Manichaean Uncivility in American Politics

the AZEL PERSPECTIVE Commentary on Cuba's Future, U.S. Foreign Policy & Individual Freedoms - Issue 388 B

José Azel's latest books "On Freedom" and "Sobre La Libertad" are now available on Amazon.  Manichaean Uncivility in American Politics (Previously published) Share Tweet Forward

Manichaeism is a doctrine that teaches a dualistic cosmology describing the struggle between a good, spiritual world of light, and an evil, material world of darkness. Manichaeism views the world as divided into good or evil, light or dark, black or white. In Manichaeism, there are no shades of gray. When we introduce this good or evil doctrine to our political thinking, civility becomes near impossible.  It seems that the current incivility in American politics fits exactly this dualistic pattern: Democrats see themselves as defenders of an egalitarian world of light, and picture Republicans as the evil occupants of a material world of darkness. In American politics we have lost the perspective that we share ultimate goals, and that our differences are mostly over the best ways to achieve those goals. We no longer see shades of gray.  Remember, for example, when Alan Grayson, then Democratic Representative for Florida’s 9th congressional district, claimed that the health care plan offered by House Republicans meant they wanted Americans to “die quickly.” Also, President Trump’s frequent vilification of individuals and groups of people is certainly not the way we should interchange with people with whom we disagree.  Yet, it would be wrong to conclude that this incivility is new to American politics. At the beginning of the Republic, the Founders engaged in nasty and personal battles between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Later on we experienced the literal splitting of the country during the Civil War, and again during the civil rights movement, and during the Vietnam War. What is new, however, is the Manichaean-like public behavior of good vs evil and towards adversaries that deserve our respect.  Mani, who was born to a Persian family in the third century A.D., had a religious vision and felt compelled to become a prophet. According to Mani, God created the worlds of Light and Darkness and at creation these worlds were totally separated, but Darkness penetrated into the world of Light and produced evil.  Mani, who called his teachings the “Religion of Light”, conveniently claimed to be the reincarnation of Buddha, Lord Krishna, Zoroaster and Jesus depending on the context of his preaching at any given time. His teachings denied the omnipotence of God and postulated two conflicting powers.  Manichaeism, much like our Democratic-Republican politics, presented an elaborate description of the conflict between the spiritual world of light and the material world of darkness. Manichaeism was quickly successful and, at its height, was one of the most widespread religions in the world. For a time, Manichaeism became the main rival to Christianity. Interestingly, Augustine of Hippo, later to become Saint Augustine, was a Manichaean for nine years before converting to Christianity.  The term civility derives from the Latin root civilis meaning “befitting as citizen.” Civility is the respect that we owe one another in public life. And yet, in most aspects of American culture our present day defining spirit is moving from cordial civility to vitriolic coarseness. Our politics are illustrative of this shift. But, what accounts for this unbefitting swing to uncivility?  Some scholars argue that social media has become our modern public square where millions of our citizens go to freely debate ideas. They claim that the anonymity inherent in social media is conducive to uncivil debate with no consequences or accountability. In addition, the instantaneous nature of social media inhibits reasoned deliberation in favor of typing speed.  An interesting thesis, specific to our politics, blames our political uncivility on partisan gerrymandering where the end result is that politicians choose their voters rather than voters choosing their representatives. Ultimately, the gerrymandering political mapping of demographic data contributes to an electoral situation where members of the other political party are viewed as enemies with whom it is unnecessary to work with to pass bipartisan legislation.  Democracy is an adversarial political system designed to promote the interchange and melting of ideas in a decision-making process that requires gray area compromises. Democracy is not a Manichaean good or evil, light or dark, black or white doctrine. To preserve our democracy civility must remain our defining political spirit.  Please let us know if you  this article. We welcome your feedback. Abrazos, Lily & José (click on the name to email Lily or Jose) José Azel, Ph.D. José Azel left Cuba in 1961 as a 13 year-old political exile in what has been dubbed Operation Pedro Pan - the largest unaccompanied child refugee movement in the history of the Western Hemisphere.   He is currently dedicated to the in-depth analyses of Cuba's economic, social and political state, with a keen interest in post-Castro-Cuba strategies. Dr. Azel was a Senior Scholar at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies (ICCAS) at the University of Miami, Jose Azel has published extensively on Cuba related topics. In 2012 and 2015, Dr. Azel testified in the U.S. Congress on U.S.-Cuba Policy, and U.S. National Security.  He is a frequent speaker and commentator on these and related topics on local, national and international media.  He holds undergraduate and masters degrees in business administration and a Ph.D. in International Affairs from the University of Miami. José along with his wife Lily are avid skiers and adventure travelers.  In recent years they have climbed Grand Teton in Wyoming, trekked Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Machu Pichu in Peru.  They have also hiked in Tibet and in the Himalayas to Mt. Everest Base Camp. They cycled St. James Way (El Camino de Santiago de Compostela) and cycled alongside the Danube from Germany to Hungary and throughout southern France.  They have scuba dived in the Bay Islands off the Honduran coast and in the Galapagos Islands. Most recently, they rafted for 17 days 220 miles in the Grand Canyon.  Their adventurers are normally dedicated to raise funds for causes that are dear to them.  Watch Joe & Lily summit Kilimanjaro. Books by Dr. José Azel José Azel’s writings are touched with the wisdom of a master, and the charm of an excellent communicator. Anyone who wishes to understand why countries do, or do not, progress will find in this book the best explanations. And, from these readings emerge numerous inferences: How and why do the good intentions of leftist collectivism lead countries to hell? Why is liberty not a sub product of prosperity, but rather one of its causes? If it was in my power, this work would be required reading for all college and university students, and I would also recommend its reading to all politicians, journalists, and policymakers. With his writings Azel accomplishes what was achieved in France by Frédéric Bastiat, and in the United States by Henry Hazlitt: Azel brings together common sense with intelligent observation, and academic substance. Stupendous, Carlos Alberto Montaner                                                                    BUY NOW Los escritos de José Azel están tocados por la sabiduría de un maestro y la amenidad de un excelente comunicador. Cualquiera que desee entender por qué los países progresan, o no, encontrará en este libro las mejores explicaciones. De estas lecturas surgen numerosas inferencias: ¿Cómo y por qué las buenas intenciones del colectivismo de izquierda llevan a los países al infierno? ¿Por qué la libertad no es un subproducto de la prosperidad, sino una de sus causas? Si estuviera en mis manos, esta obra sería de obligada lectura de todos los estudiantes universitarios, pero además, le recomendaría su lectura a todos los políticos, periodistas y policy makers. Con sus escritos Azel logra lo que Frédéric Bastiat consiguiera en Francia y Henry Hazlitt en Estados Unidos: aunar el sentido común, la observación inteligente y la enjundia académica. Estupendo. Carlos Alberto Montaner                                                            Compre Aqui "Liberty for beginners is much more than what the title promises. It is eighty themes touched with the wisdom of a master, and the charm of an excellent communicator. Anyone that wishes to understand why countries do, or do not progress, will find in this book the best explanations. Stupendous" Carlos Alberto Montaner Buy Now "Libertad para novatos es mucho más de lo que promete el título. Son ochenta temas tocados con la sabiduría de un maestro y la amenidad de un excelente comunicador. Cualquier adulto que desee saber por qué progresan o se estancan los pueblos aquí encontrará las mejores explicaciones. Estupendo." Carlos Alberto Montaner Compre Aqui In Reflections on Freedom, José Azel brings together a collection of his columns published in prestigious newspapers.  Each article reveals his heartfelt and personal awareness of the importance of freedom in our lives.  They are his reflections after nearly sixty years of living and learning as a Cuban outside Cuba. In what has become his stylistic trademark, Professor Azel brilliantly introduces complex topics in brief journalistic articles. Buy Now En Reflexiones sobre la libertad José Azel reúne una colección de sus columnas publicadas en prestigiosos periódicos. Cada artículo revela su percepción sincera y personal de la importancia de la libertad en nuestras vidas. Son sus reflexiones después de casi sesenta años viviendo y aprendiendo como cubano fuera de Cuba.  En lo que ha resultado ser característica distintiva de sus artículos, el Profesor Azel introduce con brillantez complejos temas en  breves artículos de carácter periodístico. Compre Aqui Mañana in Cuba is a comprehensive analysis of contemporary Cuba with an incisive perspective of the Cuban frame of mind and its relevancy for Cuba's future. Buy now Pedazos y Vacíos is a collection of poems written in by Dr. Azel in his youth. Poems are in Spanish. Buy now

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