What's In A Name? Apparently Everything
Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009
by Michael Ramzy
delusionthread.com
Another beautiful day in America and on the news today we hear two opposite takes on the detai
nees at Gitmo and terrorism in general. Former VP Cheney had his say directly after the president had his say. Both believe they are right, and both believe the other to be 'misguided', which is another way of saying wrong.
So. The right of this country stands firmly behind Mr. Cheney, agreeing with his assertion America has done 'what we had to do' to ensure the safety of her citizens. The left of this country stands firmly (well, not really, but kind of) behind Mr. Obama, agreeing with his assertion America has enemies because of her treatment of the detainees (along with her treatment of just about every other group). Which is right, and which is wrong? And, more to the point, does it really matter?
Apparently not. There are those who believe Mr. Bush (and others) acted in the best interest for America, just as there are those who believe Mr. Bush (and others) broke every law known to man. Conversely, there are those who cannot fathom Mr. Obama being wrong about anything. So, again, which is right and which is wrong? And, again, does it matter?
We as a country love labels. These partisan days if you are not a Democrat you must be for torture, capital punishment, a racist, white, etc. If you are not a Republican you must be for killing babies, gay, an ethnic minority, etc. We as a country love these labels, it seems, since no one seems to do anything to stop it.
Washington warned us of the two-party system, Jefferson echoed that worry, and here we are over two hundred years later doing the exact thing the founding fathers warned us against. And we don't seem to mind.
Back to the speeches of the day: the reason I opened with that is because this country is divided into two camps, it seems: those who want to move forward and those who want to turn the clock back. Sure, call it Democrat and Republican, yet it seems that is where we are. The Republicans want to move forward, yet they are a little afraid of that since they don't know where Mr. Obama and the Democrats are going to lead us. The Democrats want to look back and prosecute everything anyone did in the past eight years. Well, not everyone, of course: the Democrats don't grill their own, apparently, although the fact Ms. Pelosi has not been thrown under the bus is kind of strange. That will probably change since cannibalism thrives in Washington.
So. What to do, and what to think? All I know is this: rabid partisanship has got to stop. We as a country have too many other things to worry about these days. Forget labels, and if you are looking back remember this: hindsight is always perfect. And if you are looking forward, remember this: we are all Americans.
It is not in our best interest to see this country fail, regardless of who holds the keys to the office.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Very well put Mike, and as you say "does it really matter?"I wonder about the blinders many people throw on when speaking or listening to one party or another. Members of both parties do it, and in the end it really makes no difference. Thanks for reading.
Well said, Michael. I have been screamed at- literally screamed at- by an otherwise sweet old lady when she asked which party I was registered to vote under. I told her "Republican, but I don't vote party lines." I was still subjected to 5 minutes of "Bush hates poor people and minorities. He insists that all his servants are Hispanic!"I think we need another approach, as you stated.I hear it at work all of the time, or at the store: people talking about Mr. Bush, Mr. Obama, etc. Two things I realize are the facts are usually wrong (either accidentally or intentionally) and there is no room for debate. And we wonder why those in Washington can't get along, right?Thanks for reading, Ken.
Great article with which I agree whole heartedly. We have become a nation divided and therein is what will make us fall unless we unite. Thanks for sharing
I only wish people would realize nothing constructive comes from the blame game. Sure, we all know the Republicans have done some damage, and yet the Democrats are hardly faultless. Both sides need to realize if there is going to be a two-party system, there has to be some agreement (not compromise, but actual agreement) on some issues - especially those which will define America in the future. The past is past, and those who continue to look back will miss the future entirely.Thanks for reading and commenting.
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