In Abraham Lincoln?s first Inaugural Address, the 16th president appealed to the “better angels of our nature.”
In a recent speech in Prescott, Ariz., John McCain made a similar appeal for this presidential campaign to avoid partisan sniping and instead engage in civil debate.
Lincoln?s appeal to angels was overcome by the devils of the Civil War. But like Lincoln, McCain is trying to elevate the level of political discourse. In his Arizona speech he said, “Let us remember, we are not enemies. We are compatriots defending ourselves from a real enemy.”
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has said similar things about talking to each other with respect.
All of this sounds noble, but can it work beyond primary season?
We are in the middle of a war, a war that is religiously based and, thus, more powerful than military might and one that will likely outlast many future administrations. It is critically important that the public engage the candidates ? and the candidates each other ? in a debate about how to fight and win this war.
We also must debate the role of government in our lives. Calling upon government to do for us what we ought to be doing for ourselves is the antithesis of what John F. Kennedy called for in his 1961 Inaugural Address.
McCain should say that America?s greatness is not its government, but its people whotell government what it is allowed to do. Barack Obama belongs to a party that believes the opposite to be true. He and his fellow Democrats think government should dictate what we are allowed to do, while simultaneously demanding ever-increasing amounts of money from taxpayers for its programs.
Is that uncivil? No, it is the truth and it could launch a real and beneficial ? even civil ? debate.
Cal Thomas is America?s most widely syndicated op-ed columnist and author of 11 books. (full column at examiner.com)
