Monday Moment - Stop the Fighting

This is an old soapbox for me, one I’ve written about it this venue before. But the events of last weekend and horrible, hateful loss of life brings it into focus again.

I’ve read or listened to politicians’ statements decrying the actions of Jared Lee Loughner – and I’m sure I missed more statements than I caught. What I wonder is whether any of those elected officials will comprehend that they also bear responsibility for fanning the fires of hate and incivility in this country.

It’s not that I believe that any of our elected public servants is happy that six people died and fourteen others have been injured – including one of their own. As the young man who appears to be responsible faces trial for his apparent crimes, I’m sure we’ll find many targets for our pointing fingers. I don’t expect elected officials to be among those targets. But, how does a twenty-two year old develop such an attitude of hate that he would open fire in a Safeway parking lot? I can’t imagine there’s a simple answer.

But I can and do believe that our country’s political climate which has steadily grown in hostility and venom had to play a contributing role. And it seems to me that’s something we can change. If we can muster the political will and discipline.

So I’m making a plea to my elected officials – and maybe you’ll extend the plea to your own. (Find their email addresses at www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml) I’ve despaired of getting this point across with enough volume to be heard. But now, with Gabrielle Giffords in critical condition, perhaps their hearing might be more acute. And if you were to add your voice, well, maybe my plea wouldn’t just be a cry in the wilderness.

This is what I want my elected officials – and yours – to hear.

It’s a simple request. Excise the word “fight” and all violent references – even if only symbolic – from your public and private discourse. Will that shift our savage political culture back toward mutual respect? Gosh, I don’t know. But what would it cost you to find out? Not a single blood-free dollar. And just imagine that maybe some susceptible kid might not get the idea that fighting is a reasonable approach to disappointment or disagreement. Just imagine that possibility.

I don’t need to tell you that words matter, do I? You, who have taken oaths to support and defend the Constitution, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same?

Defend, by all means. Argue all you want. Acknowledge disagreements. Then work it out - without fighting to justify your position. Work! That’s what we pay you for. We pay other people to do our fighting and we’re grateful for their sacrifices. You? We don’t pay you to fight and we’d really, really, really like it if you’d stop it – whether you’re trying to get elected or already in office. We pay you to lead.

So give it a chance, will you? Lead a verbal revolution and who knows what might happen? Maybe, just maybe a new era of civility in this country we love. And maybe my vote in your next election too. I’ll be listening.

Sally