According to the evening news, it looks like the civility backlash in the election is finally starting to take effect. The news showed scenes from a couple of McCain’s rallies where the people were just fearful and hateful about Obama. It was truthfully a horrifying site and even John McCain seemed taken aback. Now the McCain / Palin campaign is in the unenviable position of trying to back up a bit and let it be known that Obama is not the anti-Christ. I see McCain doing this, but somehow I just can’t see the governor of Alaska backing down any.
The real danger of what has been going on is not just that it demonizes a good man like Barack Obama, but that it really increases the rifts in this country. Those rifts may be between black and white, or between Republican and Democrat, between rich and middle-class, or between urban and suburban. No matter what the difference, as both candidates are saying now, we need to remember that we can disagree while still respecting the other side.
If we are ever going to bring this country together and fix what ails it, from the economy to health care, we have to stop vilifying those who do not agree with us. We are going to have to sit down at the same table with each other and reach a consensus. How can you expect to be able to do that if you have just painted the other person as evil?
