Overcoming Bitterness and Contempt

Every so often, I catch myself simply grandstanding for the Democratic Party, behaving very much like those with whom I so sharply disagree. It does not solve anything. Of course, people of both parties and all stripes have contributed to the problems we face. So how do we tow the line between blind partisanship and passionate involvement?

One of the common mistakes we all tend to make is assuming that one major party is always the direct opposite of the other. Hence, if one party has an irresponsible record on an issue, then the other must be saintly and squeaky-clean. The President does something foolish or dishonest; the opposition is therefore wise and true.

We all know in our hearts that it is simply not true. The parties operate independently of one another, often falling victim to the same corrupting influences. If the Democrats take one or both houses of Congress, or even the Presidency, nothing magically changes. Our problems will not vanish. If they repeat the mistakes of the present leaders, allowing the same level of corruption and incompetence, our country—and the world—is no better off. And if Democratic leaders use religion as a tool to pit some against others, to keep us divided, to justify, excuse and even conceal unethical policies, we are right where we started.

It is also a common mistake to root for political parties as if they were football teams. A good fan will stick by a team no matter how poorly they perform, simply because he likes them better. We often treat our parties likewise, sticking by them even when they give us terrible government, simply because we like their slogans, style, and subculture better than that of the other team. We sometimes even take it a step farther, refusing to accept or acknowledge that our favorite team has performed the way it has. Witness diehard Republicans’ unwillingness to have an honest conversation about Katrina last year.

As people of faith, and as responsible citizens, we must hold all public officials accountable. The need of the country must remain more important than the interests of a party. I sense there is nothing I could tell the average Bush supporter about the botched gulf coast response, the causes of poverty, the selling of the Iraq war, the suppression of free speech, the flaws in our health care system, the way elections are conducted, or the degradation of our environment that they would be willing to hear. Nor would most of them seek to find honest answers to those questions for fear of what they would discover.
But they would be right to point out that many Democrats have contributed to these failures, acting out of political self-preservation or conflicting interests. And some Republicans have worked to address them, though sadly, they are usually attacked and marginalized within their own party for doing so. As I malign the poor performance of the other party, I need to urge my own party to live up to its promises.

No, the Democratic Party is not the perfect answer. In fact the organization is often infuriating in its ineptitude. But they do promise to tell the truth about the problems we face, to work for fairness, justice, and equality, to end the pay-for-play system in Washington, and to adapt when approaches fail. At least they are willing to try. That has to be better than what we see today. My moral values tell me so.

That is a term Republicans have co-opted for years, sometimes to justify profoundly immoral actions. We have watched them transform the common connotation of the word “Christian” from one of charity and peace to one of prejudice, hate, and exclusion. This is maddening to progressive Christians like me. Our priorities are driven by our faith, and we are no less Christian, less moral, less loving of families, less values-conscious than anyone else. Non-Christians I know feel the same way.

As people of all faith traditions watch “morality” be misused time and time again for partisan purposes, we often fall into the traps of bitterness and contempt. This is natural and understandable—we are only human. But we also need to remember that there is a better way for us—a more difficult way. We must counter not with our own rage, but with compassion. It is a tall order, but we can and should hold each other to that standard as we continue to engage those of a different philosophical persuasion. Perhaps if we created more honest dialogue and reduced “wedge issue” gamesmanship, we would be able to truly bring Americans together.