Warning: {Disclaimer} This is a slightly political post. My heart motives are pure though :)

As many of you know, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) made an emotional outburst during Pres. Obama’s healthcare speech in Congress. Here it is in case you missed it:

The video….

Now Rep. Wilson has been hammered for this outburst. He has been ostracized, tar and feathered, and nearly crucified for disrespecting the President. Republicans and Democrats alike have blasted Wilson for his misconduct during the speech. Just read some articles on this whole thing and you’ll see how vehement the anger and disapproval is.

Here’s the cool part, I’m not really going to talk about ol’ Joe. I’ll leave that fighting up to other people. Instead, I’m thinking about this thing called decorum—a norm in our current political system.

What’s decorum? “Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety. The conventions or requirements of polite behavior.” That seems logical, right? Unfortunately, I think it has been taken to a grotesque extreme within our political system. Let me explain.

I think it is a safe assumption to say that Washington, DC is anemic and lacks any backbone whatsoever. Constituents have no say in what happens. The Democrats are mindless talking heads who think in talking points and speak through teleprompters and the Republicans are confused, spineless sheep and mere push-overs who don’t really stand for anything substantial.

The British Poet George Meredith said a really cool thing which I read while boning up on this whole Joe Wilson issue. He said, “…the world prefers decorum to honesty.” There is some serious truth to this. The first day you set foot in a Senator’s office in DC, you will feel the constipated ineffectiveness that plagues conservatism (my friend Alex is experiencing that now). We have become so concerned with not raising hell, that we stand around and do nothing or are politely silent! Now Joe probably was wrong. But that’s besides the point. We have to believe in SOMETHING!

Who is “we”? I’m talking about Christians. A verse comes to mind on this whole issue: “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:16) I like that in the KJV. It’s straight up.

The Devil uses such things as “decorum” to silence truth. For me, decorum CAN become synonymous with being lukewarm. In politics, this has happened.

There is definitely place for order, reverence, and silence. For now, I think decorum should be secondary to speaking truth. How that is applied is up to you. Joe walked the plank for this one. In the end, he’ll either be labeled a martyr or heretic. I admire people with passion in their heart - people that believe something (whether on the left or the right).

For those who care, Joe did apologize for his insolence. Honestly, I think he said what millions of people were probably thinking during that speech and wished someone would have said. Unfortunately, it has now sounded the battle cry for the formerly divided Democrats, giving them a reason to support a bill that no one really wants. Meanwhile, the Republicans line up and slam Joe. Oh the joys of push-over politics!