(Also published at The Agonist)
Sarah Palin's Facebook 'Friends' Celebrate Ted Kennedy's Death: "One Less Socialist," "Good Riddens"
Now if we could just talk God into taking Arlin Spector, Harry Reid,and Nancy Pelosi America would be Eutopia!
I suppose it would have been too much to hope that those on the Far Right to display could least a little bit of class after the passing of Ted Kennedy. Whether or not you agreed or disagreed with Kennedy's hopes, dreams, and ideology, the man was the very definition of an American public servant. That there are so many with so little class and even less simple human decency is part and parcel of why I find myself fearing so greatly for the future of this nation. If we cannot even come together as Americans to mourn the passing of a man whose driving passion was to make this a better country for all Americans, then what hope do we really have?
Don't get me wrong; I understand where the anger emanates from. There are people on the right side of the political spectrum of whom I can honestly say that I despise everything they stand for. I'm referring to their politics, of course, and not anything personal. The problem with American politics today is that it's become far too personal. It's easy for the angry and the hateful to equate a person's political views with their worthiness and value as a human being. Beyond politics, we're all people. We all dream and love and fear...and we try to do the best we can. We're parents, we're children, we're lovers, and we're friends. None of those things have ANYTHING at all to do with politics...and yet so many of Sarah Palin's Facebook "friends" feel perfectly justified in figuratively pissing on Ted Kennedy's grave. In so doing, they demean themselves and they expose themselves as the very mirror image of that which they profess to detest.
The beauty of this country lies in it's diversity. Yet there are still those angry and ignorant enough to believe without reservation that their narrow prejudices are the Truth, the Light, and the Way. There are those who feel they have the perfect right to insult and demean those with whom they happen to disagree. And there are those who have traveled so far down the road of demonizing those who think and believe differently that they would without reservation joyously celebrate their passing.
To those of you so convinced that those of us on the Left are worthy of nothing beyond your contempt and ridicule, consider the lesson provided by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Hatch, every bit as Conservative as Ted Kennedy was Liberal, nonetheless saw his way clear to considering Kennedy one of his closest friends. Sure, they seldom agreed on matters of ideology, but somehow they managed to forge a close and lasting bond on a personal level. Hatch (and Kennedy) understood the politics may be what he does, but it's not what he is. If personalities and ideologies as disparate as Orrin Hatch and Ted Kennedy can find common ground and become friends, shouldn't ALL of us be able to separate political partisanship from the personal? Shouldn't ALL of us be able to treat one another with respect, dignity, and simple human decency?
Call me idealistic, but I refuse to believe that some Americans are so beyond the pale, so irredeemable in their ideology, that they deserve to be demonized. Ted Kennedy , whether you care to agree with me or not, loved this country, and he devoted his career and his passion to doing what he could to make this a better place for all Americans. ALL Americans are better for his 46+ years in the Senate. No, Kennedy was not a perfect human being, and in fact over the course of his time in the Senate he was at times all to human and deeply flawed. Let those among us who haven't screwed up big time be the first to cast a stone...and when you're done, you really need to go out and get yourself a life.
If you're the sort of person who can think like those who left the comments below, you really ought to give some serious thought to finding a hobby. Or seeking professional help.
"If he makes it into Heaven (& I doubt he will with his stance on abortion) I hope that God makes him babysit all the aborted children for eternity. God have mercy on his soul."
"Ted Kennedy dying has made my day...."
"He cannot fillibuster God. Good ridencance to a sorry person."
"It's about time, we can only hope Pelosi and Ried will be joining him very soon. All 3 of them should be buried in Moscow for whom they work so tirelessly."....
"Sarah - I need to contact you. I need to know how to fight this current govt. We must find a way to get them removed, standing by and watching all the evil occur, is like watching water run quickly down the drain, each of our freedoms gone daily. Please advise me what direction to take my group. Thank you"
If you're the type of person who thinks that self-promoting agitators like Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage are true American patriots, you really need to get a grip. Hatred, ignorance of reality, and propaganda are not American values...though I realize I'm unlikely to convince folks who would celebrate Ted Kennedy's passing of that. Here's something you might just want to keep in mind: Kennedy fought hard so that people like you could enjoy the right to spew your bile and ignorance as you see fit. If you think it's appropriate and reasonable to figuratively piss on his grave...well, that only serves to demonstrate what a miserable excuse for a human being you are. Most of us will celebrate Kennedy's accomplishments...and his humanity.
Thinking and believing differently doesn't make anyone evil, wrong, or worthy of being demonized. It just makes us different. It's what makes us American, and we have every bit as much right to our beliefs as you do.
WE DESERVE BETTER. ALL of us deserve better.
