As I listened to the President's speech last night and watched once again how closely divided the nation is on so many key issues effecting all of us I was once again reminded that the vitriole we've heard from both sides eventually must STOP. It's tearing us apart and we are a weaker nation for it. The ONLY thing that seems to unite us any more is the Olympics and the Superbowl. (At least we haven't started any wars like they have over soccer games in other places!!!!!:smile
The day after Bill Clinton was re-elected President in 1994, I watched (yes he had a late night TV show) Rush Limbaugh say -- and I DO quote, "America held hostage -- day one!" I was stunned -- and I was deeply appalled. I think it was THAT day that I began to truly listen to the conservative messaging in a whole new light. And then of course came the rise of Fox News.
The message, fueled and fanned by the Conservative Religious Right began to paint the opposition (the Democrats) NOT as the opposition -- but as the enemy -- the enemy! And even as a Christian, many of my conservative friends labled me "in league with the Devil" himself because my views, especially on Abortion, Gays in the military, Capitalism, etc. were more progressive. Really? The Devil huh. And my Liberal friends went on and on about the "fucking" Christians! Really?!
Bill O'Reilly, Glen Beck, Limbaugh hammering away "Feminazi's" Libtards, screaming, yelling -- I distinctly remember Limbaugh saying, "these people need to be annihilated!"
Bear with me I DO have a point here. In 2004 I watched President GW in a speech say basically, "A vote for the Democrats was a vote for the terrorists!"
I've been telling people since 1998 that we need to start thinking "like a nation, instead of a nation of individuals." I'm tired of hearing the farmers go on and on about the evil government all the while accepting farm subsidy checks. I'm tired of how we love to whine and complain instead of trying to really solve the issues we're facing AS A NATION. As a Christian my big economic concern during the Bush years was no rise in the minimum wage (not even TALKING about it!) -- and 35 million people with no health insurance (and NO proposals for resolving it -- NONE).
As a nation --- we send our troops to spread Democracy and then the world looks at how we internally practice it ourselves and we wonder why they might scratch their heads!! We are AMAZED that the moderate Muslims can't put the lid on their radicals and then tout that "freedom of Speech in America" has become an excuse for a total loss of decorum and respect. At least (not yet) we're not blowing each other up in order to annihilate one another.
It's time to stop the "thems" vs the "us's" -- on BOTH sides. If Alan West thinks there are 89 Communists in the Congress he should be called into account to NAME them and bring charges. Michelle Bachman should be asked just "who" the "not REAL" Americans are we've elected.
It's too bad that only in tragedies we come together. As a nation the people of Texas experiencing drought need the tax help of the people from Maine, just as much as the people in New Jersey need the tax help from the people of Idaho!
Are we maturing? CAN we really, truly learn to think like a nation and stop believing in our hearts and minds that people who disagree with us can still STAND with us in the issues that matter? And where there truly are deep divides can we still put PEOPLE before PARTY & POLITICS!
What do you think!??
The day after Bill Clinton was re-elected President in 1994, I watched (yes he had a late night TV show) Rush Limbaugh say -- and I DO quote, "America held hostage -- day one!" I was stunned -- and I was deeply appalled. I think it was THAT day that I began to truly listen to the conservative messaging in a whole new light. And then of course came the rise of Fox News.
The message, fueled and fanned by the Conservative Religious Right began to paint the opposition (the Democrats) NOT as the opposition -- but as the enemy -- the enemy! And even as a Christian, many of my conservative friends labled me "in league with the Devil" himself because my views, especially on Abortion, Gays in the military, Capitalism, etc. were more progressive. Really? The Devil huh. And my Liberal friends went on and on about the "fucking" Christians! Really?!
Bill O'Reilly, Glen Beck, Limbaugh hammering away "Feminazi's" Libtards, screaming, yelling -- I distinctly remember Limbaugh saying, "these people need to be annihilated!"
Bear with me I DO have a point here. In 2004 I watched President GW in a speech say basically, "A vote for the Democrats was a vote for the terrorists!"
I've been telling people since 1998 that we need to start thinking "like a nation, instead of a nation of individuals." I'm tired of hearing the farmers go on and on about the evil government all the while accepting farm subsidy checks. I'm tired of how we love to whine and complain instead of trying to really solve the issues we're facing AS A NATION. As a Christian my big economic concern during the Bush years was no rise in the minimum wage (not even TALKING about it!) -- and 35 million people with no health insurance (and NO proposals for resolving it -- NONE).
As a nation --- we send our troops to spread Democracy and then the world looks at how we internally practice it ourselves and we wonder why they might scratch their heads!! We are AMAZED that the moderate Muslims can't put the lid on their radicals and then tout that "freedom of Speech in America" has become an excuse for a total loss of decorum and respect. At least (not yet) we're not blowing each other up in order to annihilate one another.
It's time to stop the "thems" vs the "us's" -- on BOTH sides. If Alan West thinks there are 89 Communists in the Congress he should be called into account to NAME them and bring charges. Michelle Bachman should be asked just "who" the "not REAL" Americans are we've elected.
It's too bad that only in tragedies we come together. As a nation the people of Texas experiencing drought need the tax help of the people from Maine, just as much as the people in New Jersey need the tax help from the people of Idaho!
Are we maturing? CAN we really, truly learn to think like a nation and stop believing in our hearts and minds that people who disagree with us can still STAND with us in the issues that matter? And where there truly are deep divides can we still put PEOPLE before PARTY & POLITICS!
What do you think!??