Last week, I asked you all to tell FOX News that when it comes to truth and civility, they can do better. Thousands of you did. You aren't the only ones who see things getting worse than ever before. This week, a group of more than 130 former legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, released a letter urging for civility and encouraging candidates, once elected, to focus on cooperation to face our country's greatest challenges.The letter said:
None of us shrank from partisan debates while in Congress or from the partisan contests getting there. During our time in Congress, partisans on the other side may have been our opponents on some bills and our adversaries on some issues. They were not, however, the enemy.
The divisive and mean-spirited way debate often occurs inside Congress is encouraged and repeated outside: on cable news shows, in blogs, and in rallies. Members who far exceed the bounds of normal and respectful discourse are not viewed with shame but are lionized, treated as celebrities, rewarded with cable television appearances, and enlisted as magnets for campaign fund-raisers.
This past spring, a diverse group of more than 100 religious leaders signed their names and committed to a "Civility Covenant." We joined together recognizing that too often we have reflected the political divisions of our culture rather than the unity we have in the body of Christ. We came together to urge those who claim the name of Christ to "put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31-32).
We made seven biblically based commitments that I believe are seven steps we all need to take for truth and civility today. These are seven commitments that Christians should carry with them as a reminder for themselves and a challenge to others. Candidates need to know that voters do not just care about who wins, but how they win.
The Civility Covenant states:
Here are some ideas:
Send this covenant to all the candidates running for Congress, Senate, and governorship in your districts and states. Submit the covenant to their websites. Take it to their forums, debates, and rallies and publicly challenge candidates to sign it.
Send letters to the editors of your local newspapers calling for civility and lifting up this covenant. Contact your TV and radio stations to tell them you expect more from them.
Finally, take the covenant to church. Give it to the members of your congregation. Give it to your pastor. Ask your pastor to preach on the need for civility in this election season.
It's up to us now.
Jim Wallis is the author of Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street -- A Moral Compass for the New Economy, and CEO of Sojourners. He blogs at www.godspolitics.com. Follow Jim on Twitter @JimWallis.
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OTOH, giving in and giving up is no kind of option, either.
Personally, I don't mind, but seriously - don't you think you should lead by example, being a Christian leader and all that?
One of the problems I see with the image of progressive Christians in this overheated political climate is that there isn't much of one -- Christians seem to be lumped in the general public as either Bible thumpin' conservatives or radicals on the fringe of belief.
Your friend,
Weirdwriter
I can't.
There are persons who need to be chased away from the public policy discourse. They were allowed into the halls of power and influence, and their presence drove the ship of state aground. They and their protectors and apologist need to "Voted of the island".
As much of a free speech absolutist as I am, I cannot understand why people who are CONSISTENTLY WRONG are always the ones the MSM keep calling to explain policy decisions. They do nothing but poison the debate.
The regressives have also aggressively marketed themselves as "experts" and "policymakers" in a way I don't think progressives have as much. Maybe because we're honest.
AMEN
Everytime a politician, Republican OR Democrat, plays the partisan game of disagreeing with the other side simply because it's the other side. America loses. Though it will be difficult, and may at times seem impossible, civility is the answer.
Please, focus on this format. You will notice that Beck has over 10 million listeners on his radio show VS 2 million viewers on his TV show. Rush has 15- 20 million, Hannity is way up ther also.
Then their poison is repeated by local hosts on 90 percent of OUR airwaves. Believe me, I have studied this for over a decade. The Fairness Doctrine was repealed so that this monopoly of propaganda could control the message. Nothing will change if this is not addressed.