Let's stop seeking the storms
With the sad state of affairs in today’s news and political arenas I think the comments below could have been written for our day, instead of 28-plus years ago.
These comments were part of a student body address given by Gordon B. Hinckley at BYU on Oct. 29, 1974:
“Recently I spent the better part of a week in Washington, D.C., living in a hotel room. Each morning I watched the early news on television and then read the morning paper while eating breakfast. President Ford had just granted a pardon to his predecessor. The amount of venom that spewed from the mouths and pens of the commentators was unbelievable. They were aflame with indignation. In all that week of morning watching and reading I never heard nor read among the commentators and editorialists a single paragraph of positive thought. The speakers were brilliant. They were men of incisive language, scintillating in expression. The columnists were masters of the written word. With studied art they poured out the sour vinegar of invective and anger, judging as if all wisdom belonged to them. At the conclusion of that week, I too made a negative observation. Said I, ‘Surely this is the age and place of the gifted pickle sucker.’
“The tragedy is that this spirit is epidemic. Criticism, fault-finding, evil speaking — these are of the spirit of the day. They are in our national life. To hear tell these days, there is nowhere a man of integrity among those holding political office. In many instances this spirit has become the very atmosphere of university campuses. The snide remark, the sarcastic gibe, the cutting down of associates — these, too often, are of the essence of our conversation. In our homes wives weep and children finally give up under the barrage of criticism leveled by husbands and fathers. Criticism is the forerunner of divorce, the cultivator of rebellion, sometimes a catalyst that leads to failure...
“I come this morning with a plea that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that we ‘accentuate the positive.’ I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. I am not asking that all criticism be silenced. Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is the man who can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and change his course. I am not suggesting that our conversation be all honey and blossoms. Clever expression that is sincere and honest is a skill to be sought and cultivated.”
As we prepare to vote for President and other political officers, I’m reminded of yet another comment made by then-BYU President, Jeffrey R. Holland, on Sept. 6, 1988.
In his student body address he talks about the presidential election taking place then. He quotes Garry Willis, who had previously spoken at BYU. There’s a hint of entitlements used by Garry:
http://bit.ly/1RoLsBG
“[In an election year] we get the presidents we deserve. A great people is what you need for a great president. Washington was the greatest president, because the people were at their most enlightened and alert. [America] right now is escapist. It wants to be soothed, and told it doesn’t have to pay or sacrifice or learn. [“Things That Matter,” Vis a Vis, July 1988, p. 70; emphasis added]”:
http://bit.ly/1VQT0Rm
Now to find some Tums for my indigestion.
Larry Barnes is a Coeur d’Alene resident.