Guest Column: The death of civility

By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 22, 2018.

I usually write about political or social issues, and often, I try to prod or poke some readers to consider thinking outside their chosen boxes. I do this not to upset or anger people who see the world differently, but simply to engage in an ancient practice that we take far too lightly. I’m talking about democracy of course.

Put two or more people in a room and they are likely to disagree on things. That’s not unusual nor a cause for concern, because we live in a liberal democracy — the best of all possible worlds (and also the most fragile).

We are free to disagree, free to defend our views and our differences, free to try to convince others, and free to change our minds. Respect for others and an acceptance of the common good are understood and accepted in a liberal democracy.

We are also warned, however, time and again, to guard against the erosion of the cornerstones of democracy. The rule of law, equal protection of individual rights and freedoms, protection of property, and an informed public through a free press — all are under assault. Impatient, dangerous and self-serving forces are constantly at work muddying the waters and sowing confusion for their own purposes.

ButÉ

I attended a wonderful little ‘party’ on Monday evening at which one of our MLAs, Bob Wanner, Speaker of the Legislature, announced that he would not be running in the upcoming provincial election this spring. In attendance were many of Mr. Wanner’s supporters, of course, but there were also many individuals from other parties who simply wanted to show their respect for the service Mr. Wanner had given over the last almost four years.

After Mr. Wanner’s moving speech, the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd refreshed their drinks and spent the next two hours mingling and talking. I personally enjoyed very rich conversations with individuals with whom I differed on a number of themes ranging from politics to religion. Yet no one went for their daggers or pistols. Laughter and handshakes and hugs and best wishes and seasons’ greetings floated around the room. And we all learned and grew just a little.

How very different this gathering was from the forms of exchange one finds on Twitter, Facebook and Ticked Off/Tickled Pink, that poor excuse for a community bulletin board. It’s one thing to be annoyed at yet another funny cat video or another saccharine ‘Share if you love your daughter’ clip. It’s another thing to read false news stories about immigrants, Quebec, the U.N., the provincial or federal governments, or global warming. It wouldn’t matter so much if people read these stories and then went on to check the sources and investigate the agendas of these sources. Sadly most readers don’t do this. It is apparent from the ‘retweets’ and ‘sharing’ that critical analysis is a thing of the past, a ‘bridge too far’ for many readers.

One case in point. Andrew Scheer, taking his cue from our neighbours to the south, delivered a speech in the House of Commons last week claiming that the UN Migration Pact is a violation of national sovereignty and would result in an unstoppable invasion of refugees. He was grossly and purposefully in error and many readers and contributors to this newspaper wrote in to prove him wrong. I believe he must have known his statement was false. He also knew, however, that ill-informed and fearful people would lap this stuff up. His purpose was to stoke their fear and hatred, and the resulting xenophobia would result in votes for his Conservative party. Mr. Scheer’s fake news story sprouted like poisonous mushrooms on Facebook. A lie, repeated often enough, apparently begins to sound like the truth.

This story is but one example of the present assault on traditional democracy where informed debate in service of the best public policies is the method and the product of good governing. Mr. Scheer, following the success of his friend, Doug “Slash and Burn” Ford, is showing his modus operandi — do whatever it takes to win votes. Divide in order to conquer; lie in order to obfuscate; keep moving in order to avoid accountability.

Jonathan Swift, that wonderful ‘thrower of spears at puffed up politicians’, said, “Falsehood flies and the Truth comes limping after it.” His words were intended as a warning. We haven’t learned very much.

Peter Mueller is a long-time resident of Medicine Hat who, in spite of all the evidence, continues to believe we can build a better world.

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