DEMOCRACY

The political season is now full speed ahead now that the nominating conventions have concluded. It does seem, however, that the season began months ago if not four years ago. Be that as it may, I, for one, am not looking forward to the next eight weeks or so, for what we will see and hear is what we have been seeing and hearing for a very long time now: negatively piled upon negativity. To me, that is very, very sad.

For anyone who values democracy, the political atmosphere is toxic and not worthy of this great nation of ours. Parker J. Palmer addresses this situation in his latest book, Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit. Politics, contrary to prevailing practice, is not dirty. In fact, it is quite the opposite, or at least it is supposed to be.

Here’s what Parker has to say: “Politics is the ancient and honorable human endeavor of creating a community in which the weak as well as the strong can flourish, love and power can collaborate, and justice and mercy can have their day.” Sounds like something Jesus would say were Jesus asked to comment on what politics is supposed to be about because that is certainly what Christianity is all about.

We are a diverse people in this country. That is what makes us so great and that is also what often causes problems and certainly why there are differences of opinion when it comes to politics. Diversity, according to Palmer, can be detrimental or beneficial but it is up to us as a people to which it will be. What we need, of course, is what has been lost in today’s political atmosphere: a change of heart so that we become civil one to another.

Being civil to another with whom we disagree does not mean simply watching our tongues. It comes, reminds Palmer, from valuing our differences. The reason our country had become the greatest nation on earth, even with all our failings and shortcomings, is that we are made up of all sorts and conditions of people and because we have learned from one another.

Even more, given that no two of us thinks exactly alike simply because we are all unique individuals who bring are personal histories to each situation, we will have differences of opinion on all sorts of issues. That’s normal. That’s human. That’s to be expected and even demanded if a democracy is to flourish. What a dull world we would live in if we all thought and acted alike.

Partisanship is not a problem. The political parties arose and exist because of partisan politics. There is nothing wrong with that. It is good. It is a good as well. We grow as a nation and as a person because we can learn from others who think differently than we do. They have something to teach us just as we have something to teach them. The problem that we have today is that instead of valuing our differences we demonize those who think differently, just listen to the political ads. That is sad.

Even more sadly is that nothing will change until we have a change of heart.