I had a different posting planned for today. But in the last two weeks we’ve had bombs mailed to prominent enemies of our president, yet another mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh by an anti-Semitic nut, and a Republican headquarters in Florida violated by gunfire in an attack that just has to be politically motivated. It all made me recall the shooting of Republican legislators playing baseball, the hounding of folks as they are dining, the praise for neo-Nazis, the endorsement of violence against a reporter. I’ve seen moral preachings about the lack of due process for a Supreme Court nominee and the same folks chanting, “Lock her up!”
Is it any wonder the nation is going to hell?
Frankly, I’m tired of it.
I’m sick of our president who is so insecure he has to attack on a daily basis anyone who dares to disagree with him.
I’m sick of members of any political party operating with a tunnel vision that sees only good in their views and only evil in those of their opponents.
I’m sick of people who accept without question the crap spewed on social media.
I’m sick of those who spew it.
I’m sick of every single instance of intolerance, discrimination, harassment, bullying.
And I’m sick of all those who accept it as a norm, who spout about our great country and then adopt policies that violate the very principles upon which it is based.
Who are all these people who think they have the right to poison airways, internet, and conversation? They’re not worth much. They have lost all decency—if they had it to begin with. They are so sure they are right that I think they can’t even realize they might be wrong. It scares me to death.
I think some are power hungry and believe advancing their own goals justifies the hatred they expel.
For the most part, though, I think they are small minded individuals who feel the only way they can be important is to tear down someone else.
So, yes, I’m mad!
What can I do? I’m not sure. One thing is not to accept inappropriate comments in my presence. Those making them must be called out. I know it will make no difference in how they feel, but maybe they will at least shut up for a while, until they return to the relative secrecy and security of the internet.
And we all can attempt to vote out of office any politician resorting to the venom.
In a probably futile appeal, let me beg those fostering hate and division and prejudice to please stop. Recognize your words have consequences beyond what you can imagine. That they hurt, they infuriate, they transition all too often into acts of violence.
And if your station is high you have greater responsibility because your influence is so widespread.
Please, please change your ways.
As we all should, including me.
We can never justify words or actions with the excuse “the other side does it.” What we do is on us, nobody else.
So let’s disagree, sure. But let’s not fall into the slime that so many feel is their right.
I don’t have much hope we’ll change, but I have some.
Is it any wonder the nation is going to hell?
Frankly, I’m tired of it.
I’m sick of our president who is so insecure he has to attack on a daily basis anyone who dares to disagree with him.
I’m sick of members of any political party operating with a tunnel vision that sees only good in their views and only evil in those of their opponents.
I’m sick of people who accept without question the crap spewed on social media.
I’m sick of those who spew it.
I’m sick of every single instance of intolerance, discrimination, harassment, bullying.
And I’m sick of all those who accept it as a norm, who spout about our great country and then adopt policies that violate the very principles upon which it is based.
Who are all these people who think they have the right to poison airways, internet, and conversation? They’re not worth much. They have lost all decency—if they had it to begin with. They are so sure they are right that I think they can’t even realize they might be wrong. It scares me to death.
I think some are power hungry and believe advancing their own goals justifies the hatred they expel.
For the most part, though, I think they are small minded individuals who feel the only way they can be important is to tear down someone else.
So, yes, I’m mad!
What can I do? I’m not sure. One thing is not to accept inappropriate comments in my presence. Those making them must be called out. I know it will make no difference in how they feel, but maybe they will at least shut up for a while, until they return to the relative secrecy and security of the internet.
And we all can attempt to vote out of office any politician resorting to the venom.
In a probably futile appeal, let me beg those fostering hate and division and prejudice to please stop. Recognize your words have consequences beyond what you can imagine. That they hurt, they infuriate, they transition all too often into acts of violence.
And if your station is high you have greater responsibility because your influence is so widespread.
Please, please change your ways.
As we all should, including me.
We can never justify words or actions with the excuse “the other side does it.” What we do is on us, nobody else.
So let’s disagree, sure. But let’s not fall into the slime that so many feel is their right.
I don’t have much hope we’ll change, but I have some.
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