More Thoughts on Spokesmen

I posted here on my thoughts that both camps in the Schiavo matter have employed spokesmen who may actually be detrimental to their cause. This matter is not only a political and social battle, but a marketing battle as well. All too often people engaged in disputes think only of framing the argument in a manner that pleases their supporter, but turns off those whose hearts and minds they need to pursuade.

Putting forth a bad public face also allows other to mischaracterize the debate, such as the media's decision to frame the Schiavo matter as a dispute between the "religious right" and everybody else. That was not a difficult leap for the media given the folks who appear regularly in the media promoting the pro-life position.

Just look at it this way: When you turn on Christian TV and you see a woman with giant purple hair, three foot eyelashes, lips that appear to have small creatures living in them, and who cries at the drop of a hat, do you find yourself thinking "I want what she's got!". Of course not. Most reasonable people will run as fast as they can away from those weirdos out of fear that if they become a Christian they'll have to look and act like the folks on TV.

If we're going to win hearts and minds, we have to figure out how to present our position in such a manner that the spokesmen's appearance or in-your-face attitude doesn't scare off the very people we need to pursuade. Singing to the choir just doesn't get it.