Comments on: America!

by: slyflame

Fri, 21 May 2004 00:09:03 +0000

You’re right. People should question constantly, think beyond their comfort zone, and push the boundaries of what they know. That applies to politics, religion, and life in general. Nothing should be taken at face value.

I don’t mean to sound like I’m totally opposed to any other ideas. Really, most of the time I WANT to be convinced differently. I want people to say, “Now wait a second. Here’s my list of reasons why. You’re not considering this, this, and this.” I want people to try to make me see the other side.

Really, I’m a moderate at heart – I’m usually stuck in the gray area. The reason the current political situation is so frustrating to me is because I have absolutely no concept whatsoever of what motivates the other side. Obviously, there has to be some valid reason, because 50% of America can’t be totally wrong. But for the life of me, I can’t figure it out and no one seems to be able to explain it.

by: Amy

Thu, 20 May 2004 02:27:20 +0000

I have always loved politics. In college, I chose a major that I thought could get me a job, but minored in Political Science because I thrived on that stuff. The most important thing I learned is that I would have to dig deep, and I mean very deep, and back many years to get to the bottom of any issue. There are immense layers to everything in politics that usually span multiple administrations. And there are many secrets. Not all the secrets are necessarily bad ones. Some are truly necessary to keep. And I learned that spin is powerful. The bottom line is that if you respect the person that is speaking, and they know how to speak, you can become convicted about just about any opinion and take it on as your own. So, Sarah is right to say that you’ve got to have researched something to really know what the hell you’re talking about. But, you’ve got to have researched all the layers. Those that have, don’t tend to be able to be entirely tied to a cut and dried opinion. That’s not to say you can’t be adament about something, you can, but you have to have really studied the entire history of the issue to know all the facts, not just attended one persons lecture, or read a few peoples opinion articles. I love people who have passion. Some of the best conversations I’ve ever had are with individuals who have a different opinion than mine on America and its politics. Those are such fulfilling conversations, and if you’re not hell bent on proving everyone wrong, you’d be surprised what you can get out of them. You learn why people think the way they do, and realize there is usually a basis for it, not a knee jerk. And you may even find support for your own argument that you hadn’t even thought of. But you’re not going to enjoy any of that if you don’t explore other people’s opinions. The best way to change someone’s mind is to truly understand where they’re coming from, so you can provide arguments directed at their particular opinion. Anyway, I’m beginning to ramble.

by: slyflame

Wed, 19 May 2004 22:44:30 +0000

Can you say, with all honesty, that your opinions are based on fact and not some knee-jerk gut reaction? Is there a justification for your opinions beyond simple distaste for ‘bleeding heart liberals’? Do you have legitimate reasons for supporting someone who a) is intent on destroying what progress the EPA has made, while providing his business buddies a break, b) has managed to turn the largest budget surplus in American history into the largest budget deficit in American history, c) blatantly lied and fear-mongered to achieve his goal of attacking Iraq, while completely failing to maintain or effectively pursue the “war on terror,” d) has repeatedly allowed his administration to unconstitutionally restrict the rights and freedoms of American citizens, e) actively supports the indefinite imprisonment (without charges) of civilians, etc etc etc?

I have yet to see a logical reason for it all, which is why I question if anyone out there is thinking, or if they’re just reacting.

by: Todder

Wed, 19 May 2004 20:36:02 +0000

That I understand! However, you have basically said that anyone who comes to a different conclusion than yours is stupid, ignorant, uncaring or somehow less of a human than you are. You simply assume that because they don’t believe the same thing that you do, they haven’t done any sort of research of their own. I honestly find that extremely insulting because I don’t believe the same things that you do on a lot of issues. Am I stupid? Do I not have a “conscience or a brain?”

by: slyflame

Wed, 19 May 2004 17:47:38 +0000

“And I’m extremely proud that I live in a country that has such diverse opinions on everything and the freedom to express those opinions.”

If we’re so free, then why is it that over the past year people who are anti-Bush were confined to “free speech zones” a half or a third of a mile away, when people who are Pro-Bush were allowed to line the streets of the President’s approach?

That aside, people can have opinions, but to make a decision without researching the facts behind those opinions is a shameful waste of the freedoms we have been given. Not only that, but by turning a blind eye to unpleasant facts or simply chalking them up to a media spin, we effectively issue a carte blanche for the government.

Freedom isn’t free, and we can’t afford to take it for granted. In this situation, the only way to defend our rights and freedoms is to thoroughly research our decisions before we make them, and weigh the potential consequences against the gains.

To quote General Douglas MacArthur, “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”