A call for Civility

It’s been more than 16-years since Rodney King appeared in public before television news cameras and asked the now famous question. Can we all get along?

King asked the question to appeal for calm after the news of the acquittal of the group of police officers that beat him led to riots in the Streets of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Atlanta. The casualties of the riots included more than just the reported 53 deaths, the 2,383 injuries, and the 7,000 fires and nearly $1 billion in financial losses.

The lasting and most important causality of the riots was civility.

I am becoming increasingly fearful that the 2008 Presidential election will end in civil unrest similar to or worst than the 1992 Los Angeles riots, regardless of who wins the Whitehouse.

The shouts of “Terrorist” and “Kill Him”, emanating some of John McCain’s Country First rallies are polarizing this country almost to the point of no return and one has to be concerned for Barack Obama’s safety.

This win at all cost campaigning must stop; the eyes of the world are upon America, the same America that’s trying to spread democracy and freedom abroad.

In other words, do as we say, not as we do.

Edmund Burke an author, and philosopher once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.

There is a growing sense that the vast majority of American people are annoyed by these senseless personal attacks.

With that said. I’m calling upon all Americans, but specifically residents of the City of Apalachicola to telephone, write, or email both John McCain and Barack Obama and demand for the sake of our country, civility in the remaining days of their campaigns.