Mean People

I fancy myself an insightful observer of social phenomena of all sorts, and it seems to me that contemporary socio-political discourse has become inordinately mean-spirited in the past 30 years.  Interestingly, the time frame seems to be contemporaneous with the rise of the new right and their odd alliance with the so-called “Christian Right,” which I would argue is neither Christian nor right.  This past weekend’s “Restoring Honor” rally at the Lincoln Memorial is one more volley in the war against progressivism that seems to motivate persons like conservative commentator Glenn Beck as he recently encouraged members of social justice-oriented congregations to leave the fold.

Thankfully, Mr. Beck does not speak for millions of social justice Christians, many of whom were offended at his attempted hijacking of the civil rights movement.  Glenn Beck is no Martin Luther King, Jr., despite the professed coincidence of his rally falling on the forty-seventh anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.  I note that a version of the same speech was given by Dr. King in Detroit two months before the famous March on Washington.

I am inclined to give anybody the proverbial benefit of the doubt, so perhaps rather than ascribe to Mr. Beck and the raucous tea party devotees that we hear so much about these days some motivation that is–shall we say– less than altruistic, let us presume that their ignorance of the grand sweep of the Judeo-Christian biblical tradition is simply that.  I have always believed that decent folk will respond to a good education.

My seminary training–and indeed the indoctrination of my many years as a pew-sitter–included a conviction that the Bible evidences a preferential option for the poor and dispossessed over and against the rich and privileged.  As one of my Old Testament lecturers used to say, “You don’t have to like this…I didn’t write any of it!”  Indeed, this line of thinking has found its way into classic Catholic social teaching, as well as being expressed in most mainline Protestant theological traditions.  Those who would deny the legitimacy of this conviction are naive at best.

However, I find the rhetoric about “restoring honor” and the need to “return to God” perilously thin and devoid of any proper recognition of the prophetic tradition, which I would argue, is the essence of Jesus’ teaching.  I am growing weary of the meanness that attaches to alarmist pronouncements about taking our country back.  Take it back from whom?  The black guy?  Because he should not be there?  Is that the real message?  If so, I will thank those who espouse such things to refrain from couching it in religious language that betrays the God who clearly and persistently tells us what is required of us, namely the execution of justice and mercy.

Speak if you choose, Mr. Beck and Ms. Palin.  It is your right.  But please, know what you’re talking about first.  I am growing impatient with mean people.