Time to Speak

The lectionary text for yesterday (for those traditions that follow it) included a passage from James about the dangers and possibilities of speech. Basically, he says the tongue is small, but mighty. It can do great things and also some very destructive things.

Senator Tom Harkin noted recently that there is a "silent majority" of Americans that support Health Care legislation. If this is indeed the case, why are we not using our small, yet powerful tongues to steer the ship of state toward a better health care policy?

Personally, I have encountered some who compare the President to Hitler. I have witnessed something that almost never happens--a Member of Congress calling the President a liar on the floor of the House of Representatives. In both of these instances, the LaRouche PAC and Mr. Wilson's accusation, their charges toward the President are not only factually wrong, they are patently absurd. In the case of LaRouche's comparisons with Hitler, they are despicably hateful.

This kind of juvenile, schoolyard bully behavior has no place in the public discourse, least of all on the floor of Congress. It is time for cooler heads to prevail, for us to start using our tongues not to start fires, but to guide the public debate toward a more civil and respectful place. Only when we can have intelligent conversations with each other, can something actually be done to help real people in this country and in our world.

Modern Manicheans

I just watched a woman in tears because the President is going to tell her child to work hard and stay in school. Mom's afraid the message might be 'political'.

Really? How did she feel when George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan did the same thing?

It is no surprise to readers of this blog that I was strongly opposed to nearly every one of George W. Bush's policies. The only time I thought he shouldn't talk to schoolchildren though was on 9/11/01 when the towers in New York were under attack.

Where did this fear come from? When did it become threatening for a public servant to talk to children, who, I might add, can't even vote yet? There have been times when I was challenged to listen to the opinions of others, particularly when I have difficulty understanding their position. But to break into tears over a message with which no one has any legitimate argument is beyond wrongheaded--I think it's spiritually damaging.

To demonize your political opponents closes you off to the truth they do have. No one is inherently, completely evil, or good for that matter. I'm glad Bush told kids to work hard. Each of us has legitimate human experience from which we speak. To disagree is one thing, but to freak out over such a minor issue seems a little ridiculous.