Perhaps a future generation will make things right

If we could fast forward a few decades, we might find that our nation (and world) has found strategies to make instant communication and the unrestrained ability to comment, no matter how ignorant we may be, less abrasive and less straight-out angry. If that sounds hopelessly naïve, consider the sort of future world we want for our grandchildren.

Grandparents need to be optimistic, blending empathy for youth with hard-earned scars accumulated over many years. 

If we can't find that optimism somewhere, we may give in to people's worst impulses, one of which is currently in vogue: namely, trying to police our neighbors.

The governor of Virginia unveiled an email "hotline" for people to report anything they deem suspicious happening in the public schools of the state. In Texas, citizens are encouraged to become vigilantes against abortion and the now-disgraced Supreme Court just shrugs. Some states are discussing new laws that would require cameras in every classroom. At least one has asked that teachers file lesson plans for an entire year in advance every June. 

At least a few Republican leaders in these parts advocated for teachers' names to be published, identifying those who called in sick last week to protest recent school board actions. If I were one of those teachers, I would be proud of my protest -- to petition the government for a redress of grievances is one of the five freedoms of the First Amendment.

But there is something to wanting to avoid making it even easier for online trolls and for angry and frustrated neighbors to abuse and demean other people. Politicians go into public life recognizing that many will criticize them and even hate them. Teachers do NOT enter education assuming they will become punching bags for a nationwide gang of adults with lots of time on their hands.

This idea of "ratting" on your neighbors is disgusting at its core, don't you think? I'm not talking about witnessing something illegal and feeling that you need to alert the authorities. I'm not talking about deep suspicions of abuse happening next door.

I'm talking about neighbors reveling in the power of informing on others, usually with the "others" being people who don't look like or act like or worship like those informers would prefer.

Here is what Frank Bruni wrote in a recent blog post: 

"What we sweepingly and inexactly refer to as cancel culture is, in part, the online aggressiveness of Americans who patrol for transgressions and prosecute the transgressors. And there can be a thin line between holding people accountable because they’ve done clear wrong and mercilessly vilifying them because they have contrary views or expressed themselves clumsily."

Advanced technology and social media plus partisan politics have combined to create a sort of surveillance state already. Who really expects to keep their lives truly private these days?

My hope is that as a society we can develop tools to better define that line between calling people to account and simply disagreeing. 

Perhaps our grandchildren will be the ones to find and use those tools.

Right now, that is our only hope.