Talking to "The Other"

It is amazing that so many self-professed Christians have so little regard for the underprivileged and downtrodden. They are the loudest voices in America when it comes to bashing gay, immigrants and racial minorities.

So many ask WWJD when it comes to abortion; so few ask the same question when it comes to assisting the less fortunate.

The current environment of growning incivility in our public discourse should be of concern to all who value democracy as their preferred form of government. If our public interactions are charactarized more by emotion rather than reason, by incivility rather than tolerance, and by disinformation rather than facts, then it is more than likely that democracy doesn't work very well (and, in response, as history has shown, is likely to invite replacement with more authoritarian forms of government.)

All who share this point of view, hopefully, will seek every possible opportunity to speak out against this dangerous trend. A good place to start might be with the cable networks who foster programs which showcase incivility.

"The Garrison-Martineau Project at www.garrison-martineau.com has some materials & training folks can use. "

Posted by: stsameister

Thank you, stsameister. I followed this up and it looks promising. One question, it seems to focus on Christians and non-believers. Are they (or any other groups anyone else knows of) open to others - Muslims, Pagans, Jews, Buddhist, Hindu, as well as the "spirtual with no name-brand religion" sorts? (I seem to fit in to the last category.) The site has no real "contact us" connection, only "get our materials" type of links, so specific questions are hard to answer.

Another excellent column by Professor Silverman. Mudslinging in the political arena seems to have reached unparalleled heights in the last decade. Sadly, there are many serious problems facing the inhabitants of this planet and the inability to openly discuss these problems and their solutions in a civil fashion may ultimately lead to the destruction of our life support systems here on Earth.

Joe Wilson's real name is:
Addison Graves Wilson Senior

He lies when he call himself "joe".
YOU LIE!!

But seriously folks:
Policy differences don't cause people (especially a trained lawyer(liar?) and politician to burst out with an outburst. Deep emotional hatred does, possibly the kind Southern white males have demonstrated for centuries. Hmmmm.

Another excellent column, Herb. As a fellow South Carolinian, I share your embarrassment at the behavior of our public figures. You singled out the the rigid thinking of the fundamentalist religious mind as the source of much of the violence and incivility in this state. I have always said it was white people's fear of black people that permeates all politics and culture in this region. Of course, the two are deeply intertwined and reinforce one another. And perhaps they could not exist without one another.

Rabbi,

Talking to the Other? But you ARE Other, and so am I. And look at how us Others are talked about, even on your own thread.

WE OTHERS, rabbi, have not benefited from the last four decades on racism, have we?

Farnaz
Other

Excellent piece, Herb. Even when I agree with you, you challenge me to think. Accepting that the media encourages extreme behavior and the most outrageous gets the mike, I almost wish I could believe that the instances you mention and the many others you didn't have space for were examples of righteous outrage or temporary slips. Southern gentlemen are more effectively programed than that and I remember the definition of "gentleman" as one who is never rude unintentionally. My cynicism tells me that these are intentional slips designed to tell those of like mind how they truly feel, without having to accept responsibility for racism, bigotry and small mindedness. This is one time that I do hope I am wrong.

Glad to hear some groups are getting together for conversation & friendship. I'm sure there are many ways to do this and many groups already doing so - but for those looking for a way to start, The Garrison-Martineau Project at www.garrison-martineau.com has some materials & training folks can use.

If a person practices quackery and calls it medicine, the American Medical Association denies that person the right to prictice medicine. Many may continue, calling themselves "spiritual healers" or such, but they can't say that they are practicing medicine.
So much of today's discord in encouraged by people who claim to be practicing journalism. When will the journalists stand up against frauds who make up slander and call it news?

An excellent piece, Herb. I thought Philly had some doozies (and it does) but SC seems to be taking the lead lately. Perhaps Sanford has room for Wilson in his lover's Argentine apartment. And take that other example you mention with him as well.

The next issue of Secular Nation magazine features a number of articles around the concept of "Common Ground" and is well worth reading. Due out mid-October.

I am pleased to note that Joe Wilson's opponent for the 2010 House race is outdoing him significantly in the fundraising department and hopefully, will continue to do so. Wilson is yet another of South Carolina's privileged sons (he has inherited, private wealth) who has chosen to take positions as a representative of this state that have led to national embarrassment.

With Rush Limbaugh as his great advisor and now major fundraiser, I suppose he has deferred to Limbaugh on what not to say that should be said on the House floor.

The fact that both Wilson and his opponent have raised significant funds in the wake of Wilson's outburst reveals something about American cultural groups. On the one hand, we have the kind of folk-hero worship that glorifies anti-intellectualism in the form of personalities like Wilson and Palin. (The crasser and more ignorant the pronouncements, the more support.) On the other, we seem to finally be gathering momentum for preventing these individuals from obtaining (or keeping) public office. I hope SC voters realize that's an option -- turning off the TV is an easy way to avoid loudmouth celebs, but passivity isn't the solution for keeping bubba away from Congress.

"Instead of bashing each other, I suggest organizing the kind of BaSH group we formed in Charleston, South Carolina. Several Baptists and Secular Humanists decided to meet periodically for conversation and refreshments, simply to get to know one another and learn about different perspectives and worldviews."

I LOVE this idea!! How does one go about setting such a thing up? Is there a website or anything anyone has heard about? (I googled BASH, and got so many hits I couldn't sort it out.) Any info, anyone?

The whole idea of trying to understand the 'other' is what drew me to this site in the first place, but only occasionally do I see the sort of dialogue I had in mind. And in person wouuld be so much better. No "hiding in the internet." No facless hostility. And snacks to boot? Sounds great to me.

I think the lack of civility comes from a few different factors. One would be the anti-intellectual nature of American society. If people can't think critically they are much more likely to be uncivil in their discussions and debates. Certainly the prominence of conservative religion contributes to that anti-intellectual atmosphere. The other factor is our uncivil media. Whereas at one time TV and radio debates and discussions were done in a climate of civility, we now have 24-hour cable news and talk radio, which gives the biggest loudmouths the center stage. That, in turn, becomes the social norm.