Ironglow,
Your post, about attacking the messenger, struck a chord with me. Perhaps I am being overly simplistic, but it occurred to me that our country is reaching a point where we no longer seems to examine ideas based on their merits, but rather based upon a characterization of the presenter. Look at any recent debate, someone propose an idea to solve a common problem, and someone else critsizes a specific of it, then instead of a mutual exploration of how to solve our common problem, the debate degenerates into defense of ideology and dire warnings of consequences of the effects of the opposing ideologies. In the end the problem is never fully addressed, and it ends up being an issue of crisis management.
There was time when those of differing opinions, referred to each other as the loyal opposition. While it sounds quaint, the underlying thought behind it is why a democracy can work. The assumption being that whether one is in support of or opposed to a government policy, their view is what they believe is in the best interest of the country. Unfortunately we no longer listen to each other.
We no longer engage in a debate, of I disagree because, but by character assassination. Both the left and right are equally guilty, and both the left and the right have become sanctimonious and self-righteous, and appear equally hypocritical. The adjectives employed by both the right and the left illustrate this everyday, Jesus freak, secular humanist, Bible thumper, right-wing wacko, bleeding heart liberal, and on and on. Objective listening and debate without hyperbole has become a thing of the past, and it is truly ashamed. No doubt you and I would differ on a great many issues, but in the absence of rhetoric it is probable that we would agree on more than we disagree upon as we share a commonality of citizenry, and probably find a common ground to address our common problems, unfortunately it appears that, ideology has replaced ideas. Personally, I have learned a lot from both you and other forum members, and found many ideas here that never occurred me. These ideas have led me to, revaluate my prospective and some of my views. While it is always difficult to see from anotherÂ’s prospective, the most difficult, thing has been to see these new ideas when they are often times obscured by ideological rhetoric. Both the left and the right can bring something productive to a discussion, but only if we allow ourselves see beyond the bravado, posturing, and virulent oratory.
Honestly I find the reference to Sheehan as “Ditch Witch” funny, especially since she has moved from being a grieving mother to, being an anti-war protester who happens to be a grieving mother. I also find it funny that those government leaders most in favor of military action, have the least personal stake in them, and in fact when most were subject or eligible for military service they avoided active service, that is why I call them “Chicken Hawks”. Originally Cindy Sheehan’s actions raised valid questions, regarding the conduct of the war in Iraq and the mounting casualties, now it has evolved into what I feel is unqualified anti-war pacifism with a disregard of reality. While there may be some that have the resolve to be true pacifists, I lack that strength.
Our growing inability to admit error, as matters of principle and our loss of pragmatism has, I believe, become the greatest detriment to the unity of the country. Criticism can be constructive, admitting to and recognizing mistakes, is the first step in not repeating ones errors. Today however few people are willing to engage in this self-analysis privately, let alone publicly.
I like to think of the right and the left as two people you ask directions of, you may get two different routes to take but they both have given you directions to get you to your destination. Of course, you occasionally meet someone who has no idea how to get anywhere, and they appear to be evenly divided between right and left. Naturally we have to agree on the destination, for me it has been, a clause from the pre 1954 Pledge of Allegiance, “One nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all”.
I think most of those who give us directions, whether left or right, are sincerely are trying to provide us the best route to our destination, based upon their experience. The hard part is determining if they know how to get to where we want to go.
jon
