Rick Warren Cancels Obama-Romney Forum; Civil Conversation Impossible?

image from 2008 forum found on patheos.com

          Do you remember four years ago, when Rick Warren surprised a few people (Christians and otherwise) by hosting both Barack Obama and John McCain at his church for professional (and peaceful) interviews? Remember how many people thought it was a great venture in relations and general education for faith and politics, and it showed how, even with fundamentally disagreeable views, Americans can still (at least appear to) be professional, respectful and courteous with one another?
          Yeah, it seems like a long time ago for me, too. For a lot of reasons. The forum isn't happening again this election season.
          The Orange County Register reported that Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and known as the author of The Purpose-Driven Life, canceled what he was previously hoping to be his church's second civil forum with presidential candidates.

          "Warren pulled the plug on this year's forum, explaining that the current negative campaign is opposite to what the church's civil forum is about, even as plans had been ramping up to coordinate schedules, secure the area and get traffic control in check for a forum of this size." 

          You can read the rest here. The article goes on to indicate that Warren's church is no rookie to host civil forums, even with guest speakers with which a stereotypical churchgoer would strongly disagree theologically, politically, etc. Yet Warren is worried about the hostile, slanderous and dishonest tone of the election.
          It's really worrisome when you can't even have a civil conversation. Props to Warren for striving for it. Maybe that's where we, as Christians, ought to apply biblical principles (e.g. the Sermon on the Mount, Paul's definition of love) and follow suit, stepping out in our strive for civil conversation.