I took a break yesterday. I'm not sure if anyone is reading this, or just stumbling across it and moving on. Anyway, I thought I might not have enough to say to maintain a blog like this -- well, not unless I open it up to include my non-political ramblings. And I just might do that once I have run out of things to say. After all, I'm a rebel, right?
Today's rambling ... why don't we communicate more effectively? How is it that I can have good friends who are democrats, but we can't seem to discuss politics. For me, that's always be taboo. Why? Because I'm not quick on my feet to have snappy come backs or fail-proof facts to support my ideas. Why? Because I don't EVER feel that my views would be taken seriously. I am mocked for what I believe as if I'm the idiot, when of course, they are.
No, that's not true. I don't believe people who don't believe what I believe to be idiots. I just think that both parties breed "believers" who must protect their ideas no matter what. It's almost as if people pick a side and then praise whatever their side deems appropriate. And once you've chosen, you have to defend it no matter what. No matter what the idea is, or who said it, or what proof there is, you must believe and defend or ... or what?
I sometimes think this is a testimony to our self-preservation. If you take enough time to listen to the other side, you might find out that you don't know everything. That you don't understand all of the issues. That you might have been (gasp) wrong! And then, how does that feel to your sense of self and your assessment of your own intelligence? No, better to defend the whole than to risk the chance of finding out we're not as superior as we thought.
Now, while I have encountered enough Democrats to prove this theory again and again, I have also encountered Republicans who do the same thing. Both sides defend to the end instead of really thinking about the issues, having a discussion, and trying to understand the other side. It's called communication, people. And like a bad cell connection, we just can't hear each other right now.
I think if we just took the time to really try to understand each other, more people would discover more similarities in their thinking than differences. Perhaps it's a political plot to keep each side away from the other ... to preserve the party system as we now know it. As if that's working.
Let me hear you now! Are you a staunch Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Liberal, Moderate, Independent? And why? Can it be that we're not so different after all?
(Oh, and by the way. Why are Republicans the "fat" animal?)
Linda, I've encountered the same issue and likewise tend to avoid political discussion. It helps if you look at it this way: political thought is a religion. Not *like* a religion, it *is* a religion. You have your doctrines and dogma. You have the true believers who evangelize the cause to the unwashed masses. And you have your semi-believers who believe the fundamental truths but look askew at some of the more stringent membership requirements. You have the continuous clashes between the true believers and the semi-believers("How can you be a Republican and be pro choice?" "How can you be a Democrat but be against gun control?" etc. etc.) But most of all, you have the fundamental religious clash between Good and Evil. Your side is always "good" and all others are always "evil". And the Goods always try to convert the Evils because that's what all religions try to do. And while some religious scholars truly try to understand other religions on an intellectual level, they only do so within the framework of their own belief system.
ReplyDeleteWhen you begin to apply religious analogies to political behavior, those behaviors become much easier to understand. It doesn't make them any better to deal with, of course, but understanding is a big step in the right direction. The unfortunate problem, however, is that most true believers have no interest or incentive to understand other religions. Their particular brand suits them just fine, thank you, and because of their beliefs they will be one of the Chosen People come Judgement Day (or Election Day, as the case may be.)
Speaking as a member of the original Chosen People, it's not always what it's cracked up to be! :-)
Great analogy, Steve, and so true! I think it may be time to start a new religion ...
DeleteMaybe it's pretty simple. You believe in Jesus Christ? You're Christian. You believe in Muhammad? You're Muslim. You believe in government controlling our lives? You're a Democrat. You believe in personal liberty? You're a Republican. Just as it's possible for Christians and Muslims to be friends, it may also be possible for Democrats and Christians to be friends. Hope this isn't heresy...but I suspect many Christians have serious issues with the official position of their faith. So too, for Muslims, Democrats and Republicans.
ReplyDeleteI believe in most of the stuff my parents taught me...but not all. Does that make me a bad son? Probably not.
So...just because you don't believe in some of the doctrines of your side...that doesn't make you a bad member or even a heretic. Or just because you believe in some of the stuff from the other side, that doesn't make you one of "them". So continue to believe in Christ, Muhammad, government control, or personal liberty...and wear the moniker proudly...even though you're not 100% pure.