Read this because it'll be a healthy thing to do
Fellow LJ users,
I'm sure all of you remember my "Good Points About Bush" entry. Well, I doubt any of you are going on that post now. But, out of everyone who posted replies there was only one smart person; only one person whose views are noteworthy; whose views should be heeded; the only one who posesses a great degree of maturity, Quentin. He has written it out straight for all of us. I suggest you read what he has said and heed what he is trying to communicate. I have quoted his thread below, but if you'd like to see his post in context of the discussion, click here. His post should be at the very bottom by a user named passerby. For now, here is what he has said, and I would like to hear people comment on this.
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"First, Abhishek, you have many good points in your positive post about George W. Bush. Secondly, the argument that went on in response to this post was purely and utterly bad. B-A-D. Know why? We as students look at the world in a unique way. When we turn on the TV or see the newspaper, we are sick of all this stingy debate between presidential candidates, world governments, and politicians in general. We realize that there is a much better way to approach these kinds of matters than sticking your finger in someone's face and telling them that you're right and they are wrong, like many politicians do.
Yet, here we are, sadly contradicting ourselves. Abhishek posts a positive comment about the President and has no intention of telling anyone that he is correct and they are not, yet still many of you bash him for his views. We as students should be taught to look at both sides of the spectrum of debate, yet we are not doing that. Instead of pinpointing him to the point where he has to surrender and give up his belief, why don't you offer him alternative ways of looking at the issue? After all, isn't this what we say they should be doing in the political world? Wouldn't this kind of approach be more effective and beneficial at all levels?
You kids forgot one thing. We are the future. For those of us who are unhappy with the world right now, this is where we start to make change. Dialogue between you and I. Me sharing my beliefs with you and you sharing your beliefs with me. No matter if we agree or disagree, we share. And once we share, we offer different ways of looking at the matter. OFFER. It's education at it's best people. Realize it, don't refute it. Just because Abhishek posts a comment many of you consider heretical doesn't mean you should respond with ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY YOU MOTHERFUCKER?!?!?!? You should try to understand his viewpoint and then offer him alternative viewpoints. I think Abhishek himself would be a lot happier if this kind of educational dialogue were to occur in his lj.
You guys remind me of the American evanglists that went to "evangelize" Iraq when the war started. Protestans from America would travel all the way to the Middle East to christianize many Muslims that THEY considered "spiritually misinformed." They literally forced their views upon innocent people who were entitled to their own spiritual beliefs. And the Bush Administration approved of this! Now you all know why this was B-A-D. Because you are criticizing someone who talked positively about George W. Bush, when all the while, you are doing the same things that his administration endorsed; forcing your views upon other people."
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Thank you for your time. And thank you Quentin for being the only rational person in all of this.
Sincerely,
Abhishek Kumar.
PS: Oh, and Gabi, please send your friends to this post because I would seriously like them to read what Quentin has written.