Okay, some 30% of America, I get it: you don't approve of our president. You don't like his policies, his stances, his philosophies, his politics. Presumably you did not cast your vote for him last November, you weren't one of the tens of millions who watched his inauguration worldwide. And since that cold January afternoon you probably have not been a fan of his administration's actions, from the future closing of Guantanamo to the most recent maelstrom over health care reform. You've been upset and frustrated and it's only been nine short months.
I get it - really, I do. For two reasons. One, because I truly value your place in our country at this moment and time. I'm serious. While I'm personally more upbeat about the current administration, I know that one side of the story does not have all the answers. Our country's government was built on the importance of balance and the presence of a "counter-voice" to even things out. So I truly appreciate your presence and your voice. Thank you.
I also know how you feel because I have walked in your shoes; a walk that took eight years out of my life. See, I used to be part of that "counter-voice" myself. I cringed when the ones who used to be in charge encouraged torture as an acceptable practice in dealing with prisoners of war; I lamented when they lowered the tax rate for the wealthy, in affect asking those with less to pay more. I sat on edge when they tried to privatize social security, and I mourned when a pre-emptive war was launched against a nation that did not possess the threat we were told they had. Believe me - I know what it feels like to be in the minority; to have little faith in the folks calling the shots, to wait with much longing for the next election cycle to come around.
But - and you knew there was a "but" coming, didn't you - there's a very fine line between respectful dissent in the voice of government and poisonous malice that sabotages the process. And just nine months into this particular season I feel we have crossed it. For it is one thing to vocally disagree with our administration; to call into question its practices and policies and work for a better way - which I believe to be not only a good thing but a necessary thing. But it's another thing entirely to cast that aside for the perils of mudslinging and, at its worst, outright demonization. I admit - at my weakest moments I was known to refer to our former president as an "idiot" when my righteous indignation got the best of me. But it was outside my realm of thinking to do something as hateful as drawing a Hitler mustache on his face or referring to him as the "antichrist."
Let me reiterate again - I know how you feel. I really do! But there are much more productive ways to express dissent. The beauty of our democracy is the existence of a 2/3/4-party system where each brings their side's agenda to the table. I am not one who believes that our current administration - or any administration - has all the right answers. I am convinced that the best solution to our country's ills is to find the compromise that lies somewhere in between; something that incorporates the good all sides have to offer. The problem we're experiencing at the moment, though, is that we're allowing fear-mongering and outright malice to get a grip on us, thereby killing the process before it even begins. And once we start down that slippery slope it is incredibly hard to get back up.
I think we're seeing this with some of the hubbub surrounding our president's "school speech" airing tomorrow. Forget for the moment that both previous presidents in our country's history who did this came from the other side of the aisle. Forget that common sense would dictate that a commander-in-chief would never use such a platform to push any particular agenda (the political repercussions of which would be devastating). What, pray tell, is wrong with any president - Republican or Democrat - speaking directly to our young people, encouraging them to be the best students they can be and make a contribution to this world?
The speech, of course, is now online; so anyone can see that it is nowhere near what some have made it out to be. And absolutely, any parent should be allowed to make a request that their child not be allowed to view it. But that hasn't stopped the silliness from going beyond silly. All last week, the talk was that the speech was going to push a "socialist agenda" - a huge assumption; as the text for the speech had not yet been released. That's the kind of stuff that happens when we're sliding down the slope.
Dissent is the foundation of our great country, it is the essence of who we are as Americans, it is the reason we enjoy the freedoms we have. We need it to thrive; we need the checks and balances that our multi-faceted government provides to keep the ship on track. We need people to disagree with our current president and call into question some of his actions, just as we needed it the eight years prior.
But we must use every fiber of our being to resist going down that slippery slope of malice, hate, anger, and ill will; which does absolutely no good. Fear has no place in our politics or (as I've said in a previous blog) in our religion. Honest, respectful, sincere dialogue must prevail.
Because if it doesn't, we do crazy things like bashing the leader of the free world for urging our young people to be the best they can be. And that is something I don't get.






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