SENTINEL WATCH November 1, 2010 Issue

PRAYER, CIVILITY, AND POLITICAL DISCOURSE

RON BALLARD

WITH ELECTIONS LOOMING , political discourse confronts us just about every day. And in an age of increasing political partisanship, it seems that just about anything goes regarding the tone of discussion in the political arena. In the news media, reasoned discussion often takes a backseat to confrontation, which spurs interest (and maybe profits). A recent op-ed piece I read even extolled the virtues of public figures expressing their opinions bluntly and with no apology.

While confrontation and controversy maybe entertaining, it is doubtful that it does much for public enlightenment. In fact, it frequently leads in just the opposite direction.

Some years ago while I was working in the political campaign arena, there were often discussions about the effectiveness of negative campaigning. While it wasn't widely regarded as the "high road," it was considered a highly effective tool in swaying public opinion. In a sense, went the argument, it was something the public would tolerate. Negative attack campaigning has been defined by the Institute for Global Ethics as "arguments based on rumor or innuendo, that rely on unflattering or demeaning representations to get their point across, that rely on stereotyping and appeals to fear or prejudice, and that typically focus on personalities rather than on issues." It is hard to believe that's really what the public wants—and, in fact, some polling suggests that we are getting tired of it. That trend is worth nurturing, and it's one where prayer can play a big part.