Politics-Induced Hatred
Sep. 18th, 2012 12:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dogriverI am blessed with many American friends. I love America, always have, always will. This doesn't diminish my patriotism to my own country, but I am in no way anti-American.
But one thing that saddens me deeply is the deep-seated hatred that exists between the supporters of the two main political parties. It is this antagonism which has caused my interest in politics to all but evaporate. It's like a game to some non-Americans. They love one party of the other and just love the other party being skewered, as if these weren't real people with real lives and real futures.
Wo which party would I support if I were an American? I used to have a clear-cut answer to that one. I do again: I would support neither. I hate deeply the results of partisanship. Supporters of each side are convinced that they are completely and entirely right, while the supporters of the other side are a bunch of idiots. Democrat supporters are convinced that Republican supporters are a bunch of heartless, uncaring jerks. I know many Republican supporters who are the kindest, most caring people you'll ever meet. Republican supporters are convinced that Democrats are a bunch of Communists who would happily spend all of the taxpayers' money so no one would have to work or contribute in any way. I know many Democratic supporters who are hard-working, dedicated contributors to society, and many others who would be if they had the opportunity.
The reality that so many partisans fail to realize is that the right needs the left and the left needs the right. We need checks and balances, otherwise we run a huge danger of making the dictatorial mistakes of the past, mistakes that are still being made around the world today. People were surprised after the recent Canadian election, when I stated that while I'm glad the Conservatives won, I am also glad that the left-wing opposition gave a really strong showing. We need the influence of both sides, lest an extremist from either side be allowed to gain unfettered, uncontrolled power. The danger lies not with the left, not with the right, but with extremism on either side.
My plea to my American friends, be you Democrat, Republican, whatever, is to see those with whom you disagree as the people they are, with lives, families, futures, hopes, dreams. America will remain great if it can remain unified as a country. To do that you have got to respect the views of the other person, or at the very least, respect that other person. I am comfortable talking with people on the left and on the right. What I am uncomfortable with is people on either side who trash-talk the other. Experience has shown me that no political party is worthy of unchallenged support, of so-called blind loyalty. Somewhere among the mistakes they're making, the other party has a point, just as somewhere, among the mistakes your party is making, they've got a point too. The trick is to realize that those two points, embraced by all, will make for a stronger country. My prayer is that America continues to thrive and show the world that all human beings are created equal.
But one thing that saddens me deeply is the deep-seated hatred that exists between the supporters of the two main political parties. It is this antagonism which has caused my interest in politics to all but evaporate. It's like a game to some non-Americans. They love one party of the other and just love the other party being skewered, as if these weren't real people with real lives and real futures.
Wo which party would I support if I were an American? I used to have a clear-cut answer to that one. I do again: I would support neither. I hate deeply the results of partisanship. Supporters of each side are convinced that they are completely and entirely right, while the supporters of the other side are a bunch of idiots. Democrat supporters are convinced that Republican supporters are a bunch of heartless, uncaring jerks. I know many Republican supporters who are the kindest, most caring people you'll ever meet. Republican supporters are convinced that Democrats are a bunch of Communists who would happily spend all of the taxpayers' money so no one would have to work or contribute in any way. I know many Democratic supporters who are hard-working, dedicated contributors to society, and many others who would be if they had the opportunity.
The reality that so many partisans fail to realize is that the right needs the left and the left needs the right. We need checks and balances, otherwise we run a huge danger of making the dictatorial mistakes of the past, mistakes that are still being made around the world today. People were surprised after the recent Canadian election, when I stated that while I'm glad the Conservatives won, I am also glad that the left-wing opposition gave a really strong showing. We need the influence of both sides, lest an extremist from either side be allowed to gain unfettered, uncontrolled power. The danger lies not with the left, not with the right, but with extremism on either side.
My plea to my American friends, be you Democrat, Republican, whatever, is to see those with whom you disagree as the people they are, with lives, families, futures, hopes, dreams. America will remain great if it can remain unified as a country. To do that you have got to respect the views of the other person, or at the very least, respect that other person. I am comfortable talking with people on the left and on the right. What I am uncomfortable with is people on either side who trash-talk the other. Experience has shown me that no political party is worthy of unchallenged support, of so-called blind loyalty. Somewhere among the mistakes they're making, the other party has a point, just as somewhere, among the mistakes your party is making, they've got a point too. The trick is to realize that those two points, embraced by all, will make for a stronger country. My prayer is that America continues to thrive and show the world that all human beings are created equal.
