Letterman used to have a lot of fun showing a video of Dan Quayle and his fellow Senators at a banquet. President Reagan was speaking, and all the Senators were listening attentively and respectfully. Except for the future Vice President, who was busy eating.
It was ridiculous: the President of the United States was there to talk to him, and Dan Quayle couldn't tear his attention away from his salad. You'd think even if he didn't particularly care for President Reagan (the leader of his own party), he'd have enough respect for the office to give his undivided attention. And it's not like Reagan was a poor public speaker.
Earlier this week parents all over the country decided they'd rather their kids miss a day of school than let President Obama "indoctrinate" them. He encouraged the kids to stay in school, work hard, and help make the world a better place. I'd think we could do with more kids so indoctrinated.
And today a Congressman interrupted the President's address to a joint session of Congress
to accuse him of lying. He has since apologized.
How did we get to this point? How did we get to a place where it's even thinkable for a Congressman to heckle the President of the United States? I was never a fan of George W. Bush, but if he'd come to speak to my group I'd certainly have listened politely and attentively. Whatever dislike I had for the man would be tempered by my great respect for the office - as much a symbol of our nation, our values, and our heritage as the flag, the eagle, and the national anthem.
I understand that there are a lot of angry people toward the conservative side of the political spectrum. (There are a lot of angry people toward the liberal side, too. But their anger tends to manifest as something closer to gloating and arrogance right now.) They've lost their dominance, and they're anxious and unhappy about the direction things are taking. They're afraid that their cherished values are being threatened, shoved aside, even mocked.
So it doesn't surprise me that some of them feel they have to resort to extreme behavior. Some show up openly armed at the President's public appearances. Some denounce him and his supporters from the pulpit. And some pull their kids out of school rather than let them listen to what he has to say.
What surprises me is seeing this anger, this "you're not listening to me!" frustration show up in the halls of Congress.
Courtesy is a social necessity. It keeps us together as a functioning society. It demonstrates respect for others. Disrespect for one is disrespect for all. You're valuing your interests above the common good.
Incivility is a sign of desperation. It's a willingness to sacrifice the conversation to make your point. You feel you're in a corner, back against the wall - it's do or die time, no time to be nice about it.
So you toss out the rulebook. You call shenanigans on playing nice. You scoff at courtesy - we live in a post-polite world, all those stuffy rules just get in the way. Your refusal to be courteous marks you as honest. You're not polite, you're real.
And when you get the cold shoulder from those unable or unwilling to turn the other cheek, that just confirms your righteousness. You're counting on everyone else playing by the rules you scorn. Your own medicine tastes bitter, but it's a taste you know well.
I supported Obama in large part for his commitment to the political process - civility included. I'm hoping he can keep the dialog going, even in the face of such hostility and naked disrespect.
