This from McClatchy Newspapers:
"Demonstrators outside the U.S. Capitol, angry over the proposed healthcare bill, shouted 'nigger' Saturday at U.S. Representative John Lewis, a Georgia congressman and civil rights icon who was nearly beaten to death during an Alabama march in the 60's.
"The protestors shouted obscenities at other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, lawmakers said.
"They were shouting, sort of harassing,' Lewis said. 'But, it's okay, I've faced this before. It reminded me of the 60s. It was a lot of downright hate and anger and people were downright mean.'"
In other words, the weekend was not a banner day for civil discourse.
Most people will just tsk-tsk the name-calling and let it go. But the weekend's news presents a classic teachable moment. It's not 1963; it's 2010 and we should demand more of ourselves and our fellow citizens.
Let your kids know what happened over the weekend. Let them know what it looks like when adults behave badly. While there's no excuse for the uncivil behavior the nation witnessed, maybe some intelligent teaching can keep it from happening again.
Oh, I was so sick over this. We're still doing it and it seems only a few notice how bad it is. m
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