As I look back on the week, the single biggest thing that stands out for me is the reaction that comes out the lecture President Obama gave the Nation Wednesday evening was the out cry from the Representative from South Carolina, Joe Wilson.
As I watched this, for a brief moment I thought I was seeing the Parliament or Korean Senate.
This is not only a disgrace but is dangerous ground.
We are a nation of civility where we tolerate indifference in a way that few countries can or are willing.
We have fought wars for this right.
Yet we also have always had the innate ability to choose the right time and place where the civil uprising is acceptable.
In the United States Senate Chamber is not the right time or place.
We as a country are in danger of losing our sense of decorum.
We are fresh off the month of August where we saw civil uprisings at a level we have not seen in recent memory.
The issue of Healthcare in this country is a deeply personal issue which makes the debate passionate, spirited and almost scary.
Through this hysteria the difference between myth and truth have a witches brew that can boil over into the streets as there is much to lose with this debate.
Regardless of your position in the healthcare argument, my point is about the civility in the argument, or lack there of.
The day of the "James Carvell" way of politics should come to an end! Back in the day, The Clinton's stayed on top for eight years due in part to the Carvell approach of demonizing their opponents.
If they didn't agree with you, they did not engage in debate, they simply made you vial and repugnant in any way they could.
Then they leveraged every media resource that remains to this day at their beckon call to spread the word.
Today, we see this carryover, with the worst offender Nancy Pelosi leading the charge.
Like some battle cry, the civil unrest takes on the negative characterization of a mob.
Once again the media chimed in offering their brand of bias connecting to the masses.
As I attempted to debate the issues in a fantasy football league during Obama's speech, the venom in the liberal point of view was clear as they fired accusations of racism and flat out hatred of anything Obama.
They did not care to engage on the facts; they simply knew this was a losing tact, because they know their position is defenseless.
When they felt as though they were lost in the race card, they simply wanted to get back to Football, which was fine by me.
Yet I walked away with sincere concern about the continued demoralization of the US Spirit.
Once upon a time we Stood United, all States United.
This was real back then, not some far fetched fantasy.
Today is all about self, the cause for the "Greater Good" is vastly diminished, not gone...
yet.
Back in the day, (before Clinton), there seemed to be a sense of patriot loyalty to the United States.
People would disagree, but they remained united on what was best for this country.
The press did just that, they pressed for truth; they exposed those that were working for the kind of change they trumpet today.
Today I struggle with the word "Treason" when it comes to the media today, but that is another story.
For the time being, I cry out for re-establishing a sense of civility in our politics.
I for one have grown tired of the villains and demons and stand ready to start having Statesman and Public Servants reinstated in the mainstream media.
I realize this may just be a pipe dream, but if I don't say it, my dream will never be known, and in this case it would be nice to see this dream come true.