What is it about your blatant incivility that captures our attention? It can make us laugh, feel vindicated or leave us utterly stunned and outraged.
When Iraqi journalist, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, threw first one shoe and then the other at President Bush last December, I confess, I had to chuckle because the president managed to duck both efforts so adeptly. Okay, if I'm completely honest, I may have also been feeling just a smidgen of empathy for the shoe-thrower's anger and frustration. However, if he'd actually managed to hit the president, it wouldn't have been so amusing.
In just the past week we have seen several such instances of your outrageous incivility plastered all over the headlines--Kanye West, Serena Williams and Representative Joe Wilson. In the case of Joe Wilson, frankly, I am more outraged by the money people have donated to his campaign since the incident than the offense itself.
Yeah, let's reward his bad behavior—that's the way to get our point across!
But for every one of you applauding his audacity, there are ten-fold more of us who are simply disgusted. He is not a hero. He is not amusing. He's not getting a donation from me.
Our government is a Democracy. There is a process, a system of checks and balances, and there is protocol. However, if I thought making a donation to his opponent, Rob Miller, would actually influence how the people in South Carolina will eventually vote, I might consider it... and apparently many people have—to the tune of over $1M! Anyway, my guess is Joe took his cue from the outrageous behavior we've seen making headlines at local townhall meetings.
When Iraqi journalist, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, threw first one shoe and then the other at President Bush last December, I confess, I had to chuckle because the president managed to duck both efforts so adeptly. Okay, if I'm completely honest, I may have also been feeling just a smidgen of empathy for the shoe-thrower's anger and frustration. However, if he'd actually managed to hit the president, it wouldn't have been so amusing.
In just the past week we have seen several such instances of your outrageous incivility plastered all over the headlines--Kanye West, Serena Williams and Representative Joe Wilson. In the case of Joe Wilson, frankly, I am more outraged by the money people have donated to his campaign since the incident than the offense itself.
Yeah, let's reward his bad behavior—that's the way to get our point across!
But for every one of you applauding his audacity, there are ten-fold more of us who are simply disgusted. He is not a hero. He is not amusing. He's not getting a donation from me.
Our government is a Democracy. There is a process, a system of checks and balances, and there is protocol. However, if I thought making a donation to his opponent, Rob Miller, would actually influence how the people in South Carolina will eventually vote, I might consider it... and apparently many people have—to the tune of over $1M! Anyway, my guess is Joe took his cue from the outrageous behavior we've seen making headlines at local townhall meetings.
When did our democracy devolve into a shouting match? Do you think "your side" has the only valid opinion? Do you think you NEED TO SHOUT to be heard? Well, guess what? Those congressmen and senators are also hearing from ME in the usual way. I'm calling their offices and writing letters, voicing my POV without raising my voice. Here's another *NEWS FLASH* for you: there are a LOT of us who have opted to work the system in the usual way, without making headlines.
We see countless examples of our society's increasing propensity for incivility in our everyday lives. We see it on our morning commute, at the supermarket, at work and, sadly, even in your children's behavior (because they learn by example, after all).
When we're confronted by other people's efforts to shock or offend our sensibilities, we often react. How we choose to react can be very direct or more subtle given the circumstances. I generally prefer to act without a lot of fanfare. Two wrongs don't make a right. If an attempt at humor can't defuse an ugly situation, I'll walk away and allow my silence to speak louder than words.
I don't have time in my life for deliberately offensive words or actions or the people who instigate or condone them. It doesn't make you a hero for having the brass to speak your mind with a complete disregard for common courtesy.
civ⋅i⋅lized
–adjective
1. having an advanced or humane culture, society, etc.
2. polite; well-bred; refined.
3. of or pertaining to civilized people.
4. well organized or ordered.
bar⋅bar⋅ic
–adjective
1. without civilizing influences; uncivilized; primitive: barbaric invaders.
2. of, like, or befitting barbarians: a barbaric empire; barbaric practices.
3. crude; rude.
Get the message, "Joe"?
— Robin
UPDATES:
For more on this topic, read:
Civility: A Thing of the Past?
Commentary: Joe, Kanye, Serana--aren't they special?
We see countless examples of our society's increasing propensity for incivility in our everyday lives. We see it on our morning commute, at the supermarket, at work and, sadly, even in your children's behavior (because they learn by example, after all).
When we're confronted by other people's efforts to shock or offend our sensibilities, we often react. How we choose to react can be very direct or more subtle given the circumstances. I generally prefer to act without a lot of fanfare. Two wrongs don't make a right. If an attempt at humor can't defuse an ugly situation, I'll walk away and allow my silence to speak louder than words.
I don't have time in my life for deliberately offensive words or actions or the people who instigate or condone them. It doesn't make you a hero for having the brass to speak your mind with a complete disregard for common courtesy.
civ⋅i⋅lized
–adjective
1. having an advanced or humane culture, society, etc.
2. polite; well-bred; refined.
3. of or pertaining to civilized people.
4. well organized or ordered.
bar⋅bar⋅ic
–adjective
1. without civilizing influences; uncivilized; primitive: barbaric invaders.
2. of, like, or befitting barbarians: a barbaric empire; barbaric practices.
3. crude; rude.
Get the message, "Joe"?
— Robin
UPDATES:
For more on this topic, read:
Civility: A Thing of the Past?
Commentary: Joe, Kanye, Serana--aren't they special?
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