Can We Talk?

Seriously, I wonder why certain subjects are just too touchy for us discuss in a rational manner.  Mention gun control on any social media and you are immediately attacked. Mention religion or not having religion and watch your twitter feed go wild!

#ElizabethLauten found out the hard way how intense the hatred can get. She made a snide remark that is so typical of the GOP hypocrisy about the Obama daughters. Well, the storm is still raging even though she "prayed" about it and apologized. In case you missed it, here's what she said:  "Dear Sasha and Malia, I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play. Then again your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department. Nevertheless, stretch yourself. Rise to the occasion. Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised public events." By the way, Ms. Lauten is communications director for Republican Congressman Stephen Fincher of TN.

How can anyone be so clueless (especially a communications director) as to post that remark on their Facebook page? Then her apology compounded the mistake. Even Forbes Magazine weighed in on the whole episode:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/elisadoucette/2014/11/30/the-art-of-apologies-and-why-elizabeth-lauten-failed-miserably-at-hers/2/ The apology was lame and insincere and everyone knew it.

So, can we talk? I think we can. But, we must be guided by common civility. When we make snide comments about teenage girls or anyone else, we are asking for trouble. Civility demands that we treat others the way we'd like to be treated. We can disagree without being disagreeable. Really. We just have to make up our minds to "walk a mile in the other person's shoes" before we say something mean and hurtful.