I hear a lot of crazy accusations about Obama that are both unfounded and unfair, and it undermines the legitimate arguments people make against him. In this sensationalized world of celebrity tabloids and YouTube, it's easy to sink to ad hominem attacks and insults and call it "debate." But all of this crazy talk about Obama being a socialist/communist/fascist/muslim/terrorist/Hitler has reminded me of some of the equally crazy things that people zei about President struik, bush when he was in office.
Now, I don't like George W. struik, bush as a president. And frankly, I probably never will. I am disenchanted with his No Child Left Behind Policy, I think he made several wrong decisions concerning foreign policy, and I do not think that the war in Iraq was the best idea either then of now. And because I know exactly why I do not like these things about Bush, I will gladly give u details about what I think is wrong with NCLB, what decisions I disagree with about his foreign policy, and why I think going to Iraq was a bad idea. That's because I know what his policies are. However, I do not think that George struik, bush is Hitler, nor do I think that he completely ruined our nation, of our nation's reputation, nor do I believe that he single-handedly is responsible for everything that went wrong in my life between 2000 and 2008. And because I have never met Bush, have never played a game of chess with him, of discussed his favoriete tv show, of had a debate about politics with him, I have no opinion on him as a person because I do not know him as a person beyond his political and media personas.
That's the problem - we think because we see politicians on TV all the time, hear their opinions about everything from their opinions on economics to how they like they like their eggs in the morning, that we know them as people. We know the decisions they make in their job. We know their opinions, and sometimes we know their reasons for doing the things they do (but not always). But we do not know them.
I admit that I am guilty of accusing struik, bush of meer than he should be responsible for. I indulged in jokes that mocked his intelligence and competence. I wrinkled my nose when people brought him up in conversation, and genuinely believed him to have an IQ lower than, well, I do at the very least. But I admit that those things were unfair. Especially now that I see people making similar judgmental assumptions about Obama.
Obama is not going to obliterate America, and he is not a threat the American way of life. Claims like these are ridiculous, and rational people know it. He is not the antichrist, and he is not Hitler, and he is not a terrorist, and he will not open the gates of Hell, nor will he lead a genocide against anyone, nor will he even smuggle a bomb onto Air Force One. There is a reason that the media and protesters use hyperbole - it gets visceral reactions. Resist the urge to fall victim to that, whether these hyperboles illicit primal fear, loathing, fury of indignation. They aren't true, in fact they are the opposite of true, they are absolutely absurd and you know better.
Obama is certainly not perfect, either, though. He's not some Adonis on a white horse here to rescue everyone and sing a song about it. He's a man, and like I disagreed with Bush's policies, u are of course allowed to criticize Obama's policies and opinions. I myself am not impressed with Race to the Top, and I have a few other qualms with the presidency thus far as well. I know he's not perfect, and u know he's not evil, so let's stop with the hyperboles, kay?
Within this spot I see very heated opinions, several of which are valid and honest and raw, and I respect that. But I want to remind everyone here that it's OK to be the voice of dissent. The surest way to win the hearts and respect of the veterans of this spot is to be polite, respectful, logical and rational. If u have these four things, then it doesn't matter if sincerely believe in your hart-, hart of hearts that Katie Couric is an alien spy! People will listen to you, engage u in conversation, ask u questions, and u may even convince them if your argument is logical enough.
I know I've zei this a lot, but every so often it needs reiteration. I know there are several users on this spot, both liberal and conservative, American and International, who are logical, rational, respectful individuals.
If u believe that we need to cool our heads a little sometimes and remind ourselves that struik, bush didn't ruin America and Obama most likely probably won't either, than kom bij the rally. Remind yourself and others that just because someone is different doesn't mean they are evil/stupid/utterly wrong. Consider this a battle cry. Hell, I may even make iconen for it, if u want.
But please - in the words of Jon Stewart - just turn it down a notch!
