What Happened to Civility in Political Discourse?

Today I am preparing a Sunday School lesson about good citizenship. And I came across a great quote from President Hinckley, which immediately made me think about the tone of so-called political discourse in this country:

“Civility is the root of the word civilization. It carries with it the essence of courtesy and politeness and consideration of others. How very much of it we have lost in our contemporary society. The lack of it is seen in the endless barrage of faultfinding and criticism spewed forth by media columnists and commentators…Talk show hosts become rich and famous by snarling at callers and heckling guests. All of this speaks of anything but refinement. It speaks of anything but courtesy. It speaks of anything but civility. Rather, it speaks of rudeness and crudeness, and an utter insensitivity to the feelings and rights of others” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, pages 131-132).

But, of course, as we found during the last election, civility, eloquence and education are qualities deserving of derision -- signs of the "elite." It's really too bad that pundits on both sides of any issue so often stoop to personal attacks. But I'm especially sad that one of these pundits is himself LDS, and someone who once publicly professed great admiration for the man he claimed to follow as a prophet. (Hint: I'm talking about Glenn Beck, who recently lowered the bar in political "discourse" with flat out falsities and outrageous remarks designed solely for the purpose of stirring up controversy and bringing more money for him, rather than facts and concern about actual political debate and providing reliable and useful information for his droves of followers.)

It's a sad state affairs when bombastic attempts at money-making take precedence over actual political debate. Yes, these pundits are well within in their rights, and they are obviously very savvy businesspeople. It's just too bad that so many of us think that these attacks are true debate, when they are often laced with falsehoods and deliberately distract from the true policy issues on the table. Rousing people to irrational and uncivil anger with untrue information and emotional appeals, rather than facts, is profitable for pundits, but it is detrimental to society, since it creates an electorate that is incoherently angry, mostly impotent and woefully uneducated when it comes to the actual issues.

I Will Never Understand High School Basketball Coaching

Last night I went to a high school basketball game to watch my cousin play. It's been nearly 10 years since I watched my brother play while home on break from college. I don't know. Maybe it has been 10 years. Whatever. Well, last night I watched the basketball coach pull the guy that had just made two three pointers, and the fast short kid who was great at moving the ball up the court and assisting, replacing them with two barely mediocre players that didn't actually do anything while they were in there (and it was a reasonably close game at this point). I was once again transported into the wonderful world of high school basketball out west.

You know that world. In this magical world, it's not who wins or loses. It's who plays in the game. Many high school basketball coaches would rather lose with the "right" kids in the game, than win with the "wrong" kids playing. We actually felt like cheering when one kid, who was in most of the game throwing up threes but making only one, finally fouled out. He was a black hole, and constantly careening out of control whenever he dribbled the ball, but the coach refused to bench him. Ah, the politics of small town athletics.

Anyway, I had a good time watching my cousin who managed two buckets and proved that he is probably the best defensive player on the team. We're going to go to his town next week to watch a home game. It should be even more fun when we're sitting with the home crowd.

You Ruined My Christmas!

I do not like Black Friday. The consumerism and -- at times -- outright greed kind of bug me. Plus, I think it's a huge waste of my time, since the deals can often be had online (with free shipping!) and I just don't like braving the hordes to save a few bucks on something I really shouldn't buy anyway. But I do like to talk about Black Friday with my brother, who has worked retail as a high school job, to get himself through college, and now seasonally as he and his wife prepare to continue their post-graduate educations.

He had stories of lines stretching across streets and one idiot who shoved a cop. But my favorite story from yesterday was the woman whose Christmas he apparently ruined. She was looking for a kid's over-the-door basketball hoop with electronic scoreboard. This toy is normally $29.99, but was being door-busted for $19.99. The woman ran up to my brother, normally a back-room guy overseeing receiving, who did his best to consult the deal cheat sheet (no luck) and page someone (also no luck), finally giving her his best with-a-caveat guess at two locations where the toy might be found.

The woman did not get the limited-quantity door buster. When she saw him again she made sure that she confronted him with his stupidity, and to let him know that not only had he ruined her Christmas, but her little boy's as well. My brother told her to go to the front and ask for the store manager, and say that he had told her she could have a raincheck. She demanded that he personally guaranty that the toy would be back in stock in time for Christmas. My brother, of course, could not guaranty such a thing, and told her so. As she stalked away to berate the store manager, she flung back, "I hope for your sake that this comes in by Christmas. How would you feel with a ruined Christmas on your conscience?"

As my brother regaled me with this tale, I, insensitive humbug that I am, began to laugh. Really? We've reached a point in society where saving $10 on a toy can make or break a Christmas? Really? This woman is teaching her child that his happiness should be wrapped up in a specific material possession? Really? Her only hope is this one store? She can't just go to Amazon (where it took my husband about three seconds to find something similar) and get it for $20? Add in a $5 DVD, and you can even get free shipping! Look, you saved Christmas -- all by yourself! You didn't have to rely on anyone else to help you find your external, material happiness!

Anyway, this woman pretty much exemplifies exactly why I don't head out on Black Friday. It turns people into screaming banshees of terror, abandoning all common sense and focusing on the materialism that they'll decry come Sunday in a fit of piety while they admonish the folks in their Sunday school classes to "remember the reason for the season." (Hint: The reason referred to is not an over-the-door basketball hoop.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are enjoying your holiday and finding things to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Moon: Feminism Triumphant?

I haven't seen New Moon. I will probably watch the movie much as I watched Twilight: In fast forward off my Netflix queue. (I have read the books, which, IMO, get progressively worse.) But there was something that struck me about the movie, as I've heard it spoken of by critics and people I know who have seen it: There is a preponderance of shirtless men in this one. I even heard someone point out that the movie -- and the entire series -- is very progressive and feminist. This got me thinking: Have we really have reached a post-feminist world? After all, this is a blockbuster movie that caters to women's objectification of men, right?

The movie made nearly $141 million in its opening weekend. Only Dark Knight and Spiderman 3 did better. Apparently, a certain type of female moviegoer really is a force to be reckoned with. Could this mean more movies that might depict men as objects? If they make money, perhaps Hollywood is ready to do so. Because it's all about the all-mighty dollar, and few things sell as well as sex. And if women are ready to buy it en masse, someone will definitely sell it.

There are many different forms of feminism. The proponents of some types of feminism have a belief that part of the battle is to get movies that cater to women's sexual desires, since there are plenty of movies, filled with scantily clad women, designed to appeal to the "male gaze". In this light, equality means more movies with scantily clad Adonis-men so that women can enjoy equal time fantasizing over the unattainable. Movies like New Moon.

Personally, I think it's too bad when anyone is objectified, woman or man. But, I suppose, if you look at it in this very narrow sense, that's progress. But the overall themes and whether or not the entire Twilight saga is feminist, post-feminist or anti-feminist are the subjects of hours, which, frankly, I don't have to waste on the subject.

The Boy and His H1N1 Vaccine

Today, The Boy should be getting his H1N1 vaccine at school. I was pleased to see a permission slip come home for the swine flu vaccine, since that meant that I wouldn't have to try to take The Boy to the health care department to get a shot. I took him in for his seasonal flu vaccine at the beginning of the school year. And it turned out to be a good thing, since our area ran out shortly thereafter.

I know that not everyone is into getting these vaccines, but I had The Boy get his first seasonal flu vaccine last year, and I was amazed at the difference it made in the time he spent being sick last winter. So I decided to go for it again this year. I'm not sure that I would have taken him in for the H1N1 vaccine, but since it is being administered at the school, it's not an issue, since I signed the permission slip.

The news that schools in our area were getting an allotment was especially welcome after finding out that Goldman Sachs was one of the Wall Street big wigs that received swine flu vaccine allotments before hospitals, clinics, schools and even government officials. Clearly "We the People" need to get better connected, since the decision was made by the CDC.

Personally, I don't get the seasonal flu vaccine, and I'm not on the list of people at high risk for the H1N1 virus. I don't usually have problems in general, and since The Boy is the person I have the most contact with, protecting him normally proves effective.

Do you get the flu vaccine? Are you interested in getting the H1N1 vaccine?

Veterans Day

Just wanted to take a moment and express my gratitude for the brave men and women of the Armed Forces today. We have a number of veterans that deserve our thanks and our support. They have given much, and I think it is not too much that we provide them with adequate health care (including mental health services), an education and other beneficial programs. After all, they have put their lives on the line for us.

I am proud of members of my family and Josh's family that have served in the military, and proud of my friends that have served. It's Veterans Day. If you see a veteran, make sure you say "Thank You."

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