Civility and Parties: Opening Pandora’s Box

Pardon me if you anticipated some discourse on manners and social occasions, but the topic is slanted toward the political rather than the amiable gathering. We hear Democrats and Republicans alike collectively espousing the importance for everyone to behave in a respectful and civil manner. However their self-righteous lecturing sounds a dissonant cord, incongruent with their regular and bombastic diatribes against their opponents or individuals who hold an independent or divergent view. These Party pillars of political puffery preach that they do not advocate violent action against other because according to them, in America we do not advocate violence as a political means. They then proceed, almost without even a grammatical pause between their pronouncements of civility and respect, to rail against whomever dares to contest their positions or authority on what is right. I believe that the idiom which applies is: That once should practice what you preach.

If this behavior were simply just another characteristic demonstration of their skills, understanding and wisdom then we can hardly be amazed by our political leaders. As they do not exhibit any propensity for ability, comprehension or judgment in their legislative efforts; should we really expect that they would perform any better in their campaign ventures? With their persistent demonization of their immediate opponent, whether that is from within their own party or is on the other side, are these partisan individuals completely oblivious to the motivations and stimulus that they induce in supporters? Perhaps they don’t understand the power that words have to evoke and justify actions which they will later insist that they had neither the intention nor the expectation of propagating. Is this the caliber of intellect that the ‘best and brightest’ of our elected officials are capable of bringing to the table? Apparently so.

Regardless of their objectives in employing their invective oratory to garner the political support of voters and lobbying organizations, they are culpable for the harvest that comes from the seeds that they have sown. Who does not know that breeding hatred and prejudice will bear a bitter fruit? As we see the rancor and hostility that has become the norm between the Parties in Congress, between the Party loyalist in public events, and among position-aligned media entities offering biased and self-serving grist; there can be no doubt that the Parties are the manure that feeds the weeds of hatred and violence that comes from this ignorance.

When party-line adherents begin to take violent actions against individuals or groups that they have been convinced are the enemy or need to be punished for their transgressions, this creates the catalyst for reciprocation. Provoking the ‘eye for an eye’ reaction is too often an impulsive reaction that occurs from that primitive mentality that sees itself being attacked and that defending itself allows for and justifies actions that are contrary to and beneath our American creed. The consequences of politically advocating hate is never going to produce benefits for anyone in the society except the politicians who will gain position and power by feeding the rapacious fear that they engender. The founding Fathers intended that our democratic system would be driven by honorable people striving to serve the people and to deliver to the people peace, health, happiness, prosperity, and liberty. None of these American values are promoted by nor secured through the dispensation of hatred and division; and the politician who rely upon divisive language and behavior are remiss in their duty to America and lack the integrity consistent with American values.

The only recourse for the American public to avoid the dangers and disasters that will and has sprouted from this irresponsibility of the Parties, is to stand-up to the politicians and political groups that fixate on position but not issue, on self-righteousness but not justice, and on rights but not responsibilities. Your decision to participate, support and vote for any candidate must be because they offer solutions to real problems that they explain and discuss sufficiently to convince you that you understand the problem and that they understand the problem and that their remedy is appropriate, effective and rational. Yes, it will be difficult to find a politician that can or will do this; but you do have the one thing that will force them to change their behavior and to serve your interests and not theirs. You have the vote that they desire and require. Without your support they are impotent, unless you are inactive and passively let them proceed without any consequence from ignoring your interests.