Stop the cultural war

In recent years, citizens have witnessed the tragic impact on national unity when politicians appeal not to our better angels but rather to the divisive instincts of fear and outrage. In the intensifying cultural war, citizens seek out political warriors that will ruthlessly champion their values. In turn, these political warriors increasingly practice the dark alchemy of outrage to galvanize voter loyalty. Self-promoting politicians jockey for appearances on partisan media and shamelessly spread disinformation about the other party.

Increasingly vicious political theater tears at societal cohesion while much-needed legislative solutions burn up in the heat of partisan war. Politicians from both parties increasingly display heedless partisan loyalty unmoored from a moral compass. Truth-telling and acts of integrity beget the scarlet letter of party disloyalty. This is exactly the dark energy that has destroyed once-great nations.

If change is going to happen, citizens must open their eyes to our role in this destructive path. We have elected politicians who lack the wisdom and moral courage to slow the war, to tell us the truth and guide our nation in a more unified and prosperous direction. We must relinquish any dream of vanquishing the other side and thus imposing our values on all. That can only lead to a desperately dark outcome. Only a spiritually inspired mutual tolerance and willingness for earnest and respectful dialogue can point the nation toward healing. If we continue to elect politicians eager for cultural war, rather than for reasonable compromise and fair and effective governance for all, we should prepare for troubled times. If we allow this war to destroy our democracy, neither side will be able to put the devil back in the bottle, and the shining city on a hill will go dark.

JERRY HENDERSON Little Rock