It looked like Civil Rights-era protests with white men yelling and being held back by police as black people walked up the steps to the Capitol to promote reform. The protesters shouted racial epithets at the black men, including the “n” word. One of the white protesters spit on a black congressman. The congressman stopped, tried to talk to the shouting man and continued up the steps wiping the spit off his face.
Neither party was fighting over civil rights.
The Tea Party protester was angry about health care reform. He was so angry that he spat on Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) March 20 as the congressman walked to the Capitol to vote on the health care bill signed into law.
Police detained the protester, who was later released because Cleaver declined to press charges, The Washington Post reported.
“I have heard things today that I have not heard since March 15, 1960, when I was marching to get off the back of the bus,” said House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), the highest-ranking black official in Congress.
“This is not the first time the congressman has been called the ?n” word and certainly not the worst assault he has endured in his years fighting for equal rights for all Americans,” said Danny Rotert, Cleaver”s spokesman. “That being said, he is disappointed that in the 21st century our national discourse has devolved to the point of name-calling and spitting.”
I believe in the right to peacefully protest.
I believe in the right of freedom of speech.
However, I believe it is not OK to yell racial epithets or to spit in someone”s face. I would not wish that level of disrespect on former enemies or public figures I have claimed to hate.
Spitting on someone is wrong ? it”s assault.
Yelling racial slurs and spitting on people is neither the proper way to protest nor is it effective.
Citizens who don”t support bills or laws should first call or write their congressmen or congresswomen, using respectful language to tell representatives why they as voters don”t support the legislation. Then sure, attend the rally. During elections, vote for the people who promise to uphold your values.
The key is respect.
Some protesters may believe representatives haven”t earned respect. But every human deserves to be treated as such. Every human should be able to walk to work without being disrespected, whether by slurs, spit or other.
The protester”s actions against the congressman likely did not make him think twice about how to vote on the bill. The offense likely just upset Cleaver. The protester could have been more effective if he asked the congressman not to vote for the bill because he doesn”t want to pay more for his individual insurance premium, he”s worried the bill would leave a huge deficit on the laps of his children or his business can”t afford coverage. Maybe these concerns would not have changed Cleaver”s vote but they have more relevance to the debate than slurs or spit.
Like Cleaver”s spokesman said, public discourse has dissolved into name-calling and spitting. People who don”t express their frustration with respectful and relevant words should hold their tongues. Many people learned the Golden Rule in kindergarten but apparently thousands, if not millions, of Americans need a refresher lesson.
To those witnesses who watch as angry people disrespect others, stand up for fellow citizens. Tell people what they said is wrong and offensive and then explain why. Kindergarten teachers can”t do all the work.
Katy Sweeny is a staff reporter for the Record-Bee. She can be reached at kdsweeny@gmail.com or 263-5636, ext. 37.
