Peter submitted, made popular 14 weeks ago - (bloggingheads.tv) » 1 Comments
How a liberal’s gut reactions differ from a conservative’s? The conservative take on authority, purity, and loyalty. The evolution of our capacity for moral intuition. Why herding liberals is like herding cats.
I watched Forrest Gump last night. What an entertaining, and uplifting movie! I love how Forrest, in his own way, traverses those major world events, which shaped my life, and the lives of many Americans. During the movie I had a small inspiration. It was at the part where Forrest “breaks up the Black Panther party” when, after witnessing Jenny being struck in the face, administers to the revolting anti war boyfriend a sound beating. It struck me then, that this same anti-war boyfriend embodies an almost mythical person. And this person’s persona is similar to the way in which too many Americans sadly seem to view a large percentage of their fellow countrymen and women. You know that guy, you know the ones I am talking about… the Liberals. Liberals, it seems, are these incredibly stupid, violence prone bleating morons, who prattle their message of division and the destruction of all that makes America good. Liberals appear to emanate from the shadowy recesses of Berkley, or San Francisco, or one of those places where “all them there gays are”.
This, my friends, is a very lazy way to view the world. The term “Liberal” has been neatly placed into that same special spot in our language, reserved for other special and endearing terms. “Liberal” in our language can now take its place proudly with other special words: Words like “Heretic”, “Commie”, “Fag” and “Jew”. Words used by the intolerant and small minded to pigeonhole someone with a different viewpoint, no matter how valid, into the abyss of irrelevancy. Words which cast thousands, no millions, of our fellow Americans into a sub-human species where they exist as no more than objects of trite ridicule and derision. Worlds, which elevate (in their minds) those deluded individuals who use them as such into the supreme arbitrators of all social discussion. These were the same words used by the Serbs against the Croatians, by the Nazis, by the witch burners, and by the practitioners of the Spanish Inquisition.
But, here is an uplifting message to the intolerant in “Conservative” America… Do not feel alone! For, as a former California resident, I can assure you that there exists in this country a similar yet opposing brand of intolerant individual. This person lives in fear of the shadowy American Government, with its nefarious rulers evilly planning to destroy all that is Good (anywhere). These individuals use a separate-but-equal language to describe you. A language equally disgusting in its omission of any relevance of the intelligent conservative opinion. Another language of hate.
It’s funny. For in the movie Forrest Gump, I saw the equally inaccurate reflection of the “Conservative”, as viewed by the benighted individuals who balance out the lunatic fringe on the other side of the political spectrum. Remember those kids who chased Forrest down those dusty southern roads? The kids, bred in ignorance, raised in intolerance and living these one-dimensional lives of hatred? Yeah, those are the ones! That, my friends is how some people in this nation view those who wish to label themselves as “Conservative”.
Now how does that make you feel? Pretty mad, I’ll bet. People are not like that! The people I know who like to label themselves as “Conservative” are extremely decent, upstanding members of society. They believe in God, and in Jesus, and are making their way through this dangerous and difficult world as best they can. These are good people, loving parents and diligent teachers to the next generation of the leaders of this great nation!
But my point is this. If you don’t like being labeled as some ignorant back-country hick, the why engage in the equally destructive trivialization of millions of your fellow countrymen, men and women who’s vision for America differs only ever so slightly with your own? Break free of the box of Liberalism, escape from the confines of Conservatism! Chart your own destiny using the moral compass, which lives inside all of us as the spirit of God! Idiots are idiots, no matter which side of the political debate they choose to inhabit. Let’s bring America together, rather that pull it apart. There is so much good which we share in this great nation. There is so much at stake as civilization leave the placid waters of tradition and onto the high seas of an unrevealed and majestic destiny! We need all members of the crew, those who might cast a vote for Hillery and those who might cast a vote for Mccain, to join together at the oars as the one voice of America. Differences are healthy and required as this country wends its way through the perils of an uncertain and dangerous world. For without thoughtful and intelligent discussion our voyage could become a myopic misadventure to disaster! But do not, and I repeat DO NOT let our scant differences degrade into personal attacks and become the sole focus of debate. There is too much at stake here, for if we continue to let the ship of state drift aimlessly, while we squabble at the helm like spoiled children, we might steer our Good ship of America off the charts of relevancy and into the footnotes of history.
Comments
Liberals and Conservatives.
I watched Forrest Gump last night. What an entertaining, and uplifting movie! I love how Forrest, in his own way, traverses those major world events, which shaped my life, and the lives of many Americans. During the movie I had a small inspiration. It was at the part where Forrest “breaks up the Black Panther party” when, after witnessing Jenny being struck in the face, administers to the revolting anti war boyfriend a sound beating. It struck me then, that this same anti-war boyfriend embodies an almost mythical person. And this person’s persona is similar to the way in which too many Americans sadly seem to view a large percentage of their fellow countrymen and women. You know that guy, you know the ones I am talking about… the Liberals. Liberals, it seems, are these incredibly stupid, violence prone bleating morons, who prattle their message of division and the destruction of all that makes America good. Liberals appear to emanate from the shadowy recesses of Berkley, or San Francisco, or one of those places where “all them there gays are”.
This, my friends, is a very lazy way to view the world. The term “Liberal” has been neatly placed into that same special spot in our language, reserved for other special and endearing terms. “Liberal” in our language can now take its place proudly with other special words: Words like “Heretic”, “Commie”, “Fag” and “Jew”. Words used by the intolerant and small minded to pigeonhole someone with a different viewpoint, no matter how valid, into the abyss of irrelevancy. Words which cast thousands, no millions, of our fellow Americans into a sub-human species where they exist as no more than objects of trite ridicule and derision. Worlds, which elevate (in their minds) those deluded individuals who use them as such into the supreme arbitrators of all social discussion. These were the same words used by the Serbs against the Croatians, by the Nazis, by the witch burners, and by the practitioners of the Spanish Inquisition.
But, here is an uplifting message to the intolerant in “Conservative” America… Do not feel alone! For, as a former California resident, I can assure you that there exists in this country a similar yet opposing brand of intolerant individual. This person lives in fear of the shadowy American Government, with its nefarious rulers evilly planning to destroy all that is Good (anywhere). These individuals use a separate-but-equal language to describe you. A language equally disgusting in its omission of any relevance of the intelligent conservative opinion. Another language of hate.
It’s funny. For in the movie Forrest Gump, I saw the equally inaccurate reflection of the “Conservative”, as viewed by the benighted individuals who balance out the lunatic fringe on the other side of the political spectrum. Remember those kids who chased Forrest down those dusty southern roads? The kids, bred in ignorance, raised in intolerance and living these one-dimensional lives of hatred? Yeah, those are the ones! That, my friends is how some people in this nation view those who wish to label themselves as “Conservative”.
Now how does that make you feel? Pretty mad, I’ll bet. People are not like that! The people I know who like to label themselves as “Conservative” are extremely decent, upstanding members of society. They believe in God, and in Jesus, and are making their way through this dangerous and difficult world as best they can. These are good people, loving parents and diligent teachers to the next generation of the leaders of this great nation!
But my point is this. If you don’t like being labeled as some ignorant back-country hick, the why engage in the equally destructive trivialization of millions of your fellow countrymen, men and women who’s vision for America differs only ever so slightly with your own? Break free of the box of Liberalism, escape from the confines of Conservatism! Chart your own destiny using the moral compass, which lives inside all of us as the spirit of God! Idiots are idiots, no matter which side of the political debate they choose to inhabit. Let’s bring America together, rather that pull it apart. There is so much good which we share in this great nation. There is so much at stake as civilization leave the placid waters of tradition and onto the high seas of an unrevealed and majestic destiny! We need all members of the crew, those who might cast a vote for Hillery and those who might cast a vote for Mccain, to join together at the oars as the one voice of America. Differences are healthy and required as this country wends its way through the perils of an uncertain and dangerous world. For without thoughtful and intelligent discussion our voyage could become a myopic misadventure to disaster! But do not, and I repeat DO NOT let our scant differences degrade into personal attacks and become the sole focus of debate. There is too much at stake here, for if we continue to let the ship of state drift aimlessly, while we squabble at the helm like spoiled children, we might steer our Good ship of America off the charts of relevancy and into the footnotes of history.