Issue 422 September 1, 2019
Are we becoming an intolerant world- so inane that we cannot differ with someone without being offensive?
Indecent attack
Maxim Institute (Auckland) Chief Executive Alex Penk mentions (in his article under Businesslink) that Labour MP Kieran McAnulty tweeted that he had been called a Nazi, a liar, a prick, and a bastard after he had announced that he would support the Abortion Legislation Bill.
The Abortion Law Reform Association has a page titled “Email Your Rage!,” urging people to email MPs about reform.
Mr Penk is not a Labour Party enthusiast but that does not prevent him from defending McAnulty from being verbally attacked.
He says that civility involves respect for others, even and especially for people you disagree with deeply. It is a “chilly virtue” because it’s about “formality,” not feelings.
“Like all virtues, it has to be practised to become part of who we are.”
Social Media nonsense
Conservative Commentator Andrew Sullivan recently said, “Social media has turned journalism into junk, has promoted addictive addlement in our brains, is wrecking our democracy, and slowly replacing life with pseudo-life.”
Syndicated Columnist Mona Charen said that Democrats have nothing to fear from modelling basic integrity, civility, and fidelity to truth. They should try it.
She said that people often suggest that Twitter’s cruelty and misanthropy are unique to the format.
Australian broadcaster Alan Jones got the lesson of his life on decency when he paid a heavy price for his unprovoked and unwanted tirade against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
For many this was an anodyne response to a stock question; any A$ 3.3 billion media company can endure without one person no matter how big a star they may be.
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