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I\u2019ve written on two previous days here \u2014 see \u201cLove in a Time of Tribalism\u201d<\/a> and \u201cSome notes following the death of Rush Limbaugh\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 about the toxicity and personal animosity that characterize far too much of our contemporary public discourse.\u00a0 I had thought that I was done with the subject.\u00a0 But I\u2019ve seen some good, relevant things that I want to call to your notice.\u00a0 First of all, though, as I\u2019ve read more and more about the incredibly contemptuous (and contemptible) responses of some to the passing of Rush Limbaugh, the justly famous Meditation XVII from John Donne\u2019s \u201cDevotions upon Emergent Occasions\u201d keeps coming to mind:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n No man is an island,<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s been appalling.\u00a0 \u201cEverything,\u201d the saying goes, \u201cis political.\u201d\u00a0 And, sadly, it seems that for many that is now entirely true.\u00a0 Even the great issues of life and death become partisan \u2014 and poisoned by partisanship:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTwitter liberals celebrate Rush Limbaugh\u2019s death: \u2018I\u2019m glad\u2019 he lived long enough to \u2018get cancer and die\u2019: \u2018God has canceled Rush Limbaugh,\u2019 Crooked Media host Erin Ryan quipped\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I like this article, from Boyd Matheson of the Deseret News<\/em>, very much:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDancing on the grave of Rush Limbaugh? Time to confront America\u2019s culture of contempt: After controversial talk show host Rush Limbaugh died on Wednesday, many Americans were slow to show compassion \u2014 and quick to unleash contempt.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Also this from National Review<\/em>, which is somewhat in the spirit of John Donne\u2019s meditation, given above:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhy We\u2019re Taught to Not Speak Ill of the Dead\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And then there\u2019s this, from the superb and always reliable Babylon Bee<\/em>:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cParty Of Love And Progress Rejoices Over Death Of Political Opponent\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n But I want to offer yet another example of toxic political discourse, hoping, frankly, that some Latter-day Saints will see and recognize that certain of those whom they think to be their friends and political allies are really not their friends at all.<\/em>\u00a0 Have a look at the reader comments following this article:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Breitbart<\/em>:\u00a0 \u201cUtah GOP Has No Plans to Censure Mitt Romney for Trump Impeachment Vote:\u00a0The Utah Republican Party said Monday that it doesn\u2019t have any plans to censure Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) for his vote to convict former President Donald Trump over last month\u2019s deadly U.S. Capitol riot.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Finally, although I\u2019ve sworn off discussing politics here, I need, as background for the following link, to explain that I did not vote for Joe Biden in the most recent presidential election.\u00a0 I\u2019m a free-market conservative, committed to both the Constitution and to federalism.\u00a0 I disagree with much that Mr. Biden has already done as president, and I will, no doubt, disagree with more that he will yet<\/i>\u00a0do.\u00a0 But I do not consider him demonic, or a traitor, or the enemy.\u00a0 And I liked this:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a Latter-day Saint Learned about Mr. Joe Biden through Decades of Working on Capitol Hill\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It is possible \u2014 in fact, it\u2019s a moral duty \u2014 to disagree, if we disagree, as amicably and civilly as possible.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I have nothing personal against Mr. Jonathan Neville.\u00a0 Nothing at all.\u00a0 I think that I may have met him once, but I only vaguely remember it and I couldn\u2019t pick him out of a crowd.\u00a0 But Mr. Neville evidently has something against me and some of my friends and colleagues.\u00a0 And, unfortunately, I think that the kinds of critiques that are offered on the Neville-Neville Land<\/em> blog are necessary in combatting potentially schismatic false teaching.\u00a0 So here are a few more links:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHeartland research director: \u201cThe Church is off course\u201d\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMore fan mail\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cJonathan Neville is tediously repetitive\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cJonathan Neville sows doubt, blames others\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnother round of Jonathan Neville vs. Royal Skousen\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe desolate Heartland theory\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
\nEntire of itself,<\/strong><\/span>
\nEvery man is a piece of the continent,<\/strong><\/span>
\nA part of the main.<\/strong><\/span>
\nIf a clod be washed away by the sea,<\/strong><\/span>
\nEurope is the less.<\/strong><\/span>
\nAs well as if a promontory were.<\/strong><\/span>
\nAs well as if a manor of thy friend\u2019s<\/strong><\/span>
\nOr of thine own were:<\/strong><\/span>
\nAny man\u2019s death diminishes me,<\/strong><\/span>
\nBecause I am involved in mankind,<\/strong><\/span>
\nAnd therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;<\/strong><\/span>
\nIt tolls for thee.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n