Comments on: Catching Up http://blog.archny.org/index.php/catching-up/ Sun, 19 May 2013 11:55:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Irene http://blog.archny.org/index.php/catching-up/comment-page-1/#comment-17111 Irene Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:29:19 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=1018#comment-17111 It is so encouraging that Cardinal Wuerl has spoken out for civility in political and religious discourse. Things have gotten so out of hand in the way we speak to and about those who disagree with us. I recently heard a survivor of the Rwandan genocide talk about her experiences; she said that, in the times leading up to the genocide, commentators on the radio frequently spoke disparagingly of the Tutsi tribe; calling them mice, roaches and other vermin. They spoke "jokingly" and would "jokingly" saying the Tutsi should all be killed. Then one day, they stopped joking and went out and massacred them. I don't know if violent language is a cause or a symptom of violent intent, but I think if we don't rein in the rhetoric in this country, it will eventually escalate into violent acts. I hope other leaders follow the Cardinal's example and speak out against this extremism. It is so encouraging that Cardinal Wuerl has spoken out for civility in political and religious discourse. Things have gotten so out of hand in the way we speak to and about those who disagree with us.

I recently heard a survivor of the Rwandan genocide talk about her experiences; she said that, in the times leading up to the genocide, commentators on the radio frequently spoke disparagingly of the Tutsi tribe; calling them mice, roaches and other vermin. They spoke “jokingly” and would “jokingly” saying the Tutsi should all be killed. Then one day, they stopped joking and went out and massacred them.

I don’t know if violent language is a cause or a symptom of violent intent, but I think if we don’t rein in the rhetoric in this country, it will eventually escalate into violent acts.

I hope other leaders follow the Cardinal’s example and speak out against this extremism.

]]> By: Joseph Sexton http://blog.archny.org/index.php/catching-up/comment-page-1/#comment-16865 Joseph Sexton Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:42:11 +0000 http://blog.archny.org/?p=1018#comment-16865 When you have both extremes criticizing you as, e.g., has been the case with Cardinal Wuerl, you're probably doing something right! Bringing more civility to the various debates certainly isn't easy, since the prevailing attitude on all sides seems to be \I am totally correct and you are totally wrong!\ When you have both extremes criticizing you as, e.g., has been the case with Cardinal Wuerl, you’re probably doing something right! Bringing more civility to the various debates certainly isn’t easy, since the prevailing attitude on all sides seems to be \I am totally correct and you are totally wrong!\

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