Whither hatred?
There's a very disturbing trend in our nation, particularly tied into politics, policy, and presidential campaigns. It's not enough for a lot of people to simply disagree with a candidate's position or platform, the level of enmity expressed by a great many people in this nation seems to mandate the demonization of the perceived enemy.
I've seen quite a lot of propaganda here on the Interwebs, from both ends of the political spectrum, and am amazed the level of vitriol and sheer spite leveled at the other side. What happened to a rational intellectual discussion of the issues and policies? When did it become so invested in the absolute destruction of The Other?
I'm sightly right of Center politically, and believe in fiscal responsibility, national security, and a more socially liberal position than the average Republican (pro choice, in favor of same-sex marriage, etc). I probably won't vote for Senator Obama because I disagree with his proposed strategies and I don't think he's a sound choice when it comes to national security and foreign policy.
That's it.
I don't demonize the man. I don't vilify him. I don't post cartoons or captioned photos that lash out with a degree of dehumanization that surpasses the most loathsome examples from World War II. I just don't agree with him politically. I don't have a problem with my fellow voting Americans who choose to vote for him. I don't rip down Obama/Biden yard signs or vandalize vehicles that sport Obama bumper stickers. I don't understand the mindset of people who feel those things are appropriate, helpful, or necessary, regardless of political affiliation.
When did it come down to destroying the person you don't agree with?
Why can't we simply respect that the other person has a different opinion or vision and get on with our lives?
Where does this necessity to extirpate those not of our own views come from?
I don't ask this to embroil any of us into a lengthy political discussion unlikely to change minds at this late date. By now everyone knows who they're going to vote for and is armed to the teeth with talking points to support that position. I ask these questions to invite introspection amongst ourselves as a nation, a culture, and as a people to find the source of this internal venom and to perhaps end the sheer hatred that clearly divides us.
I don't expect this single post to change anything; it would be nice if it got people thinking.
I've seen quite a lot of propaganda here on the Interwebs, from both ends of the political spectrum, and am amazed the level of vitriol and sheer spite leveled at the other side. What happened to a rational intellectual discussion of the issues and policies? When did it become so invested in the absolute destruction of The Other?
I'm sightly right of Center politically, and believe in fiscal responsibility, national security, and a more socially liberal position than the average Republican (pro choice, in favor of same-sex marriage, etc). I probably won't vote for Senator Obama because I disagree with his proposed strategies and I don't think he's a sound choice when it comes to national security and foreign policy.
That's it.
I don't demonize the man. I don't vilify him. I don't post cartoons or captioned photos that lash out with a degree of dehumanization that surpasses the most loathsome examples from World War II. I just don't agree with him politically. I don't have a problem with my fellow voting Americans who choose to vote for him. I don't rip down Obama/Biden yard signs or vandalize vehicles that sport Obama bumper stickers. I don't understand the mindset of people who feel those things are appropriate, helpful, or necessary, regardless of political affiliation.
When did it come down to destroying the person you don't agree with?
Why can't we simply respect that the other person has a different opinion or vision and get on with our lives?
Where does this necessity to extirpate those not of our own views come from?
I don't ask this to embroil any of us into a lengthy political discussion unlikely to change minds at this late date. By now everyone knows who they're going to vote for and is armed to the teeth with talking points to support that position. I ask these questions to invite introspection amongst ourselves as a nation, a culture, and as a people to find the source of this internal venom and to perhaps end the sheer hatred that clearly divides us.
I don't expect this single post to change anything; it would be nice if it got people thinking.