It's funny, but sometimes when we think about civility in politcs we often consider our times to be the least civil. I was listening to America Left on XM yesterday and they reminded me of some things I had forgotten. Everyone knows about the famous duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Fewer know about the beating done in South Carolina (yup there they go again. I hate using Wikipedia, but it is a well-known event and shows that civility is more or less a myth in terms of politics.
Over the past several days there has been a lot of talk about civility, racism, and religious zealotry. Even though those blogs are gone, ElJefeBob did a terrific series on hate speech while he was still blogging for the Chronicle. What defines hate speech is hairy at best. As a commentator on the radio said yesterday, often hate speech is defined by those that hate the speech. I've certainly spent quite a bit of my time on tone over the past several weeks because it seems to embroil our president.
In a humorous turn of events, Rush Limbaugh asked whether we could even have an African American president. Of course, having Limbaugh ask the question borders on the level of absurd. Still, there is some kernel of truth in the fact that the Obama administration itself cannot call out racism where racism is obvious. He didn't even utter the words in the Professor Gates case and he was called a racist by Glenn Beck. What's funny about Limbaugh's comment (he said the press couldn't say Obama is racist) is that the right continues to do it.
While individuals in the debate have been more or less uncivil throughout history, the press has maintained some level of decorum throughout that time. No respected member of the press called Bush racist even when some on the fringe were suggesting it following the gaffe that was Katrina. Leftists as a general rule did not use that term to describe him and those who did were not given any credibility. Yet, people on the right do it at will and then say they are victimized when someone calls them on it.
In the end, civility is likely where it has always been. The main difference is that the Hamilton/Burr duel wasn't covered on Fox News or MSNBC. When a South Carolina senator got bludgeoned to death, there wasn't a 24 hour news cycle. So, it isn't so much incivility as it is mass marketed incivility. Also, it might have been a little naive of us to believe that a black president could expect to get the same respect that all the other ones did. While Obama can call Kanye West a jackass he can't do the same for Rush Limbaugh. He's fighting a verbal duel with a proverbial pair of nail clippers. That's what seems so bad in all of this. Jimmy Carter can call a spade a spade. Obama has to take the high road.
Editor's Note: Great post by Scott. The series on hate speech on the Chronicle that that he refers to is here on the pages of The Daily Hurricane. In fact, all of my Chronicle posts are available in the archives. Click here to read the first of the hate speech series. - Jefe
Blogs like The Daily Hurricane provides me with hope and reassurance in the future of our country.
Scott, there are times when I feel my blood pressure rising and my ire growing. I have to just get up and walk away. Sometimes I am successful in doing that; sometimes the urge to smack some stupid first can't be fought off.
What really bothers me is the thought that all the ways we feel ourselves to be civilized is nothing but an extremely fine veneer. And any type of crisis brings out more and more cracks in that veneer.
What lies underneath seems very dark and slimy.
Is this what we really are? Is our civilization based upon such a thin foundation?
I hope not.
Part of what we are seeing is the double edge sword that is the Internet. People's true feelings are getting out. It's ugly but I think it will eventually give us clarity. Still, I've quit several online communities because I can't stand the incivility. Some of it I bring on myself because I get just as pissed. Life is too short in my opinion. That being said, those racists are out there and no one can deny it now.
And isn't it funny, sis, how most of these haters turn out to be Republicans?
The GOP encourages, in fact thrives on racial animosity, resentment and ignorance of facts.
What the commenters you write about don't know about the HCHD purchase of Mem Hermann (off, for the moment) is that the county is already required - under long-standing federal law - to provide primary care for poor people. In fact, the county is short of beds, beds that will have to be eventually provided at a cost larger than the purchase that was proposed.
But I don't recall any effort by conservatives to end that care when the GOP had control of the White House and Congress.
Wingers are being taken for a ride, but are too uninformed to realize it.
I have been reading some of the comments over on the chron about the HCHD/Memorial Southwest deal falling through.
The absolute hatred and disdain for people who are less well-off makes my stomach turn. The hatred for fellow Americans...where does this come from? I would say these people are cold-hearted bastards. Some typical comments are:
"I don't want any poor people in MY neighborhood! Send them to Louisiana!"
At what point did all these "good, compassionate, conservative Christians" become the exact opposite of what they PROCLAIM they are? You know they're probably keeping their asses warm in a pew on Sunday mornings, while sleeping through the sermons and totally missing the point.
At whast point did we lose our sense of being our brothers' keeper?
When???
Civility huh? I'll try...
To hell with all the noose loving rebel flag waving rednecks!
Oh well, I gave it a shot.
I fear that while we have made progress since the days of the Civil Rights movement, we have been rather stagnant for the last couple of decades. I think the politically correct movement is partially to blame. We are so fearful of saying something that will offend that we can't offer our true feelings. Then, it spills over into something else.
So, when we call someone a racist they usually respond in kind. It seems there are more calls of reverse racism these days. I guess that's the easiest thing to do. When you carry a picture of the White House with watermelons in front you aren't a racist, but if someone calls you a racist then THEY are. Lovely country we live in.
It is indeed a pity that Obama can't publicly identify racism where racism is clearly at work. But at least there are others to speak the truth...and to do so in a civil manner, at that.
Psst, Scott: email me at gmail re an event this weekend, if you don't mind. Others might be interested as well.