I believe it was Rodney King who once asked the question that serves as title to this article.  It’s a good one, and often asked in interesting circumstances.  If you don’t remember Rodney King, you might read up on him and you’ll know why his question was so interesting.

I’m currently aggravated (again) by the state of American politics.  I’m not sure why this bothers me so much.  By now you’d think I would have become as jaded and cynical at the campaign tactics of politicians, but I guess I keep wondering if this is the way things have to be.

Several months ago, I became aware that presidential candidate Barak Obama was calling for a new kind of politics, especially as it applies to campaigning.  According to Obama, America needed a new approach to the normal rancor and bitterness that so often marks speeches, advertising, and more.  I thought that was an excellent idea.  Much of what appears in political advertising is little more than trash talk, bashing the opposition, taking words out of context, misrepresenting positions, and framing positions in the worst possible light.  This has been a standard approach to political debate.

So, what’s the problem?  Why do I continue to suffer aggravation?  I suppose it’s partly now because we’re in the middle of a political season where the dirt is flying as much, if not more, than ever, and what really aggravates me is that both presidential candidates are up to their neck in efforts, not to talk about themselves and what they plan to do if elected, but trashing the other guy.

Lest you think I’m picking on Obama, I’m not.  John McCain promised not to take the low road to the highest office in the land.  Plenty of dirt is flying out of the McCain campaign in an effort to make Obama look as bad as possible, and not always for legitimate reasons.  Both candidates promised, claimed, vowed, that they were going to operate above the slime level, but both candidates have clearly slipped and have fallen headlong into the political goo.

Of course, if you ask each campaign, they will say they’re just telling the truth about the other guy.  Political reform, political decency, fair treatment, etc., always applies to the other side, but seldom to one’s own.  Who is the loser in all this?  It’s not the candidates.  It’s us.

Frankly, I’m tired of being treated like I’m an idiot.  Evidently, politicians and campaigners don’t think I can understand clearly stated positions.  It seems that I must be incapable of recognizing a bad idea, or a good one for that matter.  Someone must think I can’t make an informed decision unless I first know that the “other guy” is really Satan, and all his policies will send us to hell.

I try to pay attention to political campaigning.  I try to understand the issues.  I’m no expert, but I’ve noticed that at least half of all experts don’t have much more expertise on things than I do.  By now, everyone is aware of the idea of political “spin.” What galls me is that the spinners don’t seem to think I know when I’m hearing spin and when I’m hearing straight talk.  Spin is not just putting one’s own policies in the best light, it is inherently deceptive because a spinner won’t discuss weaknesses or potential for failure.  Spin prevents us from getting the whole picture from either side.

Today, I’m aggravated not only by the lack of civility and common decency in politics, I’m aggravated because now the people who have said they will change the tone and live above the fray are just as much part of the problem as ever, and they are now whining about the other guy.  Give me a break, Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain.  You have each said you wouldn’t run such campaigns, but you are each neck deep in the trash you’re throwing at the other guy.  Frankly, any complain on your part is falling on my deaf ears, and isn’t touching my unsympathetic heart.

Of course, I know I’m whistling in the wind here.  Why do campaigns throw political dirt?  Because it works.  The public eats it up.  It’s the political equivalent of those newspapers usually found at the checkout counter at Wal-Mart.  You know the kind.  Wild headlines designed to get your attention.  Read the story and there is almost always less there.  But millions of copies of those papers are sold.  People love this stuff.  Democrats love to hear the trash about Republicans, and Republicans thrive on dirt about Democrats.  The point is that there is a market for trash talk from politicians.  If nobody bought it, I think things would change.

Back to Rodney King’s basic question.  Can’t we all just get along?  Evidently not.  Then again, who’s trying?

I refrained from writing thoughts about Sarah Palin immediately following her speech at the Republican National Convention the other night.  I didn’t want to offer up anything too quickly because I was afraid I’d be caught up in the moment.  So, with a full day in between, I think I’ll be more objective.

Weeks ago, I said to my wife, “If McCain is smart, he will select a woman as his running mate.”  At the time, I was hoping it might be Condoleeza Rice.  For me, Rice would be an excellent choice, but I understand why this was probably not possible.  She doesn’t seem to want it, and she would have been a political lightening rod with Democrats.  Still, she is a formidable and capable woman, and if you consider the racial and gender issues, then how could you beat a black woman?

Back to Palin.  When it was announced that Sarah Palin was the choice for vice-president, I honestly didn’t know what to think.  I don’t know her, never heard her speak before, and still don’t know all I would like to know about her.  That said, I have formed some early opinions about her.

First, I’m impressed with her record.  Democrats might want to downplay the fact that she was mayor of a small town in Alaska, but I think Palin nailed the left leaning party of the donkey image by comparing mayor with community organizer.  I thought it was a zinger of a comment to say that being mayor of a small town is similar to being a community organizer, except you have actual responsibilities.  Yes, I know she didn’t write the speech, but she had to deliver the speech, and you can bet that line came straight out of her own mind and heart, even if she had help with the words.

I’m impressed with the fact that she has evidently stood up to the “good old boy” network of politicians and brought about actual reform and change.  This is huge in a political season where “change” is the magic word.  I’ve heard “change” from the Obama side, but still can’t figure out exactly what they intend to change.  Palin already has targeted ethics, pork-barrel politics, energy and taxes.  The reason this is important from the McCain/Palin side is that because both have demonstrated both a willingness and ability to take on their own party, the potential for real “change” seems to be on their side, not the Obama side.

I’m impressed with the fact that Palin is a family-oriented woman.  She’s a wife and mother, a PTA mother, a hockey-mom, a mother of a special needs child, and the mother of a pregnant-out-of-wedlock teenager.  That last one doesn’t necessarily mean something positive until you look at how she handles it.  Speaking from the vantage point of a father who once had a pregnant-out-of-wedlock teenager, I think I can tell you that a parent can do as much as possible, provide all the right input, teaching, discipline, etc., and still have a daughter (or a son, for that matter) who manages to present you with a grandchild when you least expect it.  The big question for me is how does she handle it, and it starts with continued love and support for that child, maintaining your own standards and views of teenage pregnancy, and refusing to allow other people to force you to hang your head and hide your problems.  I’m amazed at the liberal press who have focused on the pregnant, unmarried teenager.  Not that it’s good or right, but it’s a human problem that is very much part of our times, even among “respectable” and “good” families.  I wish it were not so, but it is, and what Sarah Palin, or any other parent, does with the problem once they have it is the real issue.

I was impressed with Palin’s speech.  Here is a woman who is relatively unknown outside Alaska, she’s never been in that venue, never in that spotlight, never under that scrutiny, never with the stakes as high, and never with the hopes of so many people vested in her.  To step out on the stage and deliver a speech with as much poise, clarity, power, sharpness, and confidence was an amazing feat.  A person of little substance or character could not do that, in my opinion.  The manner in which she was able to step up to the plate and deliver says a lot about what she’s made of, and what she is capable of doing.

I’m impressed with the fact that she evidently possess a great deal of confidence and guts.  She hasn’t been scared off by a hostile press or by a formidable opposing party.  She doesn’t seem to be fazed by those who already wield power.  She seems to be her own woman, and I like that.  If she is elected, she will need these qualities to survive and succeed.

I think Democrats ought to be concerned.  One commentator opined following Palin’s speech that a star had been born.  Well, if that is true, we might think about what this means.  Let’s suppose McCain/Palin are elected.  McCain is most likely a one-term president.  He’s 72 years old.  Granted, his mother is in her latter 90’s and going strong, and McCain may surprise me, but if he does, just add four years to what I’m about to say.  Palin, as vice-president, becomes a prime candidate for President in the next four years.  If she does well as vice-president, she will be formidable.  She is likeable, and for a politician, that goes a long way, so if you add political success to likability, Palin may have an impact for the next twelve years (16, if McCain goes two terms).  Do you have any idea what kind of impact that would be?  Can you imagine how Palin might affect politics if she is in office that long, and turns out to be the reformer she presents herself to be?  Have you thought about the Supreme Court appointments that will be made in the next 12 years?  Democrats have good reason to fear this woman, and you can bet they will do whatever they need to do, to see that she never sees the White House, unless it’s as a visitor and tourist.

You might assume by now that I like Sarah Palin.  You’d be right.  I like her much better than the Democratic alternatives.  I’ve heard Democrats make much the same political promises and demands since the 1960s.  I know Obama talks about change, but most of what he talks about sounds like things I’ve heard for years.  His pick of Joe Biden as running mate actually looks like more of the same, despite the fact Obama says that about McCain.  McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin says much more about the possibility of substantive change in a positive direction.

Since moving to Grenada, Mississippi about six years ago, I have become involved in efforts to help improve relationships between the races in our community.  As a native born Mississippian (born and raised in Oxford, MS – and yes, the term is ‘raised’ here in the South, not ‘reared’), I think this is probably one of the most important things I’ve ever done.

I am involved with two groups.  One is through the Grenada Chamber of Commerce.  The chamber formed a committee several years ago called the Unity Committee.  It is composed of a variety of people from businesses, organizations, churches and citizens.  The committee meets, talks, and sometimes helps create activities and events designed to bring people together and encourage positive interaction between people of different races.  Maybe the best thing this committee has done is to host a monthly Unity Breakfast.  Hosted by a different church each month (alternating between black and white churches).  Though I am not always able to attend these, the ones I have attended have been excellent.  The format centers around the reading of a passage of scripture, and then discussion around the various tables.  It seems to have worked well.

The other effort is one hosted by a group called Mission Mississippi.  This is a monthly supper meeting of local ministers/pastors to foster racial reconciliation, “one relationship at a time.”  I enjoy this group very much and, over time, I believe it will have a major positive impact.

Like it or not, there is still a lot of distance between the races.  I don’t claim to be an expert.  If anything, I’m learning how much I don’t know about moving people of different races closer together, but I believe it’s worth the effort.  I could probably come up with a bullet list of good reasons for racial harmony in a community, but it’s such a no-brainer I don’t believe it’s necessary.  Cliches might do the job.  “United we stand, divided we fall.”  That’s good for a start.  “Love one another,” and “By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another,” is another.  Jesus gave us the last two.  People who live together, work together, go to school together, worship together, and even enjoy recreation together, simply must learn to do all these things in an atmosphere of harmony.

This necessarily brings into play social and legal justice, simple mutual respect and honor, true equality in economic and employment areas, politics, religion and more.  We cannot afford to leave out anyone, regardless of race.  While I can point to numerous improvements in my lifetime, we have a long way to go before we can begin to suggest that things are really good.

I will admit to a frustration that continues to plague every effort.  That frustration stems from the fact that there are a lot of people, both white and black, who are not really interested in real improvement.  This is not a problem among radicals.  Some of the people who ought to be at the forefront of the efforts to improve racial harmony are simply absent.  Others give lip-service, but not real positive involvement.

But, I am encouraged, overall.  I do see efforts like the ones mentioned above making some progress.  Not only that, but I see people making this progress on their own, without the benefit of any organizations or groups.  If there is anything that makes me believe that racial harmony is a real possibility, it’s when I see people with good hearts but different skin colors, treating each other well.  I see this in many young people.  I see it in numerous church events and activities.  I see it when I shop in stores and watch employees interact with one another and with customers.  There is, indeed, more than a glimmer of hope.

But, we still avoid each other’s homes for the most part, and avoid each other’s churches.  I believe it was Martin Luther King, Jr. who noted that the single most racially segrated hour of the week is the Sunday morning worship hour.  We need to learn that Jesus Christ did not come to establish a white church or a black church, but in practice, that’s precisely what both whites and blacks seem to believe.  It is certainly what they practice.

Might I suggest a simple practice that will go a long way toward achieving racial harmony.  It comes in the biblical teachings that we should love one another, honor and respect one another.  Love, honor and respect are baseline attitudes and actions.  If they are not present, one can preach racial harmony but it will never happen.  This is a call for every person to do their part.  Love people regardless of their skin color.  Honor and respect them, despite the fact that they are not like you.  These are the attitudes and actions that open the doors to other things that will enhance and deepen the relationships we form with people of a different race.  These are not empty symbolism, they are what makes things happen.  And we could stand for some things to happen – good, positive things – when it comes to racial harmony.

Views, Opinions, and Questions is off the ground!  If  you’re wondering what to expect, I can only suggest that you hang around.  I’ve got a lot of other resources on the Internet, including a blog called, Dr. Bill’s Random Thoughts. There are also Bible study resources, sermons, and devotional articles on my CrossTies Ministry web site.  This blog will be quite different.

I’m also quite involved in a number of things outside the “church” or religious areas, though some of them certainly have a connection.  This blog is where I will offer personal essays and comments on those areas.

I want to address things of personal concern, like politics in our community of Grenada, Mississippi, the state and nation in general, social and economic concerns, and things that don’t fit into those other areas.

Comments both pro and con will be appreciated.