Sri posted this on face book today
Sri Preston Kulkarni
9 hrs
Some people on the campaign trail have asked me what we mean by fighting for "decency." Isn't that a meaningless phrase that has no place in a campaign for Congress? No its not, and this week was a perfect example. To be clear, the kind of decency we are fighting for isn't about what people do in their private lives. Decency is about the way you treat others. It's about showing respect for other human beings.
This week I read some people who were upset at Betos response about kneeling during the anthem. When he said that reasonable people can disagree about this issue without being any less American, that was being decent.
This week we saw the passing of a man who served his country bravely and with honor for more than half a century. A man who spent years as a Prisoner of War for his country. A man who was willing to put his country before his party on multiple occasions. Regardless of political party, we saw people across the nation honor McCain. That was decent.
Unfortunately, we have also seen the opposite this week. During his life, Senator McCain was called a "loser" for being a POW by someone who had never done any public service until last year. This week, the same man refused to speak publicly about Senator McCain, struck the word "hero" from his statement about McCain, and didn't keep the flag at half mast as long as other institutions like the Capitol. That is indecent.
If we are offended by the kneeling, but not offended by the literal disrespect shown to a true war hero, that reveals that the outrage isn't about respecting service, but protecting tribalism. And that matters. It matters because how we treat each other today sets the example our children will grow up to follow tomorrow. We must be more kind, more compassionate, more decent. Children are watching.
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