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Kindness in politics
One of the most important areas where we need to promote kindness is politics. Our political discourse at this point in time is cruel and abusive. The closest thing to this in our recent past was the McCarthy era. Now, in our primarily two-party system, political parties are being demonized. Labels like "the enemy within" and "domestic terrorists" are freely used. When someone attacks an entire major political party, they are dehumanizing millions of registered voters. How does this allow for the recognition of basic humanity or respect for those who hold views different from our own? Clearly, when we are unkind to those who do not agree with us, we are promoting violence. We are also encouraging others to see certain groups of people as targets for behavior we would not engage in — against those we recognize as fellow human beings with the same rights, feelings, and dignity as our own.
The political discourse today is unbelievable! For 31 years, I taught critical thinking classes. I taught students about manipulation tactics that are used in arguments to control the narrative and shift focus away from the facts. Because of that, I see that ad hominem attacks are fruitless. They are childish attacks on the people who present ideas and policy, rather than fair debates about the effects of the policy itself.
Why does this matter so much? Because we need leaders who are kind, not cruel. Kind leaders will work together for the advancement and good of all of us. What will result are policies and laws for the benefit of those living in the U.S. now as well as for future generations, and foreign policies that benefit those living in other parts of the world.
Human beings are, by nature, social animals. All of our progress to date has been a result of working together, allowing all ideas to be heard, and agreeing on how these ideas can be combined to create a better world. Social animals are advantaged by kindness. Kindness promotes the ability to work together in groups and achieve those things that are impossible for any of us to do on our own.
Professor and theologian Dion Forster has written about Nico Koopman, a South African ethicist. He shares Koopman's remarks that "a society that longs for greater 'human rights' should pay attention to cultivating 'right humans.' Forster says that "it is time for us to recapture the importance of the virtue of kindness as part of being 'right humans.'
We need our political leaders to work closely together and with civility. That is the only way that our country will prosper and provide benefits to all people. Our current political environment of cruelty does not allow for this kind of cooperation. Perhaps that is the most important thing to remember as we head to the polls. Do we value and want kindness?
Julie Aaron is a retired professor of philosophy with a specialization in ethics. She has lived in Nassau County for 6 years.
If you have a story you'd like to share here in the Fernandina Observer — about a neighbor or friend or stranger or business that showed you kindness, or about kindness and compassion in general — please contact Peggie Weeks at pegweeks@gmail.com
Comments
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Mark Tomes
Julie, thank you for pointing out the need for kindness in politics. It is so difficult with the fear-mongering, misinformation intentionally spread, subtle racist and misogynist remarks, misdirection, and outright lies that we see in politics today. They are all their own form of violence, to our hearts and our psyches. It's very difficult to battle, but I think it's important to point it out whenever possible, yes, even at Thanksgiving dinner, church potlucks, and chatting at the grocery store. It can be done with civility and respect, and if someone gets defensive about it, we must realize it is a fragility and doubts they feel in their own belief system. But staying silent is not an option.
Monday, August 24 Report this
dpwagner
I am a senior citizen and I can remember political parties always disagreed in a respectful manner and more often than not found a way to work together to reach an amicable agreement. Our political system is completely broken today and I am not sure how it can be repaired.
Monday, August 24 Report this
lehartgreen
Thank you, Julie, for lending your expertise and experience to this topic. We need voices like yours and we need to cultivate “ right humans.” Let’s start with ourselves.
Tuesday, August 25 Report this