Our National Loss of Civility - Rich Nathan - God’s Politics Blog
September 24, 2009
“You lie!” yelled Representative Joe Wilson during President Obama’s recent address before a joint session of Congress. Millions of Americans were horrified, but Rush Limbaugh said that he for one was ecstatic when he heard Wilson’s outburst.
The loss of civility has suddenly become a hot topic in America, displayed center court by the normally gracious tennis player Serena Williams, and at the MTV Music Awards by rapper Kanye West.
Bishop Timothy Clarke, the senior pastor of First Church of God in Columbus, Ohio, said:
In the 1960s, the Senate was home to men like Mike Mansfield, Everett Dirksen, William Fulbright and Jacob Javits, but it was also home to John Stennis, Strom Thurmond, and James Eastland. What is amazing is that while these men had opposing views and held to them with tenacity there seemed to be an ability to disagree without becoming disagreeable, something that is completely missing today. It seems as if our times are now marked not just by dissent and disagreement, but also by a willingness to engage in ugly and vitriolic language that seems designed to malign and disparage anyone who does not hold our opinions.
Richard Mouw, the brilliant and gentlemanly president of Fuller Theological Seminary, has worked for decades to promote gender equality, racial justice, peacemaking, and care for the environment. But when he came out in favor of a ban on same-sex marriages on a radio talk show, he was accused of being a fascist and a fundamentalist who would support burning witches at the stake. It was inconceivable to callers that one could support a traditional view of marriage without being a fascist.
via blog.sojo.net
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I know I harp on this one and I think, rightfully so.
I believe that it is symptomatic of a disease in our culture that transcends any of the issues that rhetoric attaches itself to.
It crosses ideological lines.
It corrupts, distorts, and pollutes our debates.
It weakens arguments and sullies the participants.
What is most disturbing is that professing Christians participate in this sort of undignified behavior and justify it as righteous indignation, prophetic speech, and courageous truth-telling.
You can't call it "speaking the truth in love" if it is not really being spoken in love.
We were told growing up that television was a corrupting influence on morality. We were told that many manifestations of modernity were corrupting us and were warned of a waning of morality. We did not expect that even those calling for a higher moral standard would engage in immoral methods to promote them.
I think I will continue to harp on this until things get better. I know that I am not the only person in the world who can get along with folks who hold opposing views to my own. I am sure that i am not the only person who can see the decency in people of diverse opinions. I am sure that I am not alone in recognizing that someone whose views I cannot entertain for a moment might be motivated by very good intentions.
I have to believe that the vast majority of Americans are sick of the name calling and lack of respect.
If nothing else, we will grow weary of media operatives insulting our intelligence and assuming we can't think further than sound bytes and slogans.
The theme for this part of the week remains the same - pray - seek God - and turn from our wicked ways.
Loss of civility is a very sign of systemic wickedness.