Polar Opposites

Intelligent and insightful debate was what this country was founded upon. Our forefathers debated amongst themselves while working toward the final draft of the constitution. What once was is no more. So much of the debate our media displays is too often one-sided. The polarization of this country has become the stock and trade for many so-called journalists and politicians.

The atmosphere of our national discussion has become filled with meaningless labels and euphemisms such as radical and ultra, left and right. These terms and others, which are often used to generalize or oversimplify, have lost all meaning. Words are not inherently evil. Unfortunately they are being used for evil purposes.

Too often we hear various media personalities or leaders of political organizations take an "us vs. them" point of view. We are good and they are bad. We are right and they are wrong. They are the problem and we are the solution. These attitudes are not only simplistic but an insult to most thinking individual's intelligence.

This kind of thinking often leads to what I call the "one-two political punch." This is what essentially ends any debate with the people who use this technique. The first punch is minimization. No matter what another group says or does they are minimized. Regardless that another group may have valid points they are portrayed in a light that makes them seem completely unimportant. The second punch is demonization. Once the other side is made to look small and insignificant they are then labeled as evil. They are the source of whatever problem the speaker is rallying against.

Watch any news broadcast with a critical eye and you will see these techniques used on a daily basis. These illegitimate tools are regularly used by those who have some kind of agenda. Why else would they be working so hard to convince you of their sincerity and righteousness? If their argument was built upon solid and objective facts there would be no need to use these tools to stifle discussion and debate. Intelligent people can disagree on any number of topics. The problem comes when people with power try to persuade you they are right for their own hidden purposes. Often these purposes are simply money and ratings. Staying in power is another.

These people that make their living on keeping so many Americans polarized would truly be threatened if we as a nation got together. My hope is that we learn to cherish what we as humans have in common. If only we could come together and have healthy discussions. We could learn to tolerate and even accept what makes us different from each other. When we learn enough about each other our fears will be replaced by understanding and love.

There is power in numbers. The polarizers fear this power. As long as we keep silent and numbly sit back and watch events as they unfold we will never truly become part of the democratic process. Our citizens and the nation as a whole deserve better. The founding fathers taught us better than this.