Vitriol vs. civility

ann mcfeatters in the pittsburgh post gazette gives us all some food for thought over this memorial day weekend...

[T]oday's debate has escalated to vitriolic national arguments about the most delicate and wrenching of subjects. [...] Inevitably, science will solve many of our dilemmas, and today's debates will morph into others. [...] But there also always will be ethical problems and moral quandaries as a result of the march of science. If we let our right-wing versus left-wing squabbling continue to degenerate into non-productive, destructive, vituperative rancor, all our debates will be poisoned.

[...]

There will be no difference between a Senate debate and a cable network screamfest. We will not fight another civil war using guns; but we will fight one using venom. The rest of the world's growing disgust at us will be merited. Our democracy will no longer be a model for others.

I thought about this as I watched Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, struggle not to break into tears as he spoke on the floor of the Senate about his fear for the future of America's image abroad.

[...]

[W]hat kind of society [are we grooming our children] for as we honor our dead, remember our past, prepare for summer's delights, celebrate with our graduates and keep our fingers crossed that the president and the lawmakers get their acts together, perhaps even acting kindly toward each other.

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