The Community Times Dispatch

I watched a wheel chair bound lady attempt to tell the story of her treatment by the health care insurance industry, and how she had to choose between her medications, and paying her mortgage. Her story was very heartfelt and personal. She was crying, and listening to her tell her story, I wanted to cry as well. But it was obvious at that meeting that there were many who could not feel empathy for this woman, empathy that she deserved. Men and women in the background tried to shout her down. They hollered and booed and interrupted her, showing not the least bit of respect. Words like “Nazi” and “communist” could be heard in the anonymity of the background. These folks acted like unruly children who were never taught respectful ways to disagree, nor how to act in public.

I saw coverage of another man, who seemed rabidly angry, shouting, “Afro-Lenninism”, and saying that Obama “isn’t like the rest of us”.

I have seen people openly calling Obama a “socialist”, a “Nazi”, and using other despicable “names”, even going so far as to shout “Hiel Hitler”!.

I have seen a preacher who openly preaches his hate of Obama, and asks his congregation to pray for the President’s death!

I watched for 3 or 4 weeks as new dishonesties crept into our public dialogue about Health Care Reform. Every week a new one. Granted, we can expect some misunderstanding when legislation is being “built” in piecemeal fashion in the House and Senate, but no reasonable person who actually read the developing legislation would have taken some of these things (such as “Death Panels”) as true.

There is a rabidness that I sense, as I watch, that is built on anger and dishonesty, and more. It refuses to be constrained by the rules of logical discussion. Facts don’t matter.

A few months ago, I met someone from my wife’s side of the family, who was visiting with her husband. This relative is very well liked in her community, and has a reputation for “being a lot of fun”. A few other family members were present, and conversation drifted from one topic to the next. This relative mentioned coverage that she saw on one channel, and stated that another channel would not cover it because they were “pro-Obama”. I had seen that very coverage on the channel that she said didn’t cover it, and gently stated what I saw. It didn’t matter! Despite the fact that I saw it, she denied it! Despite the fact that this is a channel that she refuses to watch because she thinks the channel is slanted! The facts didn’t matter. I watched this woman’s anger go from 0 to 60 in two seconds flat! I watched her husband’s anger explode, while he went down a diatribe list of grievances and misrepresentations. Another relative said something very angry to me, aligning herself with this relative. I could feel the anger in the room, and it frightened me. My head swam with their illogical arguments, and the out-of-control look on their faces. Before I knew it, this same woman was spouting derogatory phrases, including using the “N” word, and looking very pleased with herself for doing so! Those who were susceptible worked themselves up into a “group rage”.

Prejudice is unnerving when it rears it’s ugly head. It is built on dishonesty and rage. It’s arguments are childish in their logic, a logic that must remain unexamined in order bolster this world view.

Now, I know that there could be other reasons for the lack of polite discourse in the Health Care Reform debate. Sometimes people are not gracious losers, and the anger that they feel at being on the losing side may be fueling some of this. Fear of losing what they have may be the cause for those who are easily manipulated and infected by the rage that others bring to the discourse. Others probably are fueled by their own and others’ prejudice. There are those who know how to kindle this fear and rage in some who are more easily manipulated than others. I am sure that some of that is going on!

However, I must say we are better than this! The vast majority neither think nor feel the way that some of these loudest most disrespectful folks think and feel. We must insist on polite discourse, or throw those who are disruptive out! Protest on the street is everyone’s right, but that does not include what I have seen lately. We can agree to disagree, but we must insist on civility!

Ken Scully
Ruffin, SC