I was raised in Kansas, so i know the 'red' side of life. I spent twenty years in the Army, and thirty-plus years as a civilian in the workforce which exposed me to 'red', 'blue' and everything in-between. I am also comfortable and do not fear living among all these political 'colours.' I do not associate my politics specifically with any one of these -- they are after all just political colours, abstractly attributed to humans. It is these humans with whom one should associate, not their designated political colour; although some humans are approachable, sadly, only through their political disguise. The first time my uncle introduced me to one of his friends, the first words of greeting his friend spoke to me were structured in a question: "Are you a Democrat or a Republican?" (I replied: "Neither," and left it at that -- i was a Green member at the time.)
How one vocalizes one's perspective to other humans, usually either helps create enemies, or create understanding and tolerant-friends and -acquaintances. The willful art of civil, patient, non-violent, non-ad hominem debate/discussion has been obscured by emotion and anger -- initiated by not willingly wanting to listen to and understand others -- not willing to discover shared life experiences, and using political interests to their mutual benefit and resolution.
It is the dominant political parties, who want their specific organization to be the primary monetary recipient of lobbyists for the corporate elite, to be allowed to devise their own political agenda within government operations. The citizen supporters of these two parties are consciously manipulated to levels of emotion and anger, to devalue the thoughts and actions of the 'opposing other' to 'win' elections. Rather than the consensus of listening, cooperating and negotiating, vitriolo is allowed to be established to view the 'other' as subhuman, incompetent, or worse. This breeds the 'feared other' and has become the norm among citizens unreflectively unable to tolerate the other political party and its supporters.
This is exemplified in "Letters to the Editor" in "The Ithaca Times" edition of 7-13 August 2024. A person describes her reaction to a "Trump Supporter Rally on the Ithaca Commons" calling it an "...underwhelming jackboot and pony show ...and flicked them off" while virtue-signaling in her letter that she was driving a Prius. She stated that she was "delighted" that she was able to get "...under their skin" for what she had done. She then "...encourage[d] all Ithacans to continue sending the clear and unequivocal message that these bigoted freaks aren't welcome in our town."
What manner of message does this attitude send to the 'feared other' -- is this what makes the 'feared other' so fearful to us -- afraid of what they will do in reaction to the hate and intolerance exhibited against them? It may well be that we, the fearful, are also the 'feared other' to them. How is any kind of dialogue, discussion, tolerance established in this acerbic and mutually reinforcing fearfulness. Does this reaction of "freaks not welcome in our town" not echo the past when designated location signs were posted for "Whites Only," or more recently when a Presidential candidate referred to some opposing party supporters as a “basket of deplorables.”
Are we really living in America, land of the brave and free, in a representative democracy with free speech and equality; or is this just an Orwellian euphemism to cover for the raw corruption, propaganda, and deliberate demeaning of others to win elections?!
I had rocks thrown at my house when I put up signs protesting the war in Iraq back in the day- so I always think twice before openly expressing my views in a public way. I really appreciate it when people put out their signs and express their opinions though, even if it’s not what I think. I find it very brave.
I find this distressing and not in the way you think. Friends are afraid. But you report their fear without the specific reasons for the fear. It sounds more like gossip.Saying that they use credible news sources is like saying they use NPR which, now that it has gone corporate for funding, is no better than any other. Saying that observations of others causes their fear- that needs to be substantiated with actual instances. This is just more fear mongering. Dig deeper into their issues. I live in a red area and don’t feel any fear whatever. I find everything so tribal and the left no less so than the right. If ever there was a stay in line and shut up group, it is the “Be Kinders.” Try disagreeing with covid jabs or climate alarmism, or say Black Lives Matters is a Marxist organization, or trans ideology promotes child genital mutilation and you will see how rigid the left has become. Discussion is no longer a part of the left and disagreeing gets you kicked out. A club worth leaving.
You are assuming. I was a lifelong democratic voter until the dues were too high. I will not be told how to believe on every issue or be suspect. I find affiliations to be problematic and theologies as well. I want to be able to decide for myself. You don’t know me and I don’t know red but I know common sense and I hate assumptions. Asking someone rather than assuming is a far better way to go forward in communications in my opinion.
I was raised in Kansas, so i know the 'red' side of life. I spent twenty years in the Army, and thirty-plus years as a civilian in the workforce which exposed me to 'red', 'blue' and everything in-between. I am also comfortable and do not fear living among all these political 'colours.' I do not associate my politics specifically with any one of these -- they are after all just political colours, abstractly attributed to humans. It is these humans with whom one should associate, not their designated political colour; although some humans are approachable, sadly, only through their political disguise. The first time my uncle introduced me to one of his friends, the first words of greeting his friend spoke to me were structured in a question: "Are you a Democrat or a Republican?" (I replied: "Neither," and left it at that -- i was a Green member at the time.)
How one vocalizes one's perspective to other humans, usually either helps create enemies, or create understanding and tolerant-friends and -acquaintances. The willful art of civil, patient, non-violent, non-ad hominem debate/discussion has been obscured by emotion and anger -- initiated by not willingly wanting to listen to and understand others -- not willing to discover shared life experiences, and using political interests to their mutual benefit and resolution.
It is the dominant political parties, who want their specific organization to be the primary monetary recipient of lobbyists for the corporate elite, to be allowed to devise their own political agenda within government operations. The citizen supporters of these two parties are consciously manipulated to levels of emotion and anger, to devalue the thoughts and actions of the 'opposing other' to 'win' elections. Rather than the consensus of listening, cooperating and negotiating, vitriolo is allowed to be established to view the 'other' as subhuman, incompetent, or worse. This breeds the 'feared other' and has become the norm among citizens unreflectively unable to tolerate the other political party and its supporters.
This is exemplified in "Letters to the Editor" in "The Ithaca Times" edition of 7-13 August 2024. A person describes her reaction to a "Trump Supporter Rally on the Ithaca Commons" calling it an "...underwhelming jackboot and pony show ...and flicked them off" while virtue-signaling in her letter that she was driving a Prius. She stated that she was "delighted" that she was able to get "...under their skin" for what she had done. She then "...encourage[d] all Ithacans to continue sending the clear and unequivocal message that these bigoted freaks aren't welcome in our town."
What manner of message does this attitude send to the 'feared other' -- is this what makes the 'feared other' so fearful to us -- afraid of what they will do in reaction to the hate and intolerance exhibited against them? It may well be that we, the fearful, are also the 'feared other' to them. How is any kind of dialogue, discussion, tolerance established in this acerbic and mutually reinforcing fearfulness. Does this reaction of "freaks not welcome in our town" not echo the past when designated location signs were posted for "Whites Only," or more recently when a Presidential candidate referred to some opposing party supporters as a “basket of deplorables.”
Are we really living in America, land of the brave and free, in a representative democracy with free speech and equality; or is this just an Orwellian euphemism to cover for the raw corruption, propaganda, and deliberate demeaning of others to win elections?!
I had rocks thrown at my house when I put up signs protesting the war in Iraq back in the day- so I always think twice before openly expressing my views in a public way. I really appreciate it when people put out their signs and express their opinions though, even if it’s not what I think. I find it very brave.
I find this distressing and not in the way you think. Friends are afraid. But you report their fear without the specific reasons for the fear. It sounds more like gossip.Saying that they use credible news sources is like saying they use NPR which, now that it has gone corporate for funding, is no better than any other. Saying that observations of others causes their fear- that needs to be substantiated with actual instances. This is just more fear mongering. Dig deeper into their issues. I live in a red area and don’t feel any fear whatever. I find everything so tribal and the left no less so than the right. If ever there was a stay in line and shut up group, it is the “Be Kinders.” Try disagreeing with covid jabs or climate alarmism, or say Black Lives Matters is a Marxist organization, or trans ideology promotes child genital mutilation and you will see how rigid the left has become. Discussion is no longer a part of the left and disagreeing gets you kicked out. A club worth leaving.
Linda- You sound very Red yourself- of course you feel safe. Go put up your signs . At least you know no one will shoot your windows in protest.
You are assuming. I was a lifelong democratic voter until the dues were too high. I will not be told how to believe on every issue or be suspect. I find affiliations to be problematic and theologies as well. I want to be able to decide for myself. You don’t know me and I don’t know red but I know common sense and I hate assumptions. Asking someone rather than assuming is a far better way to go forward in communications in my opinion.