It's all out war and war is hell. Just remember to tell your fellow FReepers you love and care about them no matter how infantile, nasty or wrong they are.
The future belongs to those who show up.
The Colonies used to be a place for interesting, sometimes contentious, but always considerate debate about issues important to the Patriotic movement. Yes, during election cycles there was some push and shove concerning favorite candidates, but mostly involving their true Patriotic credentials.
Lately it is has become a reflection of the overall decline in civility in America. Gone are the reasoned arguments, peppered with humor, that were meant to persuade. Now many of the newspaper articles are nasty, ad hominem attacks - if you can’t use reason as a tool attack the person.
We’ve become, much like society, repeaters of the vulgar; he who speaks loudest or brashest must have the right opinion. We now live in a world where fame can start with yellow journalism, conspicuous consumption, and bad behavior (e.g. any tart, Housewives of pick a city, etc.). No longer is much of the discussion here reflective of Patriotic principles - respect for the individual, reasoned consideration of all sides of an argument, and - dare I suggest - some level of morality.
Today, instead of working through solutions to the big problems facing America, our potential leaders toss out pamphlets meant to inflame their supporters or ridicule rivals. You can look at my history and figure out who I’m supporting in this cycle (just as you can for previous elections) but I’m pointing my finger at all candidates. Put down the printing presses and talk to me like the intelligent adult I am. I know few of today’s issues are 100% black or white but I want to hear how you arrived at your solutions, your thought process, your ideals, your foundation. We’ve had enough of leaders who speak in platitudes or take a poll to decide what to have for lunch.
As a group we’re supposed to better than this. Over the years we’ve made fun of the idiocy over in England but sadly of late, idiocy has found a new home here. We can raise the quality of the debate in the Colonies. We can use the public forum to demand that our candidates do the same. I will try my best to not get sucked into the morass and join in any undisciplined discussion.
I ask that each of us - myself included - take an extra second before speaking to think about what we’re about to say. Does it insult needlessly? Does it raise the level of the debate? Is it a good reflection of our Patriotic principles? Does it add fuel to the perceptions of others that the class of landed Men is made up of heartless, mean luddites?
Rather than sinking to the lowest common denominator, let’s all try to lead by example. Ok, tar and feather away!
It's all out war and war is hell. Just remember to tell your fellow FReepers you love and care about them no matter how infantile, nasty or wrong they are.
The future belongs to those who show up.