Turn It Around By Linda Stowe
What will it take to turn things around is a question we often hear. What will stop the violence, or the widening political chasm, or the expanding wealth gap, or even the widespread loneliness? So many heavy problems weigh on us, yet every day more problems are added to a pile already high enough to reach the sky. But still we hope with each outrageous comment or tragic shooting that whatever force seems to be driving us over the edge will come to its senses and stop.
Most of us have heard about the famous televised Senate hearing in 1954 when Sen. Joseph McCarthy accused a young lawyer of having communist ties. The man McCarthy was accusing was not present, but the attorney representing his interests became disturbed by the Senator’s cruel and personal attacks. Finally, the attorney said in desperation, “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?”
It was an iconic moment that did indeed turn things around and stopped the “Red Scare” tactics of the radical right. Perhaps the viewing public, hearing these words, recognized their role as by-standers and felt shame. The Senate hearings ended, and McCarthy was later censured by the Senate. Although his anti-communist crusade essentially ended, McCarthy continued to rail about the subject until his death at age 42.
Words no longer have the impact they once did. We’ve heard them all – shame, decency, guilt, hypocrisy, even the admonition that history is watching. They continue to echo against ears that will not hear.
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Polly here.
I think this belongs in the New York Times. This is one brilliant piece of writing.
Every word of this is true. Voices of “reason” fall on deaf ears, not willing to accept “decency” as a way of life. Instead, people are self-absorbed. We are spoiled. In 1954, many Americans were not that far away from having endured the hardships of WWII. They remembered what it was to sacrifice. They remembered what it meant to be decent.
Now, we are coddled in our lifestyles. Money drives the game. On and on. But our world is on edge in a much different way. I only hope and pray we do not know the hardships that have come before us in so many ways. Try as we may to do good in the world, sometimes, our efforts fall on those very deaf ears.
