? Or will the fires of partisan politics simply be fanned by the results, and the looming presidential election in 2012.
We have no choice but to hope for a better tomorrow and we need to do our part. We can reject candidates who trade on fear and hatred. We can denounce leaders who put politics before common sense and compassion. And we can renew our personal commitment to stand up for decency, and respect for others.
Maybe we are on the verge of a new era of growth in America. Maybe it really is darkest before the dawn. Hopefully, we can rise to this new challenge, and become a “loving society” once again.
The problem may be that our society is lacking virtue. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “It is impossible that the common good of any state can be fittingly maintained in the absence of virtuous citizens, at the very least in the person of those citizens who play leadership roles within the state.”
Which political party will bring ALL the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan now, close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, end the drones bombing Pakistan, revoke the Patriot Act, prosecute the war criminals Cheney and Rumsfeld, and truly investigate what happened on September 11, 2001?
Who decides ongoing wars are not a campaign issue in the current election?
Overdoing Learning
Could it be I’ve learned too much?
If charged, I must confess.
My views would be more popular
If I knew much less.
I might vote for Democrats Or for the GOP
And not have old acquaintances Almost run from me.
Education’s big with them, And ignorance the foe,
Except for those disturbing things That they don’t want to know.
David Martin
Who murdered James Forrestal?
http://www.dcdave.com
Our country was founded by people who worked through their dissenting perspectives to craft what is, arguably, the most impressive realization of democracy in the history of Western society. The Founding Fathers disputed vigorously, yet with civility, never losing sight of their common goal. Today’s political battles are conducted as ugly end games. “When politics is warfare, and the other side is both evil and dangerous, compromise becomes impossible–indeed, it becomes a sellout,” said Robert J. Samuelson, in The Washington Post. Yet compromise built this country and has carried it powerfully through some of its most harrowing moments. Whatever our beliefs, we cannot forget that we are “E Pluribus Unum,” and that our quality of life depends as much or more on our decency and compassion as on any set of policies.