THE STUMP

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INSIDE THE STUMP

Taking a stand for progress over partisanship

Published: Monday, January 17, 2011, 8:00 AM

  

 

By Debilyn Molineaux 

The horrifying shooting in Tucson that left six people dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in critical condition is a wake-up call to all Americans that the harshness of our political rhetoric has reached potentially dangerous levels. 

After the shooting, President Barack Obama called for a national moment of silence. In Tucson, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, a 50-year veteran of law enforcement, called for a period of national self-reflection. 

"When you look at unbalanced people," Dupnik said, "how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government -- the anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous." 

Here in the Portland metro area, some of us agree. In the wake of the shootings in Arizona, it's time we ask some hard questions about the larger political forces that may have contributed to this incident and what we can do to change the tone of our politics. 

Too often, it seems as though each political election brings new promises of change, but the only thing that really changes is the volume, which keeps growing louder at the extremes. 

The truth is, most reasonable, pragmatic citizens care more about solving problems than scoring political points, and we're in the majority. But too often, we're drowned out by voices on the fringes of American politics. 

We can change that. 

Republicans, Democrats and independents are coming together in the wake of this national tragedy to form a new group here in town called No Labels. We'll take a stand for civility over shouting, progress over partisanship. We pledge to play a constructive role in pressuring our elected officials and encouraging members of our community to reject the vitriol that has engulfed our political discourse. 

No Labels believes the time is long overdue for an adult conversation about what we can do as citizens to tone down the rhetoric and meet the challenges we face as a nation together. 

We believe that hyper-partisanship is paralyzing our democracy and harming our ability to self-govern. We believe our politics can change, so that government will work again and produce better results. The consequences of inaction have never been greater, because the issues we face have never been more serious, more complicated or more dangerous. 

Now is the time to talk carefully as well as candidly. We don't yet know all the facts behind the senseless shooting in Arizona, and the worst thing we can do is rush to judgment. But we do know enough already to say that something is deeply wrong with our political discourse. With this incident, a dangerous line has been crossed. 

As we grieve for those who died and pray for the recovery of those who were injured, we must use this moment of mourning to engage each other with more civility and respect and see each other not as opponents or enemies but as Americans. 

We invite members of the community to join us for this conversation. We don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican or an independent. We don't care if you're usually nonpolitical and are simply moved by recent events to be part of the solution. 

Join us at for some civilized discussion about a better way forward. For as Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 

Debilyn Molineaux lives in Southeast Portland. Information about No Labels can be found at its website, www.nolabels.org or by calling 503-395-8464 for information about the group's local meetings.