An open letter to Speaker Mike Johnson
Sir, I applaud you for calling the US and its leaders to “turn the rhetoric down.”
1/
Sir, I applaud you for calling the US and its leaders to “turn the rhetoric down.”
1/
2/ On NBC, you said, “We've got to turn the rhetoric down, we got to turn the temperature down in this country, we need leaders of all parties on both sides to call that out.”
3/ And at the Capitol: “We need every political figure, we need everyone who has a platform to say this loudly and clearly: we can settle disagreements and disputes in a civil manner.”
4/ We are indeed awash in uncivil and unethical rhetoric, which manipulates, inflames and divides. It is easily recognizable by its expressions:
• Insults and dehumanizing
• Caricaturing and name-calling
• Fabrications and lies
• Willful distortion of information
• Insults and dehumanizing
• Caricaturing and name-calling
• Fabrications and lies
• Willful distortion of information
5/ • Misrepresenting the views of opponents
• Rushing to judgment
• Prevaricating
• Damning entire groups for the behaviors of a few
• Projecting one’s bad behaviors on to one’s opponent
• Threatening one’s opponent
• Rushing to judgment
• Prevaricating
• Damning entire groups for the behaviors of a few
• Projecting one’s bad behaviors on to one’s opponent
• Threatening one’s opponent
6/ Turning the rhetoric down necessarily requires the rejection and condemnation of these and other toxic forms of communication.
7/ We’ve heard your call to turn the rhetoric down before. You said exactly the same thing on the Today Show in July, 2024, immediately after the first attempt on Mr. Trump’s life.
8/ At that time you also said: “We’re all Americans, and we have to treat each other with respect.”
And: “We need leaders of both parties, on both sides, to call that out and make sure that happens.”
And: “We need leaders of both parties, on both sides, to call that out and make sure that happens.”
9/ You and others even started a group that you called The Honor and Civility Caucus.
But nothing happened. The rhetoric never changed. On the contrary, it seems to have intensified. I can think of no leaders on either side who ever called it out.
But nothing happened. The rhetoric never changed. On the contrary, it seems to have intensified. I can think of no leaders on either side who ever called it out.
10/ I therefore appeal to you, this time, to make good on your words. Turn the rhetoric down. Use the power and influence of your office to call out and denounce all forms of poisonous rhetoric, whenever it occurs and whoever speaks, writes, or XTweets it.
11/ Refuse to excuse it. Call it out - and call your colleagues to call it out - across the political spectrum. Wherever it rears its ugly head.
12/ Begin with the Chief Executive, whose rhetoric effectively sets the tone for our civic discourse. Condemn divisive rhetoric unequivocably, in the Executive branch and when voiced by your Congressional colleagues.
13/ You have the power, in this pivotal moment, to initiate what you call for. You can begin to turn the rhetoric down by setting a courageous example. I hope you’ll rise to the occasion.
14/ “Use your platform and say it loudly and clearly.” Set the precedent. Show us that you’re a man of your word and not another politician of hollow pronouncements. Do something this time.
15/ Give us reason to hope that your call to turn the rhetoric down is not just another shallow exercise in political theater.
16/ Author: Dan Hawk, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Ashland Theological Seminary
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