Experience Together

Positive, well-informed voices answer negativity

Postitive, well-informed voices answer negativityA CNN poll conducted last December found that 69 percent of Americans polled are either “very angry” or “somewhat angry” about the way things are going in the U.S. People are angry about increased violence, about corruption in business, about money in politics, about income disparity, and about a polarized and incompetent Congress, among other issues.

There is indeed justifiable reason for anger and, as a community of women religious “profoundly affected and challenged by the many divisions in our world and church today and by the social, economic and ecological crises of our times….we are called and sent to address these divisions and crises with audacity and hope.” (Love Cannot Wait)

How can we do that? While we know of the extreme gridlock in Congress, according to some surveys the number of American citizens with a highly negative view of the opposing party has doubled in the last few years. This polarization makes reaching common ground on big issues such as immigration, health care and gun control more difficult.

I firmly believe that, in order to lessen in any way the extreme negativity of the campaigns and the angry, negative mood in this country, we need to be well-informed, positive voices offering opportunities for non-confrontational discussion.

Unless the majority of the people stay informed and involved, how can they complain when their government doesn’t function correctly? I tend to be just as angry about a misinformed or apathetic and indifferent citizenry. We do have a responsibility as citizens to take back our government, to bring a voice of reason and moral judgment to our representatives, to challenge them to put people before power and greed. Can we make a commitment to put forth our best efforts to do that?

To be more informed, check out www.votesmart.org or www.politifact.com or www.fair.org. All aim to monitor the factual accuracy of what candidates or leaders of political parties say.

Article by Sister Jeanne Wingenter, Shalom-JPIC
Photo by Mike Lagerquist

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