Passions

Is it the end of civility?

First we have citizens heckling Congressmen. Then we have a Congressman heckling the president. Then we have a musician embarrassing a musician at the same time as we have a tennis player verbally attacking a linesmen.

And I didn't forget the football player who punched out the other football player. That I consider a natural extension of his "game." When you are taught to wipe out the opponent for the entertainment of others and the aggrandizement of the group you represent, it is understandable that you might forget that you can only do it at certain times when wearing certain gear.

But when the challenges come from a Congressman, a musician and a professional athlete, things are getting out of hand.

Is this something else we can blame on global warming? Or eating non-organic food? Or our attention deficits and depressions? Or the vitriol virtual medias now spew out and then feast on?

It brings to mind a telling moment at a family reunion a year or so ago.

A group of adults were sitting around visiting when a little spat unfolded between two toddlers. One had a built-to-size lawn chair and the other decided he wanted it more. The original owner begged to differ. As the argument heated up, an adult stepped in and suggested a sharing arrangement. When that didn't go over, another adult stepped in and suggested taking turns. Neither child liked that idea so yet another adult rounded up a second chair and considered the issue solved.

But it wasn't.

Because now they both wanted the second chair.

Continued efforts by many and varied adults didn't solve the problem. We were helpless, all of us, as we watched the passions of toddlers supercede any logical solution. We knew only distraction and ultimately the wisdom of years would bring the problem to resolution.

Kind of like I feel today. An observer who doesn't quite get why there's a problem and has no idea what to do about it.

What is going on out there?

When is everybody going to grow up?