Loshan Hara or The Right Thing to Do?

Speaking out about the wrongdoings of people who abuse others, politicians and about my government has earned me some accusations of performing LASHON HARA. A wonderful commentary from Radical Torah however, throws it into a whole new light for me:

(excerpts)
Well, who do I know who loves rebuke? Let’s see. There’s — no, well, how about — no. Hmm. I think , didn’t — …uh, nope, not her either. Maybe..? No, nope. Well, I can’t really think of anyone I know who loves rebuke. But rebuking, that’s another story. I’m sure we can all think of lots of folks who are pretty into it. They swoop into your office on an already unpleasant Monday to let you know about some trivial thing that no one but them noticed. Or they call you up and sweetly tell you they told you so. Or — Hey, Mom, do I have to hear about that again?

But surely, that’s not what the Torah is speaking of when it tells us this week,

Leviticus 19:17: You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall surely rebuke your fellow and do not bear sin because of him.

Actually, Americans overall, probably hear very little rebuke in our lives. We seem to have become a culture in which we have raised non-judgementalism to a religion. I can’t personally think of any term more vilified in American culture than “jugdemental.” It’s the ultimate term of disapprobation. We are told all the time by people not to judge them — how would we know what we would do in that situation after all?

The Sages explain that this commandment is binding upon every person, so that even an inferior is under obligation to rebuke a person of high rank, and even if he is met with curses and insults, he may not desist or cease rebuking him until he is beaten — as the rabbis say, “to the point of suffering blows.”

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As soon as someone writes off behavior as inexplicable, it ceases to be the responsibility of the observer to do anything about the behavior. If you can’t understand why someone is doing something, it is very difficult to react to change the behavior.

Alternatively, if you claim that the behavior is explicable only because the person is innately evil, or morally bankrupt, similarly, one no longer needs to consider one’s own potential contribution to the problem, because the proper response is only and always to protect oneself.
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And I promise that should you come to rebuke me from a place of love, then I will be happy to discuss it, and as it is says in the Midrash Ribesh Tov, “Both of you will join in love, and both of you shall obtain improvement.”

I wish this above were always true - because I don't personally believe in revenge and I really don't condone hateful actions against others. I also don't think many politicians listen or care about anything but their own egos. I don't believe ANY Islamofascist wants to make peace. I am open to negotiations and talking to anyone at anytime about strife between myself and them but you can't negotiate with some people.

At the same time, as the descendant of the first American patriots - I have to say that this country was founded on REBUKE. Rebuke of King George, unfair taxation and poor treatment of the colonists by England. The Civil War was REBUKE against slavery. So it is REBUKE that has changed things and altered the course of history.

It is sad there are some evil people in this world who are bound to evil and hate. If we don't continue to REBUKE them to the "kumbaya crowd" then we are all doomed, I fear.

Yes, we would ALL obtain improvement! IF we listen and open our hearts to each other. As for politicians... I have lost hope for the current crop.

Please read Alana Suskind's wonderful commentary by clicking here!!