We can’t be led by the loudest argument
What’s happened to the America we used to know? Civil disobedience is no longer civil. It’s now acceptable to publicly act in unacceptable ways.
How did we arrive at this point where being rude, offensive and bullying others is our “new normal”? One answer might be that anti-democracy rebelliousness is being fueled by disinformation, intolerance and polarization across America. Is it fair to blame much of that degradation on the verbal graffiti created by politicians and newscasters?
At times, America’s political climate feels like a fairy tale with wicked witches casting evil spells. Sometimes, politicking is like an unhinged, never-ending nightmare, with politicians behaving like self-serving grifters on “American Greed.” Their lack of decorum and cavalier attitude toward their Constitutional oath are major factors in the disintegration of standards — such as the Golden Rule — throughout society.
As for TV newscasters and radio talkshow hosts, there’s a difference between informing citizens with news and using misinformation to stoke fears. Manufactured crises about cultural wars, election fraud conspiracies and accusations of “tyranny” are keeping the turmoil roiling.
Unfortunately, the rancor being generated by multiple entities has spilled over into the real world. A frightening form of radicalism — violence as a means to an end — has recently entered the picture. County board meetings and local school board meetings (plus families of elected officials) are now subject to threats and disruption.
Public servants are the core of our democracy. This mafia-type intimidation — this vigilante virus — must be stopped before it proliferates. Posting rewards and
announcing arrests without delay might alleviate that problem.
People have the right to be heard. They do not have a right to be unruly or threaten others.
The assumption that everyone knows how to behave is a false premise. All boards must adopt formal guidelines (eg., a code of conduct for civil disobedience) patterned after Emily Post’s etiquette guide. Speakers at public meetings would be required to abide by that code. Also, all boards must have a sergeant at arms to control disorderly conduct and remove disruptors from meetings. Anyone making threats must be prosecuted, fined and jailed.
America is undoubtedly going through a cultural crisis. Unless we counterbalance the negative forces with positive solutions, the nastiest, rudest, most foul-mouthed factions will take over.
If one of the root causes of the problem has been the news media, then maybe it’s time for it to become part of the solution. Local stations could air broadcasts about the code of conduct. Also, the code could be mailed to every postal address and/or be part of the curriculum in schools.
Citizens watching TV or listening to talk radio can make a difference by switching stations. Lowering the ratings, hurting broadcasters financially, will make newscasters feel the consequences of their behavior. Voting pretzel politicians out of office is another way to generate positive results.
Unless something changes, what happened on Jan. 6 will only get worse. Our American family is broken. It’s up to all of us to put it back together again.
Angela Tilaro, San Marcos