Vitriol, Dissent, and Extremists
This week we had the President's State Of The Union Address. Earlier last week we had the one year anniversary of the President's inauguration to office. The victory of Scott Brown in Massachusetts. All these things put yet another 3ft flame under each and every American ass. The talking heads rear their head of the ugly variety. The networks were in full form. Talk radio had fodder and off we go!.... More dissent and more vitriol. Two words. One, vitriol which I had never heard until a few years ago when I became a blog geek. Two. Dissent?...Well, I am not so sure that's a bad word at all.
Vitriol is used to broad brush and to make all comments sound hateful and shoot down a logical disagreement. Dissent is used as if it's evil or un-patriotic all depending on the person's view point.
Either way, both words and the actions from them are healthy and good if they are put into perspective.
In today's political spectrum these words are used along with their companion word "extremist". Seems this word is being thrown around like a Nerf football at a tailgate party these days. Extremist is tagged on anyone these days, that disagrees with the someone on ANYTHING. An "extremists" is anyone that fights against "their" side. Anyone that is vocal and visible and has a "take no 5hit attitude" or holds their values, is.....an extremist.
There are people out there that call the Tea Party "right wing extremists". Calling the folks that overcrowded the Town Hall meetings across the country, with lines more waiting outside, "right wing extremists"? Really? Politicians whining that they were being shouted down etc. Really? There are people that call anti-war activists "un-American" or "un-patriotic".Really?
..Each side always trying to define and peg "patriotic" as their own. Fact is? It's all of ours..both sides. Both sides are right in their thoughts, but not always in their actions and words.
All said.... We as a people need to take a breath from the clowns and jesters across the media spectrum and understand that vitriol and dissent are cornerstones of our country's founding. Think the Tea Party folks are nuts? See and Google "The American Revolution" and read. We were "nuts" and took no 5hit from anyone. Hard fought and steadfast skirmishes.....then battles...and then war...WON. Radical and militia like tactics defeated a mega-force in Britain. We wore them out. Little people defeated an EMPIRE!
So what of dissent and vitriol?
We as a people have come so far so fast. The longest living Constitution on the planet, has given birth to one of the youngest countries on Earth, that just so happens to be the most powerful. Why should we not defend that Constitution? Why should we sit back and let politicians demean it? They WILL given the chance. Whether on purpose, or simply by ignorance. It's ours to keep and defend.
Some speak of "bi-partisanship" within our government? Well, I am not going to sit here and tell you that it does not work. What I will tell you is that it works for the politicians for political reasons. To make them feel good and a deal done for a fellow pol. When you get "bi-partisanship"? You get a diluted result for both sides and no one is truly pleased. The politicians nor their constituents. What do WE then have? A barrel of pork to pay for.
Bi-partisanship, other than declaring war? at least in our current political state? Well it's good for naming an airport, funding a memorial, or opening a library or school etc... Not much more clarity and accomplishment in bi-partisanship. Just sayin'.
It is American to fight for what you believe in and what you expect from your government. It is American to voice your opinion and be seen in regards. Dissent is patriotic. Patriotic no matter your views and vitriol is just a word to make all seem ridiculous. Anger is not vitriol...It's normal.
There is more political activity and people mobilizing and being heard and using the net and writing and calling their Congressman/woman. More people putting politicians on the spot than I can remember in my 20yrs of paying attention. I would be willing to bet that the last two or three years have been the most active years in politics since the 60s.
Stand your ground, be heard. Disagreement, and anger (not vitriol) within that disagreement? Dissent? Are all American and our right. There is no shame in that as long as we treat each other as fellow Americans.
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