Of Vice Presidents and Manners

One of the most moving scenes in the entire Harry Potter series of books by J.K. Rowling is the death of beloved headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.  A standard element of much good fiction writing is the presence of a character representing a deliverer, sometimes referred to by scholars of fiction as being a “Christ figure.”  Such a character in the novel serves as a touchstone of good, who is rarely the main character but is a steady and constant central person to guide and often deliver the main character from danger and evil.  Gandalf serves that role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy of J.R.R. Tolkien.  Albus Dumbledore fulfills that role for Harry Potter and his friends.

In the scene to which I refer, Dumbledore is on a balcony of a high tower, cornered, disarmed, and surrounded by merciless enemies impatient for his murder.  I quote just a few lines for my purpose:

            “Good evening, Amycus,” said Dumbledore calmly, as though welcoming the man to a tea party.  “And you’ve brought Alecto too. . . . Charming. . .”

            The woman gave an angry little titter.  “Think your little jokes’ll help you on your deathbed then?” she jeered.

            “Jokes?  No, no, these are manners,” replied Dumbledore.

            (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, p.593)

Manners.  Perhaps they seem extravagant for a man facing sure death, but why not, why not retain high humanity in the last moments of mortality?  Outside of novels and in the real life where we live, what I find distressing is the absence of manners in places where they should be found.

A prominent example is the recent debate between the 2012 candidates for vice president of the United States, the second highest executive office in the land.  This is a lofty and important office, one of only two to which a man or woman ascends by the vote and permission of the entire nation.  Many vice presidents have gone on to become president.  A debate among these candidates is an important opportunity to help voters discern who would make the better government leader, deserving of their support. 

Respect for the electorate as well as each other would seem to call for courtesy and a display of good manners.  And yet the current, sitting vice president displayed very poor manners, frequently interrupting his opponent and openly laughing at serious arguments about serious subjects.  The assertion and presentation of views in public debate can be sharp and indeed critical of the views of the other, but courtesy to the electorate would allow them to hear each argument made fully and without interruption, and respect for the views of one another would create an atmosphere that fosters a thoughtful consideration of the issues.  Such manners were largely absent in the public conduct of the current vice president of the United States in this nationally televised debate.  I might add that the debate moderator, who should have encouraged better conduct, herself showed poor conduct, frequently interrupting each of the candidates to insert herself as a third participant in the debate.

Society exists only by respect that people have for one another.  We extend our courtesies that allow all of us with our own personalities and interests and characters to live in close proximity to one another and even to be ready to cooperate from time to time.  It tears the social fabric to undermine that civility.

About a year ago I visited Tokyo, one of the most densely populated places on the globe.  I was astonished at how relatively quiet the city was.  I do not think I ever heard a car horn sounded, though I witnessed driving practices that would have quickly provoked anxious beeping in the United States.  I asked my hosts about that.  All of the cars were equipped with horns, but I was informed that it would be considered discourteous in Japan to sound them other than for emergency purposes.  I am sure that Japanese drivers get on each other’s nerves as frequently as American drivers do, but the incidence of driver’s rage is significantly reduced by observance of this courtesy.

And then there was my recent visit to Johannesburg, South Africa.   There is a lot of hope that South Africa can play a major leadership role in the economic and social development of much of the rest of the continent, the poorest of all the seven continents.  The nation has a good head start on its neighbors, with a functioning representative government with free and competitive elections, laws supported by an independent judiciary, a diversifying economy, including much local industry, and a strong banking system. 

What surprised and depressed me was what I saw of South African homes.  Traveling throughout the city I did not see a single family home that was not enclosed in a concrete or fenced stockade, topped in barbwire, concertina wire, or even electrically-charged wiring.  During the day people seemed pleasant enough, but come nighttime, families retreated into their fortified compounds, however small.  Every nation has crime, but not every nation lacks the minimum of civility needed to allow people to sleep at night without dread of violent assault on their property and person.

I do not doubt that we can find similar zones in parts of American cities, but I have never seen anything so pervasive as what I observed in Johannesburg.  I am told that it was not racially based, given the history of difficult race relations in South Africa, but rather economically based.  Not only was there little respect for property among many in the population, but too little respect for each other.  I hope and trust that things are getting better there or will get better.

I fear what the erosion of respect for property and person might produce in the United States.  Kind words and practices of courtesy reinforce through our conduct our recognition of each other’s humanity.  What we witnessed in the vice presidential debate was a courser, callous style of human interaction.  We encounter similar scenes too often.  I pray that in places where respect and courtesy are lacking I have not seen the future for our society, or for the erosion of our society.  It is not a happy way to live.