Edit: I wrote this before Ms. Greene announced that she was resigning from Congress however, it still holds true that the toxic political language needs to stop.
These days, there isn’t much hope to be found in politics. Not that I need politics to find hope, but it would be nice to find something to grab on to occasionally. It seems everyone is sniping at everyone else, and most politicians are just interested in holding on to their jobs, and the political rhetoric has become toxic. But when all hope seems lost, a bright light begins to emerge, and that light is the Representative from Georgia.
Truth be told, Congresswoman Greene and I probably do not agree on much. She sees the world very differently from how I do, and she wants to take America in a direction I don’t. By her own admission, her speech has been toxic in the past. She has called other people some nasty names, has stood on the floor of the House of Representatives and booed President Biden, and all the rest. But recently, she has had a change of heart.
On Sunday, November 16th, Greene appeared on CNN’s State of the Union with Dana Bash. Ms. Greene said she was worried that her opposition had now turned some people against her and that it could escalate into violence. She was asked why she had not spoken out before, and she said, “I would like to say, humbly, I’m sorry for taking part in the toxic politics; it’s very bad for our country. It’s been something I’ve thought about a lot, especially since Charlie Kirk was assassinated.”
I give her a lot of credit for saying what she said, knowing the backlash that was sure to follow. I am starting to change my mind about her, but I am approaching with cautious optimism and will continue to watch how this all plays out. Words are easy, even words of apology, but actions speak loudly.
As a member of the clergy, I am all about forgiveness and reconciliation. Jesus was all about forgiveness and often spoke about it. “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22 NIV) That’s a lot of forgiveness.
But any confession must be followed by a sincere desire to change one’s life and to start down a new road. These days, apologies seem to come easy; real change of heart and change of life come hard, but that is what counts. I am not referring to policy here but rather to how political rhetoric is used in talking about those policies.
As much as I am a sceptic, I also like to see the good in people. As a person of faith, I believe that everyone has good in them, and sometimes they need a little encouragement to bring that good forward. We all get caught up in drama, and at times we have all done things we wish we hadn’t. All that is needed for a person to move from bad to good is a little encouragement and a show of support.
Earlier this month, Ms. Greene stunned many when she appeared on The View. After watching the segment, I believe the show’s hosts were as stunned as the rest of the world. She came across as a person of contrition, seeking a way out of the abyss and looking for redemption.
We can all be skeptical of politicians and why they do what they do, but I hope that what Ms. Greene wants is a valid path of redemption and reconciliation. She has taken the first step; she has admitted there is a problem. I do not want to second-guess what brought her here; I want to celebrate that she is here.
The words of the hymn Amazing Grace fit best: “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”
I desperately want to believe that her confession is true, that she is now on the road to redemption. I am sure she has calculated the fallout; she is a politician after all and has decided that she would rather be on the right side of this. I give her a lot of credit for taking this step and vow to help her any way I can to stay on this path.
We are quick to cast off those with whom we disagree, and I did that with Ms. Greene. We may never agree on policy, but I will agree with her that the toxic rhetoric must end.
Bravo, Marjorie, for taking the first step. I will be watching and cheering you on from the sidelines as you continue.
