America needs a return to civility. Everybody has strong opinions these days about the state of the world, politics, religion, civil liberties, the economy, healthcare, and education. Some people say they’ve never seen such discord among Americans. However, disagreement is nothing new – Americans have always had strongly differing beliefs. What concerns me is the belligerence and intolerance towards those with whom we disagree.
Long History of Political Intolerance
Contentiousness is not a new problem. Ron Chernow’s biography of George Washington describes how newspapers aligned with the Federalists relentlessly attacked the Democratic-Republicans and vice versa. The constant war of words in the press was robust, addressing critical issues regarding the best way to steer our newly founded government. However, the difference between then and now is that 250 years ago, politicians still acted cordially in public. Our elected officials, for the most part, treated each other with respect. Unfortunately, politics has steadily lost its courteous behavior and civility over the years.
Nor is this issue limited to America. Politicians in Great Brittan have a long history of heckling each other during speeches. Interestingly, the English public is getting tired of this behavior, and seeking a return to civility. A Huffington Post story in 2020 stated:
“Politicians shouting, jeering and heckling in the UK parliament is “alienating” the public and the majority want the coarse behaviour to stop, a new survey has shown. More than half (51%) of people would like to see an end to the chaos that accompanies parliamentary debates, most notably during prime minister’s questions, polling reveals. Just one in five (20%) think that it is an important tradition that should be allowed to continue.”
Presidential Trash Talking
Whether or not you supported the Trump presidency, most would agree that President Trump specializes in demeaning his opponents. Recall the 2016 primary season when candidate Trump created condescending nicknames for other Republican candidates. Senator Marco Rubio became “Little Marco, the lightweight from Florida,” and Governor Jeb Bush was dubbed “Low energy Jeb.” The nicknames were cleverly demeaning, something a smart neighborhood bully would use to intimidate and humiliate his rivals.
Likewise, President Biden has expanded the insults way beyond his political opponents, deriding half of the United States population. He recently branded anyone who supports the Republican agenda a semi-fascist! And Americans who oppose Biden’s platform are not simply people with a different agenda, they are racist and sexist.
Public Venting Out of Hand
The public is no better. Republicans regularly refer to President Biden as an incompetent, demented, socialist-loving traitor. And Democrats have lost their mind in hatred of Donald Trump, labeling him a Nazi-loving, evil megalomaniac. The other side is no longer just wrong, they are evil. Really? That would make half the country traitors. Americans have fallen into a pit of accusations, suspicions and distrust of each other that is bad for our nation.
The truth is that both political parties have their strengths and weaknesses. And I would argue that most of the accusations flying around these days are a combination of exaggerated misrepresentations and downright lies. Donald Trump doesn’t love Nazis. And Joe Biden is not a socialist-loving traitor. The fact is that all presidents are patriots, meaning they love America and wish to improve the country. We may not agree with their political agenda and values, but that does not make them evil.
That’s not to say they are pure and innocent – all politicians make backroom deals and play loose with the truth sometimes. But who among us is completely pure in heart? The answer is “no one.” So we should not throw the first stone. As actively participating members of this democracy, our job is to recognize and respect whoever wins an election. We may not agree with their platform, but they still represent America to the world and are, therefore, due respect. If you don’t like them, rally the opposition and boot them out of office during the next election cycle.
Religious Values Help Restore Civility
How can we rise above the vitriol? Luckily, we have a perfect example of how to navigate through the negativity of politics and social media. The world’s great religions teach us to live moral, upright lives. While they acknowledge the corruption in the world, their timeless message challenges us to rise above it.
Christianity and Judaism call believers to treat our neighbor as ourselves and to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Embracing obedience to a higher power (God) gives us the strength to rise above the fray and accomplish far more than we could do on our own. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” -Matthew 5:11-12
Tolerance is also a fundamental principle of Islam. It does not mean compromise or lack of principles. Instead, tolerance means accepting that human beings, naturally distinct in their appearance, situation, speech, behavior, and values, have the right to live in peace and be shown respect.
If we want to call ourselves children of God, we must try to act the part. For example, if we feel compelled to speak the truth, we should do so with love, not impatience. When someone promotes behavior we find immoral, we should challenge them with courtesy and respect, not anger or hostility. This is the essence of a return to civility.
Showing courtesy and respect reflects our reverence for God, as we are all created in His image. We are respecting the person, not their beliefs. We can still be true to our values while respecting their right to express themselves, even when we strongly disapprove of their views.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Channeling Aretha Franklin, we must respect each other, regardless of our opinions and beliefs. It’s easy to show kindness and civility to members of our own tribe. But what about those with whom we have a significant disagreement?
For example, many Christians believe abortion is murder. Can Christians show respect toward pro-abortion advocates knowing their actions lead to what the Christian considers murder? Likewise, many trans-rights advocates believe failing to promote gender equality causes trauma to adolescents. Can trans advocates respect someone who believes there are just two genders even when this belief may lead to teen suicide?
The answer is Yes. Respecting people is not the same as agreeing with them. We respect them as fellow citizens while strongly disagreeing with their beliefs and actions (as long as their activities are legal).
Finding Common Ground
A return to civility requires nurturing a culture of respect. And to develop respect among those with different beliefs, it helps to focus on what we have in common. Fundamentally, we all share a common heritage as Americans. This shared heritage is the key to overcoming our current meanness epidemic.
So what do we have in common with our political and cultural rivals? First, we have sports. We can always find a common sport to bond over, be it football, baseball, tennis, or pickleball. Then there’s food. Most people love food, regardless of their political or religious beliefs. Travel is another great bonding topic – favorite places to vacation. In North Carolina, the conversation always starts – are you a beach or mountain person? The list goes on – cars, clothes, real estate, gardening. We have much in common.
Be A Good Neighbor
A return to civility also means being a good neighbor. The coming election is a perfect opportunity to show the world that Americans may disagree at the polls but can still treat each other with dignity and respect. Furthermore, we need to hold our politicians and media outlets accountable to the same standards of civility.
When a conservative sees her neighbor’s “Ban the Police” bumper sticker, she needs to remember how her neighbor’s kid stood up for her son when a group of bullies were bothering him at school. And when a liberal hears his two neighbors complaining about trans athletes ruining collegiate sports, he can take a deep breath and remember when those same two neighbors brought his family warm meals when his wife was in the hospital.
Regarding politicians, we must let them know that they were elected to represent “us” – and that includes representing our moral values. Accordingly, they must show respect and courtesy to their political rivals. And if they refuse, we should elect someone else who can promote our agenda with dignity. Likewise, regarding the media, we can promote a return to civility by communicating to media outlets (newspapers, tv stations, internet sites) that they need to clean up their act and stop the petty, disrespectful tone that permiates so much of their content. If they don’t, we should put our money where our mouth is and stop giving them our business.
Return To Civility
A return to civility is possible, but it will take a concerted effort on everyone’s part. Nevertheless, I believe the effort is worthwhile, as it will improve our quality of life and the quality of our nation. So, let’s usher in a new season of dynamic political and social debate while preserving an atmosphere of decency and respect for one another.
About Us
Raleigh Acupuncture Associates has served the Greater Raleigh area with superior acupuncture and Chinese medicine since 2005. Our mission is to serve patients with the highest level of professional, effective, and compassionate care.
Meet our Practitioner (Video).
Learn about the conditions we treat.
Focus Keyphrase: return to civility
Photo by Mikhail Nilov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-waving-flag-on-the-back-8846704/
