Libertarian Librarian

TC wrote a nice little homage to Jack on his blog. What I don't really get is why this kind of drivel (the link that tc's piece contains) appeals to otherwise intelligent, persceptive individuals. I mean, how many over-reaching, and generally patently absurd, generalizations can you lump into one post? Let's see there's:

Most of these people [conservatives]are not Nazis, but they are the perfect raw material for our own, homegrown American Rightwing Demagogues; obedient, stupid, bigoted and easily frightened.

and

And because everything – their very souls – rest on the foundation of the infallibility of Dear Leader, they'll happily kill anyone in any numbers who might force them to face up to the fact that Dear Leader is a duplicitous, lying sleazebag who has played on their fear and ignorance and patriotism to turn them out like $2 crack whores.

and to top it all off

Built in to the Right Wing DNA is the same congenital defect, and since they will happily burn the world to the ground before they admit they might actually have been wrong about Bush, it falls to us to keep them backed into a corner as best we can, because once events out here in Realityland begin to pound through the perimeter denial defenses, what comes after ain't gonna be pretty.

There's more, but that sums it all up pretty well.

Come on tc, you really telling me you agree with this guy? I understand being angry, and maybe a little confused as to how Bush could actually have won twice (I'm still a little stunned by it myself and I voted for him one of those times), but does this kind of silliness help in anyway except to make you feel superior? And does that really help? Give you an accurate picture of "Realityland" as the author rants about? Or just ensure that a big chunk of Democrats remain completely out of touch with the majority of the country that disagrees with them on some fundamental issues but is willing to compromise and maybe embrace some other fundamental issues?

Seriously. There are good and bad ideas on both sides of the aisle. There are good and bad people on both sides of the aisle.

Do not buy into this kind of hate speech, because that's entirely what it is. Hate speech. It derides a large group of people. It makes sweeping, unsubstantiated negative generalizations. It makes the author and those that agree with him feel superior because it rips down those that disagree with him. The fact that the targets of this particular hate speech are conservatives rather than gay people or black people or women does not change the content of the material.

Hate speech should be opposed by intelligent, concerned individuals at all times in all places. It does not matter if we also don't like the target of a particular hate speech-- the invective and poison must be opposed. To do otherwise is to tacitly condone it and aid the spread of it.

So, here's the question tc. Do you really agree with this guy? You've written thoughtful, well-argued comments here at my blog. You've had disagreements with John and me and some of the other more conservative readers here at my blog, but they've generally been above the ad hominem attack and usually both sides have had some substance to support their positions, right or wrong. I know lots of smart people, both conservative and liberal, and I have to tell you, none of the conservatives are cowering numnuts who just want to be protected and not have to think, and none of the liberals are anti-American communists who want our troops to die. I'm sure there are folks out there that fit both categories. I'm also sure they are most definitely a small minority of the available pool.

This guy hates, tc. Really, deeply hates. Do you want to be like that? Eaten up by your rage and hatred of folks that simply disagree with you? Knowing Jack, and knowing some of his friends, I seriously doubt that you do. I hope that you don't.

I hope none of us do.

Labels: Politics