In one easy step-
post comments from a liberal talking head.
Yesterday I posted Keith Olbermann's commentary on the Arizona shooting. It is not the first time I have posted something controversial and goodness knows it is not the first time I have posted something liberal but apparently his comments were so offensive that several of my followers have left. Which makes me sad not only because, well, first off I love my followers but also because I think it also represents how truly polarized we are- that when we see something we don't agree with we turn our back on it.
I posted his comments on the basis of what he said in those 9 minutes of his show (not anything he may have said at any other time). He is NOT blaming the named politicians for what happened but he is challenging them to think of how what is said (and he also names himself as a culprit) contributes to this climate of violence. No one know yet why this person turned deadly and he may not have ever watched FOX news or MSNBC or any politics but he is not the only unbalanced person in the country. Maybe, just maybe, we should stop the rhetoric, the vitriol and the hate before this happens again, in case the next unbalanced person does watch. That was his point.
And since we even have to question if political rhetoric may have played a role in this tragic event- then it seems that maybe he has a point.
(So those followers who have stayed either because you agree or because you don't agree- thanks for hanging out with us, for those of you about to delete yourselves- thanks for stopping by and we will miss you and for those of you who are new- please join it- usually we have some fun)
11 comments:
Hi there! I enjoy reading your blog for many reasons. I like the insight into your family since we are in the process of adopting and I like your perspective on society because I feel very similarly to you.
However, I follow many many blogs where I disagree and feel the complete opposite to the blogger. One example is there are several Mormon and Christian blogs I follow and while I do not agree with their conservative perspectives, I love the lifestyle and fashion component to their blog. I feel it is sad when like only want to surround themselves with like. Personally I feel this is a very fundamental aspect of what breeds racism today and I think we can all learn from each other- regardless of political affiliation, culture, race, gender, religion, etc.
(not to say the people who left are racist- i am not making that parallel. but i do think the elemental need of surrounding yourself with familarity and like people only is a compnonent of what perpetuates those who ACTUALLY are)
We're still with you over here! All I can say is that I don't usually watch Jon Stewart, though I do think he says some brilliant (and odd) things. Last night, I happened to be flipping through before I went upstairs for the night and caught his monologue about this horrible tragedy. I LOVED when he said, "You can't outsmart crazy." Wow. So true. Thanks for just always being honest!
Boycotts rarely solve anything. Educated and patient discussions do. First, though, I think maybe the person of Olbermann, himself, is a very polarizing figure, which probably caused some blog desertion. I do not agree with Olbermann when he cites instance after instance of what he perceives as inciting violence. I do follow many of those he listed, and I have listened to Olbermann. He used this tragedy as another way to advance his political agenda, with a few token sentences saying he has to be better, too. How soon they forget how those on the left wanted Bush to die (wore T-shirts saying as much) and wished Cheney's heart problems had killed him. There were depictions of Bush being decapitated. There were guns pointed at Sarah Palin's head. There were bullseye targets used for Republican districts. His Beck reference was to something said more than 5 years ago, and Moore's done his share. So while I don't disagree that it would not hurt the gun and violence rhetoric needs to be toned down, I do doubt the sincerity of Mr. Olbermann and the innocence of his remarks. Now, all that said, I went back and re-read what he said, and I think toward the end was the most powerful part of his message. Unfortunately, he chose to blast conservatives in several opening sentences and many probably never got down to his final words. Which, in my opinion, was what he meant to have happen. I wish we could become a unified country again, and I wonder what it will take. Unfortunately (and as part of the media I am ashamed that it is mainly to blame) the reaction to this weekend's tragedy showed some are not ready for that to happen. Violet
Well, heck, I thought it was fine.
:)
P4K
(I don't know if you still read my blog, it's pretty boring thesedays, ha ha).
What Dawn said!!
I am now officially following to compensate for your loss of your thin-skinned former followers.
:)
Violet -
There is a marked difference between politicians (or a quitter politician who is held out as a potential Presidential candidate) ratcheting up violence with their metaphors, imagery, and vocabulary than pundits and other media figures doing the same.
Remember when citizens came to Democratic gatherings with weapons and the politicans speaking used gun vocabulary to describe taking down their opponents? No? Yeah, me neither.
I read lots of blogs written by people I don't necessarily agree with. It helps me learn and grow in ways I can't even begin to innumerate. It saddens me that so many Americans feel there has to be 100% agreement to have a relationship.
Kristal, I'm not sure what you read into my statement, I was simply pointing out that I disagree with Olbermann. But, yes, I do remember the current president used a gun analogy (about they bring knives and we bring guns) during his campaign. There are gun-registered Democrats, as well. The rhetoric has come from both sides, and really this nut-case had nothing to do with either. If Americans cannot stand together, the nation will fall apart. The president is in a position to bring this nation back together. I just wish innocent lives did not have to pay the price. This incident was no one's fault but the shooter's, but maybe we all can learn from it and be a little more understanding and ... well, nicer. We're not off to such a good start, though. I'm not going to say more on the subject, though, because I didn't mean to hijack the blog. Just answering a question. violet
Here in solidarity, sister!
I think Dawn said it best so I won't reiterate.
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