Jim Stillman
Randy InmanDemonizing the Opposition
October 27th 2007 15:04
Years ago, while employed by the state of Florida, Joan and I decided that we could use some extra income; I began work for the Tampa Tribune. I remember one person to whom I had called saying, "The Tribune? Isn't that the Commie paper?" I answered, much to the discomfort of my supervisor, "No, that's the St. Petersburg Times. We're the Fascist one."
That was, no doubt, a rather harsh and simplistic analysis, but in the Tampa Bay area, the Tribune is far more conservative and GOP oriented. I rarely agree with the Tribune's editorials but that published on October 26, 2007, was right on point.
I had allowed myself to get into a discussion on another site with a lady who is an extremely partisan advocate for the Republican point of view. I found that each of us gathered supporters who found favor in our respective positions but would not or could not see any merit whatsoever in any opposing view. Moreover any political discourse was marred by personal insults. The result was and is an intensified polarization that is common today.
We must insist on an end to the name-calling, bitterness and denigrating the opposing view. We must condemn politicians who are out to destroy the other side rather than acknowledge both candidates are, likely, patriotic and moral people. No more "swift boat" or "Willie Horton" ads, no more inferring that a Max Cleland (a decorated veteran and triple-amputee) was lacking in patriotism, no accusing a John McCain (a prisoner of war in Korea) to be lacking in courage. No more referring to opposition parties as "Bill the Zipper" or "Billary".
It all has to stop - and stop it will as soon as the rest of us stop allowing it to influence us.
That was, no doubt, a rather harsh and simplistic analysis, but in the Tampa Bay area, the Tribune is far more conservative and GOP oriented. I rarely agree with the Tribune's editorials but that published on October 26, 2007, was right on point.
A damaging phrase has crept into our political vocabulary and pushed the level of our public discourse a little lower.
People accused of blindly following a doctrine or leader without thinking for themselves increasingly are being called Kool-Aid drinkers.
The image gives a colorful edge to an otherwise bland opinion, but it has another purpose. It's a slur that demonizes those to whom it is applied, which can be anyone, including members of Congress and even the president.
Republicans are using it to describe Democrats, and vice versa, but the parties never use it to describe their own most faithful supporters.
The image comes from the Jim Jones massacre in Guyana in 1978. Cult leader Jones ordered his followers to kill themselves by drinking a poisoned grape-flavored beverage. They did and 913 died.
The American political scene has its share of partisan loyalists, but to say they are suicidally brainwashed is absurd.
If you assume the reason folks don't agree with you is because they can't think for themselves, their opposition becomes less a democratic obstacle to be overcome than a malevolent force to be defeated.
If your opponent is a Kool-Aid drinker, you're wasting your time to be polite, empathize with his position or attempt to compromise. [Emphasis supplied]
People accused of blindly following a doctrine or leader without thinking for themselves increasingly are being called Kool-Aid drinkers.
The image gives a colorful edge to an otherwise bland opinion, but it has another purpose. It's a slur that demonizes those to whom it is applied, which can be anyone, including members of Congress and even the president.
Republicans are using it to describe Democrats, and vice versa, but the parties never use it to describe their own most faithful supporters.
The image comes from the Jim Jones massacre in Guyana in 1978. Cult leader Jones ordered his followers to kill themselves by drinking a poisoned grape-flavored beverage. They did and 913 died.
The American political scene has its share of partisan loyalists, but to say they are suicidally brainwashed is absurd.
If you assume the reason folks don't agree with you is because they can't think for themselves, their opposition becomes less a democratic obstacle to be overcome than a malevolent force to be defeated.
If your opponent is a Kool-Aid drinker, you're wasting your time to be polite, empathize with his position or attempt to compromise. [Emphasis supplied]
I had allowed myself to get into a discussion on another site with a lady who is an extremely partisan advocate for the Republican point of view. I found that each of us gathered supporters who found favor in our respective positions but would not or could not see any merit whatsoever in any opposing view. Moreover any political discourse was marred by personal insults. The result was and is an intensified polarization that is common today.
We must insist on an end to the name-calling, bitterness and denigrating the opposing view. We must condemn politicians who are out to destroy the other side rather than acknowledge both candidates are, likely, patriotic and moral people. No more "swift boat" or "Willie Horton" ads, no more inferring that a Max Cleland (a decorated veteran and triple-amputee) was lacking in patriotism, no accusing a John McCain (a prisoner of war in Korea) to be lacking in courage. No more referring to opposition parties as "Bill the Zipper" or "Billary".
It all has to stop - and stop it will as soon as the rest of us stop allowing it to influence us.
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Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
and
Ad hominem attacks.
Old tactics.
Comment by Susan Keeping
What's in a word
Comment by Jim Stillman
Opinions of a curmudgeon
Political Certainty