THANKS FOR THE INSENSITIVE INPUT, MR. GANDHI

A reporter once asked Mahatma Gandhi what he thought of western civilization.

Gandhi replied he thought it would be a good idea.

I am apt to agree. But sometimes you can get too much of a good thing. While American society has grown frighteningly violent of late, it has also become disturbingly, and ironically, civilized.

Few things beget blandness like civility. Having seen Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson in "The Remains of the Day" last weekend, I come to realize that gentility is not always the key to a full life. Nor does it provide much color.

What mass communications have steadily done is narrow the extremes of individual behavior. By amplifying every act, we promote the marginally unusual to borderline revelational.

Candor, a human quality once appreciated, now stands as extraordinary, having been pushed to the fringe of the downright bombastic. Truly chatty souls, devoid of any filter between their brain and mouth, are either put upon as loose cannons or given their own shows on Fox.

Ours is a now culture whose incentives are directed at caution, whose language is that of diplomats. Every word seems softened or qualified. It is like every person who accepts a spot in the limelight has a vita on file at the United Nations.

Some of this is the natural extension of the political correctness movement. If frankness is discouraged as a personal attribute, sensitivity has been elevated beyond all reason as a societal virtue.

I, too, hate to see people with their feelings hurt. And, as a white, male heterosexual, I accept there are a great many things in life I will never fully understand about the morality and behavior of others. Still, I try to overcome the horrible burden of this unfortunate birthright in all my thoughts and deeds.

While I am facetious in this appraisal, you get the feeling President Clinton takes it to heart. With a contemporary politician's masterful touch, he delivers Talk Lite, with all rhetoric flavor-free.

(To his credit, President Clinton doesn't toss an anchor to drowning souls such as his surgeon general, Joycelyn Elders, whose unique approach to the nation's drug problems incites even people of limited passion. If her aspiration to legalize controlled substances lacks good sense, it at least holds the capacity to spark a discussion of the subject. Predictably, within hours of her suggestion, righteous lawmakers stormed whatever bank of microphones was close and insisted she resign. Oh, please. If everyone resigned who said something stupid in Washington, there would be tumbleweeds blowing up and down Pennsylvania Avenue.)

When President Clinton does expose himself in some outburst, as he did with ABC reporter Bret Hume early in his administration and with Rolling Stone recently, it seems orchestrated, aimed at manipulation and carefully offensive only to the intended target.

The ideal politician of the day is Missouri's Richard Gephardt, who specializes in level tones and drab pronouncements. In keeping with his politically correct demeanor, he might be labelled personality impaired.

One who will never rise above his current station is Sen. Bob Dole, who tries hard at the restraint practiced by his political opponents but still has the deep character flaw of occasionally saying what he thinks. He also has the audacity to attempt wit.

Could Lyndon Johnson have risen to the presidency in today's political climate? Earthy humor finds little appreciation in modern media, and one can't really imagine a politician of this day raising his shirt with cameras present to show off a surgical scar.

Public life has become like Eggbeaters when most people crave salsa. This explains in part the success of Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern, two people who, for better or worse, have thoughts and express them without reservation.

In a land where we are free to speak our minds, too many folks regard these guys like so much hazardous waste. When Rush insists he is a "harmless little fuzzball," he accords us an entirely accurate sticks-and-stones assessment ... words should never hurt us.

And any inspiration or provocation or encouragement that should be the positive outcome of language that stretches us beyond banality is watered down until soggy and asinine.

So, thank you, Mr. Gandhi, for your thoughts on western civilization. They are, however, derogatory to the people of our culture and humorous besides. You lived in an earlier day, when such views were acceptable.

We just don't talk that way these days, fella.

Ken Newton is editor of the Southeast Missourian.