During the 2016 presidential primaries, I noticed that politicians decried others as being "PC" (politically correct). In recent years the struggle focuses on the "Cancel Culture." I find the languaging and labeling of opposing views disturbing. Where is there an attempt to bring people together? Rather, the words or labels become ideological wedges that are used to separate.
With this in mind I sought refuge in the daily Dear Abby column and the Letters to the Editor. Though these forums do not offer in-person conversations, we catch glimpses of people's points of view and struggles faced.
Jeanne Phillips ("Dear Abby") shared two lessons she learned from her mother, Pauline:
- When we aren't sure, ask the other person, and
- Always err on the side of respect.
Is it as simple as asking and showing respect?
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| When have you witnessed respect shown to others? |
I was thinking of this as I stood in line for my second COVID shot. Having qualified by age and health history, I was fortunate to be there. People were social distancing, wearing masks, listening and following the directions of the volunteers helping us. Are we being PC? Showing respect? Individually staying separate in order to keep all of us together and healthy?
How then are we called to respond to people who have other viewpoints? With labels like anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers? Or respectfully asking to understand their beliefs and conclusions?
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| What happens when we all become blind? (Photo credit: An Eye For An Eye...) |
Reverend Lawson paraphrased a quote normally attributed to Mahatma Gandhi by saying: "An eye for an eye... just increases blindness." Unlike the Cancel Culture label that negatively focuses on the "mob mentality of erasing history," I wonder if Gandhi and Lawson saw that blindness occurs when we seek vengeance and not the truth that must be heard.
Asking and showing respect seem to be at the core of understanding another person, not labeling and pushing aside.
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| How might we err on the side of respect? |
We have eyes so that we can see; ears so we can hear; brains to think and reason... and hearts to feel compassion and empathy. What would happen if we sought, heard, understood, and felt the pains, sorrows, joys and triumphs of others? Maybe we could stay in relationship, see what creative solutions arise, and allow the tensions between us to cancel the political cultures that separate and divide us.
As Dear Abby suggests: let us ask the other person what we are unsure of, and err on the side of respect!
Peace and good health to you and your loved ones!
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| Larry Gardepie (click on link for website) |
I have often thought that the term PC either means "I disagree" or "I don't want to be respectful in my language."
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