The Modern Raven

Rant Time

I’m seeing this country turn to extremism on both sides. As time goes on, and as opinions grow stronger, instead of focusing on the very practical need to empathize and have dialogue with those who hold different views than us (in order to solve VERY REAL problems with how things work), we become more deeply entrenched in our own views, defending them with rabid vehemence and quoting political pundits, the job of whom is to incite an emotional response and ensure ratings for their stations, NOT TO INFORM TRUTHFULLY. TV stations and other media outlets reduce us to oversimplified demographics and we play along perfectly, short-changing ourselves intellectually in the process.

We base views of entire groups of people on the opinions of those who hate those groups and not from those groups themselves, nor do we seek moderate views from outside the fray.

We selectively read blogs and seek news sources who parrot our own feelings without stepping outside our usual way of thinking and looking for, if not merit, the emotional source of those opinions so opposed to ours. Can’t we all just get along? No. Probably never. But I firmly believe that we can learn to put up with each other in order to come to some clarity as to how to move forward as a racially, socioeconomically, and faithfully diverse country.

You may think that what you believe is the only reality. You may think that what you believe is divinely written and therefore exempt from the need to compromise. You may not believe in divine anything and you may scoff at those who do. None of this is productive.

What we do in this country is akin to walking behind a wall, putting on a blindfold and covering our heads with pillows as we attempt to beat someone on the other side in an argument.

You can’t play chess if you won’t even look at the other player’s pieces.

When it comes to politics, maturity, respect, and logic go out the window. Saying never to talk about religion and politics in polite conversation is effectively condoning the childish and irrational behavior that is exhibited when discussing these things. We teach children to respect one-another, to share, to not push and shove each other. Yet, when faced with a discussion of the issues most important to us as a country, we devolve into angry, pugnacious people and horrible examples of human beings.

In our churches, temples, masjid, synagogues, and zendos we preach tolerance but when our personal doctrine is threatened, we become snarky, disrespectful, and hurtful. We desecrate funerals, commit crimes and other atrocities without foresight as to how this will effect the general climate of the country in which we live.

Attacking, attacking attacking. Me, me, me. My way or the highway. There are some of us who really, albeit foolishly believe that all “conservatives” are heartless racists, foaming at the mouth and there are some of us who really think it’s possible that all “liberals” are bleeding-heart idealists with no concept of reality. I’ve heard these descriptions both implied and explicitly stated by supposedly “neutral” voices (I agree with neither). Those descriptions cannot describe entire groups of people. It can’t be that we’ve really allowed ourselves to be convinced that we know an entire group of people based on their (really, quite diverse) political beliefs which happen to fall on the same side of the political continuum.

Give me a break. NOT ALL black people are criminals on wellfare. Not all white people are superiority complex-riddled WASPY racists who hate everyone but themslves, NOT ALL Mexicans are illegal freeloaders. NOT ALL generation Y kids are spoiled, lazy, and entitled. NOT ALL rich people are greedy satanists. NOT ALL of any group is totally innocent. As a matter of fact, those stereotypes probably only describe the most visible and extreme of each group. If you subscribe to any of these views you are falling right in line with the games that are being played with our minds. It seems like an easy concept but if you look into yourself, you’d be surprised what bullshit you may have locked inside your heart. I know this from personal experience.

For some it’s money, for some it’s faith, for some it’s rights. Until we start reaching out and having intelligent conversations with those around us without throwing things, yelling, insulting, being snarky and sarcastic, we will continue to have no concept of who we are living with, and how this country ticks.

Turn the fucking TV off, turn your talk shows down and begin asking more questions. Of yourself and others. Not to persecute but to learn. None of us knows EVERYTHING, none of us has all the answers, but that is exactly what the media, political candidates, political party cheerleaders and fundamentalists have convinced you of.

I don’t know everything and I’m not saying I’m completely right but I think it’s important to say some of these things, if not to at least start a mature dialogue within our generation, since it’s up to us to pay the gigantic bill we’ve been stiffed with.

Thoughts?