Tread lightly on the things of earth

I’m always striving to be fair, even though I frequently miss the mark. To this end, I sent a short note to South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham yesterday — via his Web contact form — praising his sane and honorable conduct in the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings.

Dear Sen. Graham:

Thank you for engaging these Abu Ghraib hearings with intelligence, courage, tenacity, and an obvious passion for justice.

The Republican Party has lost me forever, but I am nevertheless committed to giving credit where due: Your behavior over the last few days makes me proud, and gives me a glimmer of hope that honor and justice may yet carry the day in my government.

Thank you, sir.

Lindsey triggers the welcome realization for me that I don’t have to be in total agreement with people (especially government leaders) to be okay with them; I just need ‘em to show enough character, honesty, and clear thinking to be able to respect ‘em.

IOW, character still trumps political affiliation.

Good. I’ve been getting more shallow and dismissive of fellow citizens as our national politics have become more polarized. I’m determined to stop that trend. Deep and welcoming are still far, far away as accurate descriptors for me, but that’s the direction I aim to go in.

Legitimate dissent, however, will continue unabated. If mindless, unquestioning “patriotism” is a symptom of shallow — and I believe it is — then willingness to dissent is a necessary ingredient of deep.

2004-06-18 update: Oh, c’mon, dammit. I don’t think these guys are ever going to reveal anything voluntarily; subpoena is a minimum requirement to force their hand.