Michael Smerconish of CNN Has the Answer

I have attached a video of Michael Smerconish’s view on the answer to our current political agenda that would lead to justice, one of the pillars of ethics. I have known Mike for many years and follow his contributions on CNN. He is a former EA parent and someone who I know has worked behind the scenes in helping one of my families who needed support.

He was very helpful to me when 9/11 occurred as he followed that tragedy and arranged for speakers for our chapel services including himself. He was a great supporter of efforts to support people involved in that tragedy.

But I follow Michael for one reason and one reason only. He is his own person with his own views, and it is impossible to put a label on him. He also doesn’t mind putting people together who have different views. Mike invited me and a few others to have dinner at his home with Charles Murray, author of the book, Real Education.one of his speakers in a speaker series that he had started. Murray was against independent schools because he believed they add to the widening class struggle in America. They skip over the experience of most people such as the small store owner, farmer, etc. that really were more of a reflection of middle-class America or those in the center. Mike knew that I was comfortable with that context as well. I had lived in both worlds. Afterwards we went to Bryn Mawr College’s theater where Murray spoke about his views to those who attended.

I have been looking for an ethical point of view that would support my ideas about what we should be doing as a nation particularly about classism dealing with an off the rails President. The video that I have attached is Mike’s view of what is needed. It is an ethical statement of the view of Via Media or the middle way which is sometimes described as wrong but necessary or the lesser of two evils, but it also speaks to views that just make sense. It reminds me of the old image about the class half full for those who are optimists or half empty for the pessimists, or where I and others in the center are that we knowe are going to have to wash it.

What Mike is advocating is not to giving the extremes on either side power that they don’t have. The real power rests in the middle way of choosing the vast number of people who make up the middle in our country. They get lost in the perspectives of others who may be seen as progressive or right wing. My view is that it needs to be in the center as Mike indicates, and it needs to respect all classes of people so that everyone in the middle will be empowered. Classism is our nightmare. We can turn it into respect for all classes that will create a dream and not more of a nightmare.

The New York Times has written editorials about this. People think that 7 million people who made up the “No Kings” gatherings is the answer. It was the second largest protest in our nation’s history, but unless we move to the center that show of power will not be enough. I think that Mike’s view should warrant some serious reflection since he involves the importance of class issues in his answer.

Michael Smerconish Has The Answer