Where I live, the word "politics" does not evoke a very emotional response.
This is understandable. For the most part, domestic politics as it's reported on the 6 o'clock news, is a fairly tame affair. Career politicians, who basically share the same value system, argue on micro-points of economic policy, the organisation of social services, and generally who is more caring, credible, and competent.
The bloggersphere of American politics is not like this.
The extremity of opinion is staggering. It's like opening the front door and having one of hell's demons step through, snapping whips of fire and spitting napalm.
People who think Obama is a new Hitler...people who think same-sex marriage is a mortal threat to their way of life...people who think torture is an acceptable and effective part of intelligence gathering... people who think that America is a flawless beacon of justice and humanity and therefore must rule the world through force of arms.
...these, by the way, are the less extreme pundits. I'm not even talking about the white supremacists and religious nuts.
Standing in opposition are genuinely patriotic Americans who recognise that Palin is a "category 5 moron". That the Bush-Cheney regime did immeasurable damage to America and international life. That invading Iraq was unnecessary and a horrendous waste of lives and money. People who believe in tolerance and justice for all.
The clash is almost operatic in its melodrama.
Would I wish that our politics were like that? No chance. I'm glad they're not.
I don't believe in a war of civilisations... but I do believe in a fight FOR civilisation.
America is one of the front lines. Their extreme Right is real, and is as frightening as it is clownish. Their influence is insidious.
Neoconservatives transfer their prejudices and crimes to an imaginary Leftist hegemony and claim for themselves total purity and benevolence, simultaneously accusing Obama of being weak and a tyrant.
It's laughable, but they buttress it with extraordinary architectures of imaginary conspiracy, selective memory and outright denial to deprive their own countrymen of social justice and genuine freedom - often in "freedom" 's own name.
Am I pessimistic?
No. I think America is basically a decent country and that tolerance and justice will prevail.
If it doesn't we're all in a lot of trouble.
Well stated. America is in a weird place right now especially. In the Clinton years we saw the worst of right wing politics, and now it's looking to be even worse. The right, a party of ZERO ideas or distinction, has nothing to offer. Instead, they launch these incendiary salvos at imagined enemies, often times using "God" as something that has their back. It's insane and ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThe right wing, in America at least, possess an almost childlike simplicity. They are an emotionally stunted, intellectually barren group who do rely on guns and God.
Agreed. Nice to see that you finally have a site, quietmagpie. You've been added to the blogroll at Brain Rage. Happy posting.
ReplyDeletePerfectly stated, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThe utterly frightening thing about those right wingnuts is that they they'll surely take your demon seriously and literally, walk through your door "snapping whips of fire and spitting napalm," all the while singing praises to their god, the god who gave them the calling to do just that, scorch and whip the Earth, thus their divine right to the hegemonic lenses they wear oh so proudly.
Here's a shot of napalm in the morning for you :-)