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May 02, 2010 - Forget Love, Can't We Just Be Civil?

by Father Edward L. Beck, C.P.

It seems as though it's a tough job to be in the serving professions these days.  Take a look at what happened to a waiter in Atlanta that dared to ask for ID before serving Margaritas.  The patrons throw a drink in his face, then pick up chairs and throw them at him, and then kick him and stomp him while he's on the ground.  Talk about over-reaction.  I long for the days of being carded.  Now take a look at what 69 year old Caroline Ballou has to contend with while working the night shift at a convenience store.  Yeah, this guy tries to take her well-earned money.  But she's having none of it.  And then she chases after him out of the store.  Just two examples of bad behavior that happened to be caught on tape.  But indicative of the loss of civility in our culture.  We seem to be right on the edge so many times.  A simple request sets us off.  Desperation or greed causes us to act in ways that are sub-human.  Robbing us and others of our dignity.  And it seems to be happening on a national level too.  A recently passed Immigration Bill in Arizona that many say is discriminatory and unconstitutional.  Now you can be stopped by police simply if they suspect you may be illegal.  And that's not racial profiling?  And then there's Alabama gubernatorial candidate Tim James saying that multiculturalism is going to destroy his state or at least his Department of Motor Vehicles.  Here he is in his ad.  Yeah, He says, “In Alabama, we speak English. If you want to live here, learn it.” He doesn't think they should waste money translating DMV materials into other languages.  Or really, but it's okay to translate tax forms, and census forms and school test forms?  So, we just don't want people who speak other languages to drive, but they can still pay taxes.  Now you may be thinking what do Immigration and Tim James have to do with beleaguered waiters and convenience store workers?  They all point to a lack of respect for one another and an increasing culture of alienation and suspicion.  We don't know whom we can trust.  We're suspicious of people who are not exactly like us.  And we react in unkind and sometimes abusive ways.  We're losing a sense of civility and respect that is the basis of the Judeo-Christian tradition.  Love of God and Love of Neighbor need to be more than nice words put on banners or dog-eared in a Bible we rarely refer to.  Those two notions of love have to be intertwined.  If we're 87 % believers in this country, then we have to start living that way.  And letting the love flow a little bit more.   Because after all, this is America.  And we say we speak equality, inclusion and love here.  Let's say it a little louder.

To watch Father Beck give the above Reflection, click here.