Both sides are, in fact, not “just as bad,” when it comes to institutionally sanctioned violent and eliminationist rhetoric. An anonymous commenter at Daily Kos and the last Republican vice presidential nominee are not equivalent, no matter how many ridiculously irresponsible members of the media would have us believe otherwise. There is, demonstrably, no leftist equivalent to Sarah Palin, former veep candidate and presumed future presidential candidate, who uses gun imagery (rifle sights) and language (“Don’t Retreat, RELOAD”) to exhort her followers to action.
I’ve written a good deal lately about the need for a return and recommitment to civility in public life and discourse. I was serious when I broached the subject, and I remain serious about it. For my part, I can only ensure that my contribution to the current state of our public discourse is a more positive one. Having said that, however, I’m not naive about the primary reason for the poisonous atmosphere, nor am I going to play Pollyanna and advocate the false equivalence that “both sides do it”. Yes, both sides participate in the vitriol, but let’s be real. The reason that our public discourse is in the poisonous, disagreeable place it is is because of the anger, spin, and fear-mongering emanating from the Far Right. When it comes to the rhetoric and language of hatred and propaganda, there can be no doubt that the Far Right has a clear head start. They’ve decided that anger, insults, and the language of personal destruction work for them. Until they own up to this and determine that it’s time to dial back the rage nothing will change.
No matter how some might argue that since both sides do it, both sides are equally culpable, the reality is that there simply are no voices on the Left that match the hate, the anger, and the bile spewed by the Far Right. To argue that there are Left-wing equivalents for Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, etc. (ad infinitum, ad nauseum) is specious and unsupportable. Yes, there are voices on the Left who are guilty of name-calling and righteous indignation (come on down, Ed Schultz (TV and radio)!!). Nowhere, though, will you find voices on the Left advocating for violent insurrection, racism, and hatred in the manner typical of the voices that populate Right-wing Hate Media. You can argue against this all you want, but the reality is what it is. The Far Right is far less willing to countenance the idea of political compromise than any other group of Americans. The media they consume is reflective of that intolerance and intransigence.
The truth is what it is, and until and/or unless we as a nation are willing to face up to it, we have little hope of changing the tone and tenor of public discourse. If screaming and foaming at the mouth is something you see as the functional equivalent of reasoned, rational discourse…well, might I suggest that you’re in the wrong place? Try Googling Erick Erickson and head over to RedState. The rest of us can, should, and must recognize the current state of our public discourse for what it is if we’re to have any hope of changing it.
Yes, those of us on the Left can start by setting a better example of what we’d like to see happen. I’ve committed to that, and I intend to do my level best to keep things on a civil level. I can respect those I disagree with without ridiculing and marginalizing them and without impugning their humanity and patriotism. We should also expect and demand that those on the Right will play nice as well. Whether they choose to dial down the bile and the vitriol is their choice; this is still a free country, after all. My hope is that if enough good and decent Americans demand an end to the shouting and the anger, eventually enough of the voices of hatred will be calmed. In the wake of the tragedy in Tucson, we have an opportunity to change the tenor and tone of the public conversation. The question, of course, is whether or not we will avail ourselves of this opportunity. While I’m an optimist, I’m also a realist. Many thought we had a similar opportunity in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1999. It didn’t take long for us to revert to type…and here we are 12 years later dreaming the same dream. I hope things will be different this time…though you won’t see me holding my breath.
Call me Pollyanna, but I have to believe that this is possible. Otherwise, what hope do we really have?? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to stop writing about civility and try to figure out how to honestly walk the path of being civil. Anyone care to join me??
