(One man Shouts) All the Left wants to do is Tax! (Followed by another)The Right wants to tell you who you can marry! The Tea Parties are Racists. The Progressives are Marxist. I'm sure you have heard these and many other accusations before of either what you believe, or of the other side. What happened to talking about what we believe?
Too often too many from both the left and the right make blanket accusations about the other side, in an attempt to demonize, marginalize, discredit, make fun off, insult, or disparage those who do not believe as they do. Does this get us anywhere? Does this bring us closer together as a people, or is the tool that is dividing us more and more each day? Does this help convince people who may be right or wrong? Or is this done for self or group satisfaction to feel better of their own belief which they can not easily justify on fact?
Recently on the Sports Blog I follow (yeah politics got involved not to my enjoyment), just this happened. It started with a snide comment, which was followed by another and another and another. More time was spent by many (not all) at characterizing, stereotyping, or demonizing the other time than was is discussion of the issue at hand. Now there were some who did attempt and did make some points for their argument, but much of this thread was attacks on the opponent. This instance is only one of many I have seen or been involved in, and is quiet the norm (Yahoo answers, Political Blogs, work, debates, etc...) when you have people who are not very familiar with the others on a personal level, and this is most certainly not isolated to this site.
I love and enjoy open dialogue, the discussions of opinions and beliefs, to have one to try persuade others their view may not be the perfect one, but at least the better one. These discussions can be very informative, and can either change my mind, but most of the time only strengthen my own convictions. No name calling happens (well maybe playfully), and at least an understanding of where the opposing view is coming from is something we all can walk away with. Why is this no longer the norm, but he exception these days?
This Stereotyping of the opposing view, name calling and general disregard of even listening or attempting to understand the opposite is only dividing us more as a people and nation. I do not want everyone to agree with one another, diversity in ideas and beliefs can only make us stronger. as a people, not weaker But it is accepting this diversity of opinions and beliefs is what we need today more than ever before. We can never get the people as a whole or even in very large majorities to agree on much. But if we should be able to do it with anything, it should at least be in accepting we all will not agree, should not agree, never be forced to agree, and that does not necessarily mean those who we do not share the same opinion on are cooks nuts, or wackos for not agreeing with you.
I wear what I believe on my sleeve, I hide it from none, and will debate any topic at any time. Lets leave the name calling at the door, understand and accept what our differences are, discuss them with dignity on their merits, and fix this countries and people's problems. As long as we are at each others throats, and not listening with our ears and minds, we can only continue to go in this direction of division, and not a unified society.
Lets as a People stop the name Calling, and Blanket Type Casting of whole groups or beliefs. Lets discuss the merits of the topic for what they are, and not waste time trying to defend what they are not.
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