OPINION: The legacy of courage in a culture of outrage
Becky Funk
American politics has always been a contest of ideas and Idaho is no exception. But the strength of our nation and state comes from courage. Outrage can be loud, angry, and attention-grabbing. Courage is quieter, harder, but oh so powerful. As we look at the state of our politics, we need to ask ourselves: are we a people of moral courage, or have we allowed ourselves to become addicted to moral outrage?
The Republican Party was born out of moral courage. In the 1850s Democrats defended slavery and the Whigs looked the other way. Republicans rose up with a simple conviction that human freedom could not be compromised, which was not the easy choice. Speaking out against slavery was considered divisive, dangerous, and radical — and the right thing to do. That single act of moral courage defined our party at its birth and carried it through its greatest victories: abolition, women’s suffrage, and civil rights.
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