R-E-S-P-E-C-T | Eastern North Carolina Now

Tom Campbell
    Is it just me or have we come to a time when people can say anything they want with no sense of remorse of concern for others? The current presidential circus is filled with candidates calling each other names but this disrespectful conduct has filtered down and is now tolerated in North Carolina.

    One State Senator called the Governor "tone deaf," saying McCrory can't decide whether he wants to be Governor of Charlotte or Mayor of North Carolina. Another claimed he has nothing to do with budget negotiations. One Representative publicly told McCrory to "shut up." These are Republicans demeaning a governor of their own party. Another Representative referred to the residents of Greensboro as "willful and petulant children deprived of a treat, impotently flailing their little arms and legs about." This name-calling, ridiculing and vilification reminds us more of children on a playground than elected officials doing the people's business.

    P.M. Forni, co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project, in his book Choosing Civility, says we have placed great value on self-expression in this culture, but we frequently confuse this with the need for self-control, a quality we expect people to have learned when they become adults. We wonder where are the grownups in the legislature and why aren't they speaking out against this unacceptable conduct?

    Many of us were raised in a time when elected officials, doctors, lawyers, pastors or those in high positions in commerce commanded certain deference, and I'm still old school enough to believe that the office of governor of our state, regardless of who occupies it, deserves respect.

    Our mamas always told those of us born and raised in the South that, "if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all." If someone acted rudely or displayed poor manners they obviously " are not from around here." At the least we would preface unpleasantries by beginning them by saying, "bless his heart.... That's all changed. Native born Tar Heels have taken up the disparaging practice.

    Have we become so self-important and narcissistic as to believe we can bash anyone any time we like? Our inappropriate conduct has sadly devolved to the point where anyone who disagrees with you on any point becomes your sworn enemy. Not only must you prevail in an argument with those who disagree but you aren't to stop until the person is humiliated, eviscerated and stomped upon.

    My father served in the legislature, back in the 70s and it was common for R's and D's to socialize, eat meals, stay in the same hotel and work closely together on legislation. Now the two parties barely speak to one another. It is difficult to treat anyone with admiration who shows contempt or disrespect for other officeholders and the public.

    Are these tactics designed to divert our attention from what is really being accomplished on Jones Street? Our lawmakers would get more done by focusing on issues instead of personalities.

    Incivility is uncalled-for, unappreciated and definitely unproductive. This toxic, unacceptable behavior won't end until folks call it out and declare that further discussion and debate be mannerly or else discontinued.

    Aretha Franklin spelled it out in her 1960s song. What we want, what we need and what we should demand is a little more r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

    Publisher's note: Tom Campbell is former assistant North Carolina State Treasurer and is creator/host of NC SPIN, a weekly statewide television discussion of NC issues airing Sundays at 11:00 am on WITN-TV. Contact Tom at NC Spin.
Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published)
Enter Your Comment ( no code or urls allowed, text only please )



Comment

( August 1st, 2015 @ 3:49 pm )
 
Thank you, Tom, for one of the most incisive articles to appear in BCN in many a moon. The series I am doing now on "finding a way to live together" is but a more detailed expression of what you simply said in this fine article.

As a former and current minister, insurance professional, small tree surgery business owner it gives me hope we have such mature advisers as you!

The noted Pastor/Writer of WWII era, Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, described much discourse of his day as "Intellectual excursion without moral persuasion." He was citing the same need for civility and a moral factor in important matters.

I once heard of a church business meeting in the heat and fury of Integration. The discussion had to do with whether you seated anyone of color in your church for "white Christians only." One of the debaters rose to have his say and prefaced it with "I don't know whether this is Christian or not but . . ." The Pastor/Moderator immediately said, "You, sir, are out of order---the rule above Roberts Rules of Order here is the Bible and Jesus Christ as our Saviour! We have no discussion in this church meeting which is not based on Christ!"

It seems the more "righteous" certain politicians have become, the more crudely they act. To forget "love your neighbor as yourself" is, perhaps, the greatest sin of today in American politics --- in my view . . .



Planned Parenthood: Killing Fetuses and Selling Their Body Parts My Spin, Editorials, Op-Ed & Politics Separation of Church and State


HbAD0

Latest Op-Ed & Politics

President Joe Biden took direct aim at Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during a recent interview, referring to him simply as “the guy who likes to spend a lot of time on yachts.”
The best way the county and city can help hold down inflation is to resist all tax increases
Pope Francis lambasted leftist gender ideology during an address this week, warning that it presented an extreme danger to mankind.
amnesty would just encourage more illegal aliens to storm our borders
The Christmas candy was barely off the shelves when the Valentine’s candy appeared. Red and pink hearts with caramel and nut-filled chocolate goodness caught our eye. We are reminded of how we love love. Young love, especially.

HbAD1

far left sugar daddy has also funded anti-Israel groups and politicians in US
Be careful what you wish for, you may get it
America needs to wake up and get its priorities right
Former President Donald Trump suggested this week that if he becomes president again, he might allow Prince Harry to be deported.
It's a New Year, which means it's time to make resolutions — even for prominent evangelical leaders. The Babylon Bee asked the following well-known figures in the faith what they hope to accomplish in 2024:
Vice President Kamala Harris will visit a Minnesota Planned Parenthood clinic, reportedly the first time a president or vice president has visited an abortion facility.

HbAD2

An eight-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville has been temporarily closed due to a string of “human and bear interactions,” the National Parks Service announced.

HbAD3

 
Back to Top