Serving up Slander
“It takes your enemy and your friend, working together to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.” Mark Twain
I received an email yesterday that was so offensive that I have to address it. The video had been made ostensibly in California and was meant as a slur to the two female representatives of that state. It was sent to me by someone I love, who either agrees with its message or simply didn’t think before passing it on. I hurt for America that our political campaigns have come to this; that anyone can create disgusting misinformation and send it out over the internet to slander and foment hatred toward fellow Americans. We end up with candidates who are the lowest common denominator, because no decent person will subject themselves to such vile human behavior. Is that really what we want?
I urge people of conscience to refrain from distributing trash designed to slander any of our candidates regardless of how much we oppose their views. Let’s not participate in the side-show mentality that grips our nation during political campaigns. When we insist on showing candidates the respect and dignity that offering oneself for public service should command, we will once again have government worthy of our praise. If all of us, even those who consider themselves ‘good people’, stoop to the level of bilge-bailer, there is no hope for finding leaders of quality.
We must apply our hearts and our brains to the political process by refusing to add to the swill that is served up as objective truth. We have eight more months before the election. Let us strive for civility and decency.
In the spirit,
Jane
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