There was a nationwide New York Times/Siena College poll in late October of likely voters. The New York Times report on it began with, “Voters Are Deeply Skeptical About the Health of American Democracy: Nearly half say it does not do a good job representing the people, and three-quarters say it is under threat.” Very dramatic. Maybe even scary. I reminded myself that “if it bleeds, it leads.”
I thought the most exciting aspect of the survey was something else. Buried in the material were two questions on what people made of their political opponents. Were they “The enemy” or were they “Fellow Americans who you disagree with politically.” With the election fight nearing an end and all the reports of extreme polarization in the country it would be understandable to expect a result with a significant “enemy” response. But that wasn’t the data.
Eleven percent of those not supporting Harris saw the Harris supporters as the enemy while 83% saw them as “fellow Americans.” And from those not supporting Trump there was a result of 16% seeing them as “enemy” while 77% saw “fellow Americans.” I was encouraged by the respect shown on both sides. And also saddened and a bit embarrassed by the result coming from Harris supporters like me. Though I wasn’t surprised. I’d seen other reports in recent years noting slightly less tolerance and more judgment coming from the left. But all in all, wow! 83 and 77% said “fellow Americans.”
You may recall that I’ve written about humility a few times. On my birthday I quoted Helder Camara “I ....have the impression that God knows the importance of humility for man. He knows our weakness, our pride, and. ..He purposely sets in our path each day four or five humiliations, and in the course of our life, four or five great humiliations. If we do not comprehend them, if we do not accept them, it is a serious matter. But if we accept them, then we learn the generosity of God.”
That was in relationship to events in my own life. Personal stuff. But what about in regard to civic life? How about in my feelings toward people who vote differently from me? Is the virtue of humility worth pondering? There’s been a fair amount of discussion among those who voted for Harris about whether we need more resistance or more humility. I do see the election outcome as a politically a “great humiliation” in Camara’s words. And I wonder about his caution, “If we do not comprehend them, if we do not accept them, it is a serious matter. But if we accept them, then we learn the generosity of God.”
I’m old enough and maybe I’ve reflected enough to have moved away from any thoughts about “God on my side” or “the right side of history” silliness. So, some humility. At least I don’t think of all those voting for Mr. Trump as “the enemy.” Though I have to admit to a few uncharitable thoughts. Sin and human limitation are always with me. Still, I yearn for “the generosity of God.”
Our present reality
“Our present reality should also evoke a deep humility from us; or as they used to say, ‘put the fear of God in us.’ ” That’s from today’s “Dispatch Faith.” Yes, I’m back to them again. Each week they make connections between faith and politics.
Today it was “Remembering Humility as a Virtue.” The article asks a question: “How do we live with one another?” and offers this “Whatever form the answer takes, it will require deep humility on all our parts.”
So, just a taste of the article by Hannah Anderson.
“Philosopher and St. Augustine scholar James K.A. Smith wrote recently about a kind of political humility that honors our identity as limited, created beings—and that might guide us through the coming days. Citing Augustine’s own political theology as expressed in The City of God, Smith argues for a kind of holy impatience that prays and works for the just world that God promises to bring while knowing it doesn’t depend on us.”
and
“Earlier I appealed to privilege and responsibility—that learning to live together requires a clarity about the power that each of us holds and thus what each of us is responsible for. So, what is the average citizen’s responsibility in this moment? I think it’s fairly simple. Your responsibility and mine is to become a wise, virtuous person. Our responsibility is to become the kind of citizen who, if replicated across the whole of our nation, would make for a just, virtuous society that cares for all. There is no way we can hope for a common good if we ourselves do not do good. But this will mean rejecting political affiliation as a substitute for virtue or as a way to take pride in our own moral superiority. It will require humbling ourselves to accept that we still have much to learn, including from our fellow citizens with whom we disagree.”
This abides,
Brother Robert, OA
I’m reminded of Edgar Schein’s book on “Humble Inquiry,” which has probably eased and enabled number of fruitful conversations. I’ve had the opportunity to talke to a number of Trump supporters. I can say that they are not horrible, malevolent people. They’ve generally been men, one woman - a Jewish Rabbi who I would have easily mistaken for a real estate agent or a used car saleswoman.
On election day I had been in Philadelphia and stopped into a restaurant stop for a late lunch. A young latino couple dressed up in full MAGA wear was there. He saw my cross and said ,”you catholic?” I said “yes (instinctively).”
“You vote for Trump?”
“Ah No? I voted for the other one.”
“May I ask why?” I stopped for a second. I realized after all my conversations with Trumpers, not a single one had ever asked me a question about my own political beliefs. I was always the curious one.
“Sure. but you know, I admit, I’ve never had a Trump supporter ever ask me why I didn’t support him, so thank you for asking.” He seemed pleased by the compliment.
I shared with him my personal story. Trump had tried to closed down my church’s domestic violence shelter. He was building two luxury apartments next to the church and wanted all the poor people to be vacated. There was a phone call, and he didn’t know that the rector was on the call. He started using vulgar and unprofessional language to talk about the clients who were staying in the building. Of course, she had none of it, and expressed herself in a typically robust way. Then I mentioned Vera Coking. Then I mentioned the Central Park Five.
He said, “Yeah, I’d probably wouldn’t vote for him if I experienced that. but he will bring less crime, deport illegals, and stop inflation. So all that’s good.” Then he rushed off. There wasn’t going to be a debate at a rest stop, and I understand that nobody’s facts changes other people’s minds.