Where's Mr. Spock when you need him?
Howdy folks,
I should warn you this is a mini-rant.
Some of the arguements going on around here lately are a freakin joke.
People on both side of the aisle are having little mini wars over the smallest things. A reflection of how divided this country really is in my opinion. A sad statement in general.
I have to admit that i'm also guilty of this behavior. I guess that sometimes you get so emotionally involved in a political discussion you sometimes lose control. You get caught up in how wrong the other person is, and feel obligated to pound them into the dirt for being that way. You pity them for being blind, yet you can't resist smacking them in the back of the head once in a while. I understand. I've been there.
I will read posts (from both sides, the nice thing about being a moderate) and wonder "what the f**k? How retarded IS this person? I didn't think someone could smoke this much crack and still operate a computer!" I'm sure most of you have had similar experiences. I guess it's part of the whole blogging process. Maybe it's arrogance on my part. Maybe i'm just naive. Maybe the other person is as ignorant as i think they are, maybe i'm the one who is ignorant. NAH! It couldn't be ME! That's just impossible!
Sometimes people deliberately write inacurate and mean sprited posts because they feel it is the only way to drive their point home. They will spin, twist, maipulate, and outright lie to make their point. My grandfather used to tell me "Dont write checks with your mouth that your ass can't cash". I have tried to live by this statement. I think i have done a pretty good job at heeding his advice. It doesn't make me a better person than the next . It doesn't make me smarter or wiser. Just a little more aware of what i'm trying to say. I wish some of you would heed his advice because this shit going on here is pathetic.
Where did the american political experience take such a nasty turn? If you ask a republican they will say "the minute dubya took office". If you ask a democrat they will say "the minute bubba took office". If you ask a libertarian (apologies to Gid) they will say "how stupid are you?...It's BOTH their fault!" That's the problem. Every group is unwilling to take any resposibility for their actions anymore. It's always the other guys fault. What a load!
I think we all need to take a step back and look at what has been going on around here as of late. It's not a bad thing to disagree. Our whole system of government is based on debate and the freedom to have and voice your opinion. Just because you believe in something does NOT make you a fascist or a pinko. It just means you have a different opinion than the next person. That's what makes America the greatest country in the world. We have the ability to disagree and debate. That is not a license to berate, manipulate, twist, and speak half truths and fallacies. It is also not justification to act like a bunch of children either. I really was never a big fan of Ronald Reagan, but there were qualities that he posessed that i really admired. He had the ability to put politics aside and have civil and meaningful discussions with the other side. He always said, "i'm a republican until 5:00pm. Then i'm just Ronald Reagan". He would openly befriend democrats and have drinks with Tip O'Neill. He understood that no matter what your position on the issue, rational and friendly dialogue was the key to getting things done. I wish more politicians and private citizens would heed his advice.
As a country we do a great diservice to ourselves by bickering and skirmishing on matters that are minor. That doesn't mean i'm advocating a big bipartisan lovefest either. Just a little sanity is all.
Over the past few months i feel as if i have had a good learning experience about the other team. I don't agree with them most of the time, but i admire their determination. Not their tactics. The same can be said about some of my friends on the left. But there is a darkside to this. Righties accuse me of being of being a "LLL" (is that the correct abbreviation guys?) The lefties call me a "sellout". Okay, fine by me. You are entitled to your opiniions, but that doesn't make them accurate. They're just opinions. Much like assholes, everybody has them. But you're both wrong!
In closing, all i ask is fo a little more civility and accuracy around here. I don't think it's too much to ask. We don't have to like each other or have a big "lovefest". We are never going to completely agree most of the time. I would kill my blog if we did. I enjoy the sparring and banter. I'm just sick and tired of the bullshit.
Okay, time to tear me a new one...Let's hear it!
Thanks for reading,
thatoneguyinslc