It may be politics as usual, but this year it seems to be particularly nasty. Why do we allow political ads that are so vicious? What has happened to civility and respect for the opposition? The death of kindness may turn out to be far more important for the human community than political issues that encourage such passion and vindictiveness. We should remember that!

The simple fact is that our culture allows this, perhaps even expects personal attack as part of the legitimate political process. In fact, we seem to have reached the point where we are almost bored with factual debate. We expect the reporting of juicy details of a candidate’s history. We have become voyeurs of their personal lives. Why do we do this, and how did we get to this point?

The answer is complex, but much of it may be traced to the phenomenon of 24 hour news reporting. When you are “on” every moment of every day you must scramble to fill all of that time. The boundaries of civility and what is fair game for reporting get stretched. Soon they are blurred to the point where most anything goes. This is when we lose respect for each other. The death of kindness may turn out to be far more important in the long run than the important but transitory issues that stir up such passion. So, let us return to a position of respect for the opposition!! Character assassination is an unnecessary part of politics. We are all part of the human community, and some values are even more important than politics.

As I post this, half the miners in the Chilean mine disaster have been brought to the surface in the little blue capsule. Most of us watching this drama unfold are in awe of the rescue process. We are particularly inspired by the stories and spirit of the miners, each emerging from the ordeal and responding to freedom in their own unique way.

How did they do it? How did they create an environment that sustained them through two months enclosed in a dark space a half mile underground? They were there so long that their ordeal set a new record. As the stories begin to unfold we see that they were able to create a community that was both positive and sustaining. They took care of each other and in doing this they nurtured the whole group through the fear and hopelessness that could have engulfed them. They kept hope alive by consciously evoking it. That it was a communal effort can be seen as the miners competed to be the last to leave the hole, not the first. The safety of the others in the group became more important than their own.

The courage of the miners is mirrored by the attitude of the rescuers. It is heartwarming to watch their meticulous efforts and to see them waiting to greet each and every miner as they come up. The work will not be finished until the last person comes home. It is inspiring to observe the national pride in doing the right thing. Perhaps the tiny white butterfly so far underground that two miners stopped to watch, and by that pause escaped death in the collapse, has turned out to be a symbol of hope for us all–for we most certainly are being taught a lesson about the power of community in the face of adversity.