Killing McCain -- because politics is their god

Sen. John McCain passed away Saturday. The senator from Arizona had been battling brain cancer. My heart and prayers go out to his family. My prayers also go out to the people who have used his death to be cruel and score political points.

Hiding behind social media to demean and devalue has become the norm. How does one live with himself when he jumps on someone's death to speak ill of him? It makes me sick to my stomach.

I really don't care if you didn't like the person who has died. What I care about is if you are enough of a human to show some respect. The Internet is crawling with people either taking McCain apart, people taking apart people who are not taking him apart or people partaking in reminding people they didn't take him seriously enough to vote for him. Thank God, there are also people who refuse to take part in the negative activities, who just express their condolences. I am in the last group; I expressed my heartfelt sympathy and prayers for the McCain family.

Seeing the plethora of disrespectful comments both sadden and anger me. They do not surprise me, however -- because nothing in politics surprises me anymore, unfortunately, but they still jar me.

In frustration, I posted, "I try not to be intolerant, but I admit I have no tolerance for folks who use someone's death as an occasion to bash him or her. I mean, really? Let's have some class, people. Even if you didn't like the person or agree with his politics, can't you just show some respect for the value of a human life and exercise wisdom in your timing? It's sad that this is what we've become. Yet another reason I have come to despise politics."

I disagreed vehemently with Sen. McCain on a number of issues. I was not in his cheering section. But at his death, is it necessary -- or even appropriate -- to pull out that list of issues? It seems clear to me the answer is no. It's common decency and common sense. Instead of recognizing the obvious, many have blasted people for "pretending" McCain was some sort of saint, skewering the man, and declaring they will not be numbered among those "pretending" McCain wasn't wrong for doing this, that and the third -- killing the man even after cancer did.

No one is asking people to praise someone they don't feel is praiseworthy just because the person passed away; no one likes a phony. But how about this? If you don't have anything nice to say, take Momma's advice and don't say anything at all when the situation calls for it. There's something to be said for the old-fashioned "Keep yo' mouth shut!" wisdom she taught you. I mean, you don't have to say something, do you?

All these "Let's not pretend John McCain was...fill in the blank" posts are classless. Just because someone posts condolences to the family doesn't mean he's pretending anything. It just means he's an adult. I wish some of these folks worrying about others pretending would do some pretending of their own -- pretending they, too, are adults.

I often reflect on words a graduate school professor spoke to our class when a student asked, "Does participation count?" It was almost 25 years ago, but it's still golden. "Does participation count?" he repeated. "Well, I appreciate those who have something of value to say and have the good sense to say it. But," he continued, "I also appreciate those who have nothing of value to say and have the good sense not to say it."

Much wisdom resides in those words -- words that seem godly right now. But people who have made politics their god have chosen weapons over wisdom, potshots over politeness, sarcasm over sensitivity.

From people taking it to McCain for his record to people criticizing those who didn't vote for him but are speaking well of him now to those coming after President Trump for his feud with McCain to...on and on -- just make it stop. Timing is everything, people, and now is not the time -- unless politics matter more to you than people, and, sadly, that's where many are. They have become unfeeling robots.

I continue to dream, however, that we will prove we are better than what we are demonstrating, that we will wake up from this political nightmare and demonstrate that we are actually human beings with a heartbeat.

Adrienne Ross is owner of Adrienne Ross Communications and a former Southeast Missourian editorial board member. Contact her at aross@semissourian.com.