Solomon on Politics (Sort Of)

I rarely comment publicly about politics, but that's not for lack of thought. Of course, incessant bombardment by "news" coverage of and blog posts about the current presidential campaign have conspired to keep politics on my mind more than usual lately. So when I read the following passage today, I naturally applied it to political discourses:

"The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
"The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders.
"A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle."
Proverbs 18:17-19 (ESV)

There really is nothing new under the sun, least of all politics.


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TO: United States of America
CC: The rest of the world

Dear Citizens,

You have strong political views. You are emotionally bound to them and you hold them more tightly than is probably healthy. But please remember that many very, very intelligent people throughout history have disagreed about every topic known to man. The fact that your friend/neighbor/coworker/relative disagrees with you about something does not by itself make him or her an idiot. He or she might very well be an idiot, but then, so might you. In fact, I think it's safe to say that the overwhelming majority of human beings are idiots, at least most of the time. So have your arguments, conduct your debates, but for the love of whatever it is you love, please try to be civil about it.

Thank you.


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