Yesterday, I was at a congressional town hall meeting in a small Oklahoma town when something strange happened. It has happened to me before, in other small towns in other states, and I think it says something about society. Maybe I'm overstating this. You can be the judge. (1/8)
During a lengthy back-and-forth with the congressman, an older gentleman repeatedly criticized "the media" for what he considered to be unpatriotic, unconstitutional and otherwise unseemly behavior. This is commonplace at some small-town gatherings and I'm well accustomed to it.
What happened after the meeting is what I want to talk about. The man came over to me, shook my hand and stressed he wasn't referring to me when he called journalists God-hating hacks, he was referring to "the media." He wanted me to know that I seem friendly and professional.
This has happened to me probably a half-dozen times, if not more, over the years. Typically, the person in question is a woman, sometimes the wife of an aggressive participate in the town hall. Their small-town sensibilities and kindness take over and they become embarrassed.
Here's why I think that says something about our society. We have a much easier time claiming someone a the cog in the wheel of a conspiracy when we don't have to look that person in the eyes. When I'm the dorky dude taking notes in the corner, suddenly I'm decent.
People sometimes assume the politicians or federal workers I interview are either evil conspirators or godsends. The answer is much duller: they're people. Sometimes they're awkward or boring or they have a cold or they tell good jokes or they tell bad jokes. Y'know, like people.
Being angry at or thrilled with politicians' policy positions (or the job journalists are doing) is perfectly acceptable. All of us have thick skins and all of us benefit from public feedback. (This is the last time I'll ever compare myself to a politician, by the way).
But maybe the answer to our societal spread of vitriol is to ask, before we speak, whether we would say the same words if the target of our hatred were in the same room. Because sometimes he is.
