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Stephen Lewis: If you think we're uncivil, look to history



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By: STEPHEN LEWIS, Post Columnist
Posted: Sunday, September 20, 2009 6:43 am
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There certainly has been a lot of discussion lately about the lack of civility taking place around us.

Entertainer Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at a music awards show, tennis player Serena Williams threatens to put a tennis ball inside a line judge through an orifice not nearly large enough in my opinion, and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S. C.) shouting out while the president is giving a speech, are just a few examples that are given as evidence as America’s loss of civility.

And I can’t forget to mention all the town hall meetings that turn into giant yelling matches. But I’ve got faith in the U.S. and I’m determined to prove all the naysayers wrong and show them, and you, that we haven’t lost our civility. In fact, I’ll prove we’re more civil than we’ve ever been.

I decided to go back to the beginning of time. Or at least the beginning of “man’s time.” I searched on the Internet and looked at some books in the library. From all the pictures I saw the men of that time weren’t very civil at all. In fact, I actually saw pictures of men carrying huge clubs and dragging women by their hair. And from the looks on the women’s faces they didn’t look very happy so I’m guessing this wasn’t something they were advised to do by a sex therapist during a couple’s weekend. And anyway, even from what I know from watching “The Flintstones,” Fred could be a total jerk to Barney sometimes and they were supposed best friends.

Even if you believe Adam and Eve were the first humans on Earth it only took one generation removed before Cain killed Abel. Not the greatest example of civility. And as you move along through the Bible you see plagues, killing of babies, beheadings of people with last names like “the Baptist,” and other atrocities too grotesque to print in a family paper such as the Post. For heaven’s sake, they put people on giant wooden crosses and let them hang for hours till they died! We’re worried about Kanye hurting Taylor’s feelings?!?

Flash forward a thousand or so years to Salem, Mass. if you will. From what I came across, this early American town came to think that some of its residents might be witches. Apparently just from gossip started by local town folk. To decide whether or not a person was a witch she was submerged in a container of water. If she drowned, she wasn’t a witch. Sorry our mistake. If she didn’t drown, she must be a witch and she was immediately killed. Early scientific research was a real bit ... bummer! Now I’ll admit that Endora could be rather uncivil to both Darrens but I think it would have been tremendously devastating to the entire nation if Samantha had been drowned, or worse yet, killed for not drowning, on national TV.

In the 1700s people were tarred and feathered. In the 1800s suspected criminals were hanged by the neck. In the 1900s blacks couldn’t eat with whites or go to the same schools. So I’m supposed to be worried when a representative yells out at the president. Here’s an idea for you: tune into CSPAN for a little bit of British Parliament. They don’t cut their prime minister any slack. It’s like James Bond is addressing a room full of Austin Powerses. Hey, I think I just came up with a great idea for a new Bond movie.

Anyway, I think I’ve proven my point. Regardless of the recent events by some, I believe America is far more civilized than at any other point in her history. And you know what? If you don’t believe me you can shut the #*&! Up or I’ll take this keyboard and shove it down your....!!!
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Tags: Health Care, Kanye West, Serena Williams, Stephen Lewis, Taylor Swift, There Ought to Be a Law, Voices
Member Opinions:
By: turfgrease on 9/25/09
Hmmm,seems to be a clearcut case of "keyboad rage". Take two family size "cowboy" pizzas from papa murphys and come back in next week. :-0


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