Hear, Hear: Americans should not fear talking—and listening—to those whose views we loathe
You don’t want to judge Christ by Christians, someone once said. He is perfect, they are not. In a similar way you don’t want to judge capitalism by capitalists, or the legitimacy of democracy by the Democrats, or the vitality of our republic by the Republicans. You have to take the thing pure and in itself, while allowing for the flaws and waywardness of its practitioners. I say this because here in America we have reached a funny pass. People are doing and saying odd things as if they don’t know the meaning of the thing they say they stand for. In particular I mean we used to be proud of whom we allowed to speak, and now are leaning toward defining ourselves by whom we don’t speak to and will not allow to speak. This is not progress.
Someone really ought to check to see if Hell just froze over, because I find myself agreeing with something that Peggy Noonan (former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan) has to say. Of course, we’re coming at it from opposite directions, but I think that we can agree that the current state of political discourse in this country sucks.
One of the reasons I enjoy TPRS so much is that it gives me the opportunity to interact with people, many of whom disagree with me. I may have some pretty strong opinions (shocking, eh?), but I’ve never pretended to have all the answers. Every now and again I really do learn something from people who don’t think anything like I do. That’s the beautiful thing about democracy- the collection of voices and ideas that ideally helps dull the sharp edges of rhetoric and shape our nation into something that actually works. Yeah, for the most part our democracy works- if not always for the right reasons. It’s not always pretty, but until a better alternative comes along, this is what we’ve got.
What I don’t understand is why we can’t get along. I don’t expect us all to get together and sing “Kumbayah” and make smores, but why is it so difficult for those on opposite sides of the ideological fence to get along- or at least talk to one another? After all, when you get right down to it, all of us generally want the same thing- peace, prosperity, and the ability to live our lives as we see fit. The problem is that one side- Conservatives- are bound and determined to see that everyone lives and believes as THEY see fit
From where I sit, things began to change when Conservatives began to realize that they stood a much better chance of electoral success if they spent less time focusing on issues and more on emotional, hot-button topics- the “divide and conquer” strategy. Instead of tallking about how America could become a better, safer, and more prosperous place for all of us, Conservatives began to focus on religion, abortion, and knee-jerk patriotism- the Amerika uber Alles mindset that seems to rule in Conservatives circles today.
No, we Liberals haven’t exactly been blameless in this struggle, but when we’re forced to deal with Conservatives painting us as anti-American and anti-freedom, are we merely to turn the other cheek? The problem now is that we’ve been beating on each other for so long, some of us have forgotten what started the fight in the first place.
I’d like to think that we’re all big enough to be able to do what’s right for all of us, instead of what’s politically acceptable to a vocal minority. Unfortunately, reality being what it is, we’re too far down this road to turn back now. It’s too bad, really, because we’re better together than we are apart.
Right…so how’s that “Being a uniter and not a divider” thing working out for you?
Remember, when only wealthy White Conservatives are able to pass legislation, the vast majority of Americans will be on the outside looking in.
