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YouTubeLet’s Dial Down The Rhetoric
As the City of Jacksonville began negotiations with the union representing police and corrections officers Friday, Fraternal Order of Police President Nelson Cuba made the decision to open the conversation with a bang. Referring to the Jacksonville City Council as "buffoons", Cuba launched a verbal assault on Jacksonville's elected government that left no question as to his intentions to fight any concessions the city is seeking from the unions.
What was troubling about Cuba's statement is that it has certainly not been his first controversial comments during this heated summer of budget skirmishes. Several months ago, Cuba called for a boycott of Gate Gasoline, which is owned by Mayor John Peyton's father, to protest the Mayor's calls for pension reform.
And, Cuba isn't the only one who has launched verbal bombs during the recent budget debate. Name-calling and personal barbs seem to have become the norm over the past several months. It's hardly the behavior we should expect from our elected officials. Of course, elected officials (and union leaders) aren't the only ones guilty of lowering the standard of debate.
The summer of 2009 has frequently been referred to as the "Summer of Discontent", namely for the Tea Party protests and Town Hall Meetings/Protests that have swept the country. Jacksonville has certainly had its share of controversial protests. And, while protest is a valued American right, there's no doubt that we've observed a rapid deterioration in "acceptable" levels of dissent. Legitimate debate of ideas and vision is an integral component of any democracy, but personal insults and the demeaning of political beliefs that differ from our own lends nothing to furthering constructive political discourse.
In today's charged political environment, it seems that too many of our politicians are taking cues from those who have made themselves millions by stoking the flames of animosity. Jacksonville appears to be no exception to the rule.
It's time for Jacksonville's leaders to move beyond bombastic sound bites. It is possible to debate the future of our city while maintaining an honorable level of respect for those whose ideas differ from our own. After all, the very fact that an individual is engaged in the debate should indicate their concern for this wonderful city we all call home.
Perhaps we can lead the nation in moving from the "Summer of Protest" to the "Winter of Discourse." Only when we learn to respectfully listen to the ideas of others can we be confident in our own beliefs.
