From radical riots to disastrous debates, America is full of unrest. Both ditches are filled along the preoccupied road of revolving issues. Which political party do we support? Who won the presidential debate? Do we agree with the police or the rioters? Is wearing a mask a show of responsibility or weakness?

What is causing all the mayhem?

Attitudes

2020s first presidential debate was so ridiculous I had to stop watching it after ten minutes. It wasn’t a debate over current issues. It was a contest of volume, interruption, and derogatory comments. The CPD (Commission on Presidential Debates) says we need more structure to ensure orderly debates in the future. Although they addressed the issue, more structure is not the answer. Unfortunately, the solution requires people to adopt certain behaviors. There will always be those who refuse to cooperate.

Ditches

The position we relate to on an issue looks like gold, while the other position smells like dung. We close our minds to contradictory opinions. People are often blind to their negative, oppressive, dismissive, and condescending behavior. The danger is that these behaviors reduce the value of human beings. They diminish the greatness of our nation. Herbert H. Lehman said, “I must respect the opinions of others even if I disagree with them.”

We won’t accomplish anything until we tear down the walls that divide and build up the bonds of peace.

What are the possible solutions?

by Tiago Felipe Ferreira–Unsplash

Respect and Active Listening

Respect is the act of acknowledging and considering someone else. It esteems others and considers their ideas. Respect requires humility. We are all the center of our own world, but we aren’t the center of anyone else’s. Rick Warren, who wrote The Purpose-Driven Life, said, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.”

You have one mouth and two ears, so listen twice as much as you speak. It’s disrespectful to refuse to listen to others. Those we ignore often reciprocate our insolence. Instead of taking sides, respect hears those in both ditches and seeks to understand them. It pulls agreeable people out of the ditches and onto the middle of the road where they can work together. A whole is better than two broken halves. Respect is powerful.

Unseen Histories–Unsplash

Martin Luther King Jr. was an example of a respectful and humble man, and what he said still relates today. In 1966, Mike Wallace, with 60 Minutes, interviewed King. King said, “I will never change in my idea that nonviolence is the most potent weapon available to the Negro in his struggle for freedom and justice. For the Negro to turn to violence would be both impractical and immoral. I would hope that we can avoid riots because riots are self-defeating and socially destructive.”

MLK also spoke at Stanford University in 1967. “Rioting is the language of the unheard. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn rioting.”

The keyword here is “unheard.” From his last sentence, you can see MLK didn’t support rioting. He taught that closing our ears to the oppressed causes revolt, which hurts both sides. Thus the vicious cycle begins.

When the government bused blacks to white schools, blacks shoved whites that tried to be nice. Where did this disrespect come from? Forcing blacks to integrate into all-white schools was intimidating. The whites had lynched, beaten, and oppressed them for years. Similar to when new prisoners act tough, so no one pushes them around, these blacks did the same.

Precinct Boards

by Chris Henry–Unsplash

During King’s “I had a Dream” speech, he said, “We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.”

• Qualified immunity doesn’t hold police responsible for police brutality.

That must change because with power comes obligation. America should demolish police immunity and set up boards for each precinct. These boards, made up of a diverse group of representatives, could assess police confrontations that go wrong. The board selection process might mimic a jury pool.

Education

by Chase Baker–Unsplashed

We must respect the position of a police officer, sworn to protect society. Police are afraid for their lives when they enter a dangerous situation. It is never right to commit a crime or be uncooperative with police.

America should require all residents to learn about respect, tolerance, and prejudice. Residents should learn the role police officers play and the dangers they face. Cooperation and respect for an officer should be expected. Schools should work with families to discourage the perpetuation of negative family views. There are ways to change this, to stop the cycle.

King condemns the unacceptable conditions in our society (police brutality and qualified immunity). He also condemns the unacceptable responses to them (riots and destruction). Like Ray Davis said, “Tolerance only for those who agree with you is no tolerance at all.”

Conclusion

We’ve dug ourselves into two deep holes, one on each side of the road. So, let’s stop rioting and shake the ditch mentality. Let’s climb out together, leaving the hatred and bitterness behind. Together we can walk on the road toward respect and humility. Following in MLK’s footsteps, we can stop fighting and roll up our sleeves. We can turn America around.

by Munshots–Unsplash