Lack of Civility, Michael Johhson



Michael Johnson posted his thoughts on Facebook recently concerning our lack of civility towards those who hold differing opinions than our own. 

Trevecca Nazarene University


I think I should not be on Facebook.
I don’t know how, but I’ve ended up with lots of names on my friend list and, believe it or not, I know almost every one of them personally. So I see what they post.
The reason I wonder if I’m really cut out for this medium is that I’m a feeler. I’m run pretty strong on the empathy scale. To some, I recognize that this could be a sign of weakness but I’m okay with that.
For the most part, though, I see friends who make such strident remarks about either each other, or about people they’ve never known, and I see it and I feel it.
I generally like for people to get along. I admit that!
I like to see brothers and sisters dwell together in unity, but that’s not the same as uniformity. We don’t all have to be alike but can’t we be more unified?
I like it when people like each other and seek to find common ground, yet I know that may appear old-fashioned and unenlightened.
My heart breaks for families that are being torn apart on our southern border, and I hope we fix that soon!! But my heart also breaks for families torn apart by brokenness and bitterness and bondage and there’s an untold number of these in peril or pain.
We often rail away at issues over which we have little personal control. And it’s appropriate to advocate with governmental officials to end human suffering whenever and wherever we can, but can’t we at least try to get along with the persons we know in addition to helping those we don’t?
If our rhetoric is so caustic that the truth we hope to espouse is overshadowed, have we really accomplished anything?
I’m going to stay on Facebook and hope that I can be part of a solution more than adding to a problem. I know it may not make a difference but I’m gonna try.
I recognize that I am inviting pushback or even being dismissed, but I’m putting this out there anyway. I want to believe we can do and be better.

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