Is there a political Holy Grail? I’m looking for one. Well, actually I’m not so much looking for a Grail as I am looking to the Neutral Angels, which according to the Arthurian legend fashioned the Grail after refusing to take sides in Lucifer’s Rebellion. They stood the middle ground, not drawn to either partisan fringe or exclusively familiar with just one side of the isle. Pretty amazing.
In a day when the 24-hour news cycle slathers our TV and computer screens with thrashing political points of view and screeching bias, you wonder what happened to debate and cordial discourse. Today, screaming one-sidedness steals the show. Frothing-at the-mouth-while-finger-pointing gets the Nielsen. Winning “the Book” is all about ear-piercing partisanship.
The war of words and insults fills our airwaves, websites and blog posts. Politics, Religion, Economics, Climate Control and the list goes on. Little discussion, tons of dispute. Mostly conflict, no conversation. Bipartisanship? Talk about folklore. What a joke. There’s way too much blame being thrown around by both pundits and politicians for any real bipartisanship.
Why is that, do you suppose?
I don’t blame “the Media” as much as I blame you and me. Most media outlets simply cater to our culture. It may be entertaining; I’ll give you that. But with the uphill battles we are facing as individuals and as a country, shouldn’t we be looking for a bit more articulation and a little less ass-inine attitude. Don’t get me wrong. I like a good fight as much as the next guy (I’m a Irish, beer-loving, brawling ex-New York cop) but do these political hotheads truly, genuinely help the process by highlighting their impulse control disorders? Some are crying for the President to “go gangsta” and channel his “inner Al Capone” while others lament he isn’t going “Chicago-Style” enough. Please. Save it for the pizza.
So as we prepare to watch President Obama, Senator Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi “go Nuclear” over health-care, using reconciliation as a tactic, clearly there will be a new “R-word” making the news cycle.
Comments
I agree – too much Shrill-vary on both ends and not enough civility. I’ve been venturing more into the blogosphere to get various viewpoints, and had an awakening of how whacked people are – on both sides. trying to carry on reasonable discourse is nearly impossible. The media mouthpieces are there for one reason – to create controversy and raise revenue. Even Rush says, tongue in cheek -” time for an obscene profit break” when they go to a commercial. I don’t listen much anymore – too busy being lazy in my semi-retirement – Prepping the trailer and planning some adventures for this summer on the road w/ Momma, 3 dogs and a cat!
And keep up the good work – from a retired cop of Irish descent from the left coast, who loves his Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or a cold Red Tail Ale. One/Two of the few things I miss about California……..Maybe we can have a beer summit somewhere in the middle??
ND in ND
Brian,
The Demoncorp – Republicrat battle feuds are simply a circus for the masses. The real culprits are the “Government can solve it, just make it bigger” pundits. And they are on both sides of the isle.