Dear Editor:
“What goes around comes around,” a modern spin on “as you sow, so shall you reap” (Galatians 6:7) – both concepts representative of how karma, the Indian religion’s law of cause and effect, works. In other words, everything we say and do determines what’s going to happen to us in the future. Well, if that is the case, based on today’s political realities, we’re in big trouble.
It would almost qualify as amusing if not for the underlying malfeasance wherein both the former president and current president, accused of mishandling classified government documents, are being investigated by special counsels appointed by the same Attorney General. And, of at least comparable significance, polls suggest the high likelihood that, with the two legislative branches being controlled by competing for political parties seemingly intolerant of one another, the next two years will result in a political stalemate, aka gridlock.
Yet, as if in response to those realities, on the day preceding our national holiday recognizing the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., within the final segment of the “Fox News Sunday” television program, host Shannon Bream interviewed two political philosophers and professed friends, liberal Dr. Cornel West and conservative Dr. Robert George. They spoke on the topic of civil discourse.
Their dialogue effectively modeled the approach of deliberative democracy wherein both parties seek to understand the other. Even though parties may disagree politically, there remains an overriding commitment to the truth. By first identifying a shared end goal, any process obstacles become more easily ameliorated.
The deliberative process builds on how individuals treat one another irrespective of disagreement on issues. As one maintains a love of the other human being, coupled with modeling openness and demonstrating humility, this allows for embracing elements of consensus.
Polarization happens when people do not listen to each other. When we listen, we can learn from one another. Our representative lawmakers must understand that we cannot have reform unless they demonstrate the courage to speak their truth. They, too, need to understand that modeling openness to one another as truth seekers always results in one’s integrity remaining intact.
So, our answer for overcoming governmental gridlock, resolving political conflict, for adopting elements of consensus is found in the truth—the property of being in accord with fact or reality.
Seemingly, the most essential quality of a government official is to become a dedicated truth seeker. Dr. King knew this when, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in August 1963, he said … “so even though we face difficulties today and tomorrow, I still have a dream… that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Another civil rights leader, close confident to MLK Jr., and former member of Congress, 90-year-old Andrew Young, recently stated, “Humanity can only survive by growing in grace and humility.” I believe that only by embracing those qualities can our elected government representatives successfully demonstrate the responsibility of overseeing the welfare of their constituents.
Peter Wibell, Rutledge