Forgiveness for Lisanti for using racial slur

Asking forgiveness in church last Sunday for the 137 Maryland legislators who unanimously voted to censure one of their own, Harford County Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti, was not easy. They fired the heaviest artillery they could get away with at her (“Delegate Lisanti should resign over use of a racial slur,” Feb. 27).

All done in one week, on our taxpayers’ nickel. Over a word carrying highly a charged negative connotation she allegedly said at an Annapolis cigar bar? Next she’s exposed on TV by another delegate. Then here comes the media circus, and let the sanctimony begin.

I’d never heard of Delegate Lisanti until now. Of course, negatively labeling people of any race only perpetrates outrageously despicable stereotypes. Something almost as bad as what was done to her and us by legislators jumping on the self-righteous indignation bandwagon.

How sad it was seeing Ms. Lisanti standing alone, not a caring face for her in sight. TV cameras locked on, her lips curled, fright and confusion written on her face, trying to maintain her composure.

Hopefully for the electorate, their votes censuring Ms. Lisanti were grounded in reason. Not because they were playing “follow the political leader.” Dare they vote otherwise, especially the newbies?

Communication theorists call this “behavioral contagion.” Happens when many people close together are repeatedly exposed to the same message. Then they make illogically based decisions. Education is no guarantee to stop it

With that as my rationalization, last Sunday, I asked for forgiveness for all of them, including Delegate Lisanti. She’s paid a terrible price.

To all the 137 legislators, please, next time think twice about what you did. Censure? For this? Let voters decide our representatives’ political destiny. That’s our job, not yours.

E. Joseph Lamp

The writer is a professor emeritus of speech at Anne Arundel Community College