The Practice of Mafia Politics Power Puritans article from the NYT.
This is all reinforcing my suspicion that politics in this country has degenerated into kindergarten playground ethics. Each group fights for power by screaming the loudest and by denigrating the other groups while upholding the innocence of their own agenda. It all strikes me as unproductive, damaging chaos.
What gets me is that
everyone, in every militant little group (are there any that aren't militant?), is ANGRY. And they all say it's for good reason. Everyone is picking up the traits that they proclaim they hate in the other groups. This article, though it does it with a hateful tone, points out some traits Evangelical leaders have exhibited—un-Christian traits.
Does anyone have a vision that fills them with hope and peace? Or is everyone working off of anger, hatred, and fear in politics today?
Why is a good article an angry article? What are we in the field of media doing to contribute to the frenzy of suspicion and division? (For example, Print Design Magazine's latest issue contained quite a few low jabs at Bush: graphic designers are putting in their piece, too, and it's vicious.) Criticism is expected to be dished out, especially in our field; however, I don't agree with spreading hatred of people or groups.
It's good to be angry at evil, like injustice. But doesn't anyone stop and ask themselves why EVERYONE in every "mob" is angry right now and is trying to justify it? We are attacking people instead of the sources of evil, instead of the actions that harbor and transmit it. Groups and individuals are firing ceaselessly at one another. Is it any wonder that nothing ever improves when mafia politics is the norm?
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