Discussion in America

*Originally published on 9/22/09



Much like a coin, every issue has two sides. For a long time, people were able to sit down and have a civil, lively discussion about these issues and weigh the pros and cons of each perspective. Now, that ability seems lost, people are convinced that their way is the only way and anyone who disagrees is either a commie or a bigot of some sort.

During the Bush administration, the left often protested what was either being done or said. Some were simply stating their mind while others went so far as to dub him a lying war monger and compared him to Hitler. There were several instances where when Bush addressed the Congress, liberals outright booed. The right said that this was disrespectful and unpatriotic. The left replied that it dissent is, very much, patriotic. It's one of the freedoms that comes with free speech.

Flash forward eight years, Barack Obama is inducted as President of the United States. Now, it's the conservatives who are fighting the president at every inch. Like with Bush, some protesters are civil, while others call him a socialist or communist and claim that he is ruining the country. Also like Bush, people have made the Hitler comparison.

It's so weird, like someone stood up and yelled out "trade places!" all the people on the left now expect the opposition to respect the president and call any dissent either an act of deception or racism.

Why is the idea of a different point of view so hard to grasp? There are certain issues where it's not a matter of right and wrong, just a different way of going about it.

Now, if you oppose gay marriage, you're a bigot; if you support abortion, you're a baby killer. This sort of rhetoric doesn't solve anything.

Bill Maher, of all people, even called people out on this when he had Ann Coulter on his program a few years back. Richard Belzer rolled his eyes and made some crude joke. Bill actually stopped him and said that there's nothing wrong with having a discussion about issues.

While the networks they both work for are clearly biased, I do have to give credit to O'Reilly and Maddow. At least they hear the other side out, O'Reilly's a lot louder than Maddow, but there are instances where he gives the opposition a fair shake. Maddow actually enjoys a good debate, and while I don't agree with her on much, at least she's articulate enough that I can respect her opinion. She also has conservatives on to debate issues as opposed to Olbermann or Hannity, who either go on at length on their own or only invite people who agree with them on their show to reinforce their statements.

We need to relearn the meaning of civility. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't make them a bigot, pinko commie, Nazi, or hate monger. Dismissing opposing arguments with flippant platitudes doesn't accomplish much either. Both the right and the left need to get it through their heads that sometimes, the other side raises a good point. Rather than complain and moan and try to demonize and discredit them, they should take their points into account and, who knows, they could come up with something better.