It is likely safe to assume that most readers of Evangelically Departed are not, generally, viewers of Fox News. I do try to make a point of watching Fox News somewhat regularly, largely to prevent being caught up in a particular echo chamber. I would not say that Fox aligns with my political leaning, but I do try to listen with somewhat of a charitable ear.
This is not easy during the evening line-up of Jessie Waters, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham. I can’t say that I watch entire shows, rather I catch a segment or two. If I have a chance to see any daytime coverage at all, it is usually somewhat more measured than that of the evening opinion/entertainment. Tucker and the crew I find mostly upsetting. From a faith perspective, it appears, to me, to be the well worn strategy of co-opting a religious faith in order to achieve political ends. More precisely, as a business model, feeding on fear and xenophobia in order to secure a market and make money.
Occasionally, to be fair, there is something noteworthy for other than negative reasons on Fox News. This past Sunday, rather early in the morning, a segment on Fox News Sunday made me cry. I was getting ready to speak at church and so I was in a somewhat reflective, prayerful, and charitable mood. In the past, however, these moods have not made me more agreeable to what I have seen on Fox. The occasion for my tears was an interview with Cornell West and Robert George, two professors on opposite ends of the political spectrum who are good friends. The segment was set up as an example of how we might get beyond polarization of opinion.
Cornell West answered the first question about how the friendship remains by saying that “We are more than friends. We are brothers. As family we can disagree and remain family.” He said that, beyond that, he and George were tied to a deep commitment to “a fallible quest for for truth and beauty and goodness and the holy.” George went on to say that, to run a democratic republic, you need minimum of civic friendship. He called for an awareness of how we treat each other when we disagree, “as enemies to be defeated or as friends with whom we disagree.” West then pointed out that part of the challenge today is we tend to be rewarded for being echoes rather than for finding our voices. He said that this echoing means that we fail to find out who we are because echoing leads us to pose and posture rather than to engage. “You can pose and posture all the way to the top or the middle or the bottom and never know who you really are.”
I am not expecting that the segment will make you cry. Cornell West has had this effect on me before, as I find that he speaks about faith in a way that is hopeful and loving and non-divisive. Had I seen this segment on another network my response might not have been tears. There is something about seeing hope, in what might have been assumed to be a wasteland, that reminds you of the humanity of all people.
It can seem so trite as to be meaningless, “Love your enemies,” Jesus told us.
If it is not trite, then it is idealistic and naïve. I have even heard that phrase turned into a kind of attack, as if we are being advised that the way to really destroy someone is to love them.
Love your enemies. See even your enemies as people. Look for the good and the hopeful even among the places where views are held that are foreign to your own. You can still hold on to your ideals and your faith and your identity. It is just that you will have an identity that is more than posing and posturing particular views.
In the interview, Cornel West articulated some of Robert George’s views. He maintained his disagreement, but could also describe the positive motivation for the differing opinion.
None of this is to say that we ought to be patient with xenophobia, demonization of race or gender or sexual identity. However, we would all be good to consider people (hopefully including some friends) who see the world very differently than we do. Instead of becoming stronger and stronger spokespeople for our views, perhaps, we might grow in listening to the views of others.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
I would also say, Bless those who think differently.
I may not agree with them but they make me examine what I believe so that I continue to grow.
Good comment. Robert George made similar remarks about his friendship / ongoing contention with Cornel West during a talk at Peter A. Allard (UBC) Law School last September. Quite refreshing, and a very positive message for young lawyers-to-be.