A Lesson in Civility

The Obama inauguration can teach us a valuable lesson in civility; it was unmarred by right-wing protests. With the exception of that notorious group from Kansas, the transfer of power was graceful and more importantly civil, at least from the right. Of course people in the crowd booed when Bush's image was flashed on jumbo-trons and one contingent near the Capitol sang "Na-na-na-na, hey, hey, goodbye" in a jeering farewell. President George W. Bush was booed lustily by the crowd in front of the platform. Fortunately, they at least appeared to be a minority.

Is this the way your mother taught you to behave? Would she be proud of you? If there is anything worse than a sore loser, it is a sore winner; it speaks volumes when you can’t even win graciously. A brief glance over an assortment of Dick Cheney wheelchair stories reveals such a plethora of vitriolic comments that it sickens me to read. Ranging from “Doctor Strangelove” to “Well maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll roll off the stage” and those are some of the more decent ones. Listen to your President:

“We come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics,” he declared.

Perhaps he wasn’t just talking about the Republicans; perhaps our new President is just better and more decent than some of those of his party he was elected to represent. Heed the words of our first President:

“Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume."

~George Washington~

I, a Conservative, Republican, American, wish our (my) new President well; for after all, our fates are intertwined, are they not? To wish the President well is to wish America well. To the nasty, gleeful, jeering children that taunt and scoff at our outgoing President, I urge you... Grow Up! To the petulant and bitter who claim he is not "My President"... Leave. For in your bitterness you deny the basic democratic principles upon which our great nation is founded. If he's not your President... then you must not be an American... for, like it or not,Barrack Hussein Obama is President of the United States of America.

Undoubtedly there will be issues upon which we disagree, and just as undoubtedly there will issues we will agree upon. I will, when in disagreement, oppose in defense of my principles, but rationally, civilly, and with respect. When in agreement, I will be man enough to admit it and not oppose simply out of spite, and will give credit where credit is due. When defeated I will give you the benefit of the doubt, and give your policies a chance to work, when victorious, I will not gloat. For those of my party and political persuasion who find fault with the opposition, lead by example. Partisanship must end!

I call to those members of all parties who believe that rational, civil, and intellectual discourse is the foundation of democracy to shun those who resort to childish behavior, rebuke them, do not allow them to be 'the voice' of your party. It demeans the parties, the principles, the positions, and this great nation.

Long Live the Republic and the President of these great United States of America.

~Finntann~

Paris USA

Finntann wrote in his blog about the decline of 'Civil-ization' in this country. While the polite still outnumber the rude, the ranks of the latter are growing.

Closely related to the rude are those who think the rules don't apply to them, or who have become successful but are resentful of having had to work so hard for it. Just look at the financial mess we are in: The rules didn't apply to the politicians and their crony capitalist friends. Next we have anger and resentment from those who have overcome poverty and racism to get where they are today. Millionaire Michelle Obama is a perfect example:

“You’re looking at a young couple that’s just a few years out of debt,” Obama said. “See, because, we went to those good schools, and we didn’t have trust funds.”

We are the land of self-inflated entitlement: "I want it all and I want it now. I deserve it." No further explanation necessary.

My explanation? We are a conglomeration of self-absorbed entities casually bumping into one another. Sense of community is rapidly becoming a quaint ideal practiced only in small town America, where, according to certain elitists, the benighted hicks cling to their racism, guns and bibles.

We also don't realize that we are the spoiled rich brats living off of, and squandering, the inheritance of our forbears. No appreciation, just "give me the keys to the Beemer, Dad." And we drive off in ignorant bliss.

The freedoms we enjoy were bought and paid for with the blood of patriots. This economy, still the envy of the world despite current glitches, didn't just build itself. Capitalists and financiers, small business owners, inventors, and sinewy laborers built this nation by the sweat of their brow.

Conservatives will say the downhill slide started when we abandoned the ethos that taught: "You don't work, you don't eat," and they are right.

Progressives will say that capitalism without morals or rules has fueled rampant greed that is destroying our society, and they are right.

Cotton Mather said it best:

Virtue begat prosperity, and the daughter killed the mother.