I spoke of the Tea Party movement and its followers in an earlier blog. Their tone is negative, loud, and just doesn't contribute to a healthy dialog about the issues this country faces. I have seen even further evidence that their arguments are based on conspiracy theories and not, well, reality. Their argument is that our current President is a second coming of Adolf Hitler and our rights are disappearing by the second. What they don't realize is that the reason they are able to shout down their Congressman at town halls and march the streets of the Capitol with signs preaching hate is because our rights are in tact and our Democracy is stronger now than it ever was. When people gathered like this during our last President's incompetent voyage through the White House, they were labeled as less than American. The hypocrisy is incredible.
Our Democracy is strong. It is not some fragile institution that can be broken by one man or by one Congress or by one group of protesters. Have faith in our Democracy and don't question its strength just because someone you didn't vote for won the Presidency.
This tone is not just coming from those on the far-right fringe of our political spectrum though. Nancy Pelosi and other uncooperative and close-minded liberals often ignore the President's call to listen to the other side, meet with them, hear what they have to say, and get the job done. They, too, end attempts at bipartisanship when they don't get exactly what they want - which in many cases is government control of everything - something I, as a Democrat, am not in favor of.
Both sides have been unable and unwilling to do that because they are afraid of what's politically at stake for them during an election year. That type of game-playing and posturing needs to stop.
I read a piece in the editorial section of the newspaper on the anniversary of the Kent State shooting. It was written by a mother who lost her son on that day expressing the grief she still feels today because of it. She says she even hears people say that those killed on that dark day in 1970 deserved it and that more should have suffered the same fate. The mom went on to say that every day when she turns on the news and sees the Tea Party followers shouting and our Congressmen pointing fingers and calling names, she thinks of her son and remembers a time in 1970 when the tone of our politics was similar. It was that tone, she says, that leaves her mourning the death of her son, even today, just because he was speaking out.
We have to be careful in the way we conduct ourselves. We have to respect one another - even if we disagree. The tone must be brought down because it has already reached a level of danger that cannot be sustained. Let us debate each other respectfully and use facts as our weapon, not guns or threats or false labels.
I am an American and I love my country just as much as those marching with tea bags hanging from their hats. I read my constitution, I know my rights, and I have faith in the institution our founders created. It has gone nowhere. My rights have gone nowhere. And I will not be afraid of a few people who find it in their interest to stoke fear in the minds of their fellow countrymen instead of have a debate based in fact.
So as you begin to type words belittling a person for a political disagreement or fudge the truth to scare someone with a different opinion, step back and ask yourself why you're doing it. Is it solving a problem? It is improving the political dialog in this country? It is renewing a spirit of cooperation and unity that this country needs back in its politics? No, it isn't. It, instead, amounts to nothing but the cheap thrill of attacking someone who disagrees with you. And it is helping no person and solving no problem.
Remember the words of Lincoln as you go to take a personal swipe at someone who disagrees with you on immigration or health care or gay rights.
"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."
We are all Americans. And we must not let our political disagreements force us to stop acting like Americans.
Sean,
ReplyDeleteMany of the talking heads take things the other side says out of context. The problem that is occuring in this current administration is that they have an agenda without regard to the people they represent. I am not just referring to Obama. I am also talking about the representatives in congress and the senators. I have called and written both in my area and have only received response from Sen. Jim DeMint.
When Rush Limbaugh said he wanted Obama to fail, he was not talking about America failing. I do not agree with Obama's policies, but in even our discussions about this you turn it racial. It has nothing to do with his skin tone. He is aggressively liberal and socialist that I do not believe in his leadership.
That is part of what the tea party is talking about. We want to be represented.
I believe Obama is dividing this country not uniting it. Everything is racial and people are tired of hearing it. He recently called the tea party movement, tea baggers! Is that not belittling someone. His arrogance is what people are talking about.
The agenda the President is pursuing is the agenda that he ran on and the agenda that America voted for. That is what Democracy is. When it came down to actual voting, the people voted for this agenda. Tea Party rallies across the country with shouting and marching may mean some folks might not like it but when it came to actual voting and actual results, it's what they voted for. That's how our Democracy has worked for over 200 years and that's how it's continuing to work today.
ReplyDeleteWhat agenda is that Sean? He has been in office well over a year and what has he accomplished? In fact what has he accomplished before that? He has no qualifications for the job. In fact he has not held a real job or run a business in his entire life. You are right, people did vote for him, and many that I have spoken to or read about are sorry they did. I think eventually you would have been too.
ReplyDeleteHe has had major accomplishments during his time in office - not just legislative accomplishments, but also accomplishments when it comes to reengaging the world community. The fair pay act, the children's health insurance reauthorization act, american recovery and reinvestment act, fraud enforcement and recovery act, helping families save their homes act, credit card accountability act (consumer protections), veterans health care budget reform and transparency act, hate crimes prevention act, HIV/AIDS prevention act, worker, homeownership, and business assistance act, travel promotion act, hiring incentives to restore employment act, patient protection and affordable care act, and a several student loan reforms to help kids pay for college. These are all acts President Obama signed into law as President.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I mean about the dialog though. To say he hasn't done anything just isn't true. He's done plenty. He has kept most of his promises and has worked his tail off to keep all of them. But there is an opposition more concerned about seeing him fail politically instead our country succeed. He is genuine in his efforts. The opposition is politically calculated in theres.
You may not agree with the things he's done and the things his administration has accomplished but they have gotten things done.
To say he didn't hold a real job before he was President is false and even comedic if you think about it. Come on, now.