This past Saturday, America experienced an attempted assassination of a politician. While one man pulled the trigger, many aspects of our country require retrospection and correction including how we discuss politics.
Political discourse has spiraled out of control through hyperbole and vitriol. Many resort to over-the-top metaphors merely to score a few political points. Some dehumanize their opponents depriving them of the humanity and compassion they deserve. Opponents are not mortal enemies, just mortal beings. A differing opinion will not cause the downfall of our country and the results of a free and fair election do not require a rebellion to "take our country back."
We don't have to take our country back, because it still belongs to us. Power may have changed peacefully in 2008 but rhetorical allusions to violence exploded. People who are angry at the government, or the other side of government, must realize that We are The People. For what you like and dislike about Washington, The People run our government. "They" are flesh-and-blood human beings with loved ones. We can attack ideas without attacking the people. No human being deserves to be targeted. No human being should be afraid to come out of their house. No human being should let these types of situations go by without speaking up.
In the wake of this event, please keep Representative Giffords and the other victims in your thoughts and prayers. Please take a moment to reflect on how we discuss politics and where we move on from here.
Below is Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on the shooting:
No comments:
Post a Comment